POTATO GROWING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3081, 11 May 1917, Page 6

POTATO GROWING

MIRAMAR LAND APPROVED

PEOPLE URGED TO GROW FOOD

Another meeting of the committee convened by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) to consider the matter of cultivating suitable areas of land adjacent

to the city was held in the Mayor's room last evening. There were present:—Messrs. W. .J. Thompson, G. Frost, T. Ballinger, W. H. P. Barber, J. P. Firth, J. Relf, G. A. Hurley, Newman, A. Crawford, F. Towneend, H. Dormer, and others. On behalf of the committee of Hutt experts, Mr. Thos. Waugh reported that, after inspecting lands at Miramar which might be available for planting potatoes, they had conoluded that the old racecourse (Miramar Park) was suitable for the raising of one crop of potatoes. Tho polo ground they could not recommend as likely to yield satisfactory results, but parte of the football ground at tho junction of the main Miramar and Seatoun Roads were suitable. They had also visited the Town Belt, at the top of Mein Street, but could not recommend it as suitable for the purpose in view. Mr. Waugh also supplied a very valuable detailed estimate of the cost por acre of the preparation of the ground, and the planting, which details the committee did not wish published. At this stage Mr. Relf, on behalf of Mr. Cavanagh, of Kaiwarra, offered an area of just under 50 acres of land at Wainui for cropping, for a period of three years free of cost. Mr. F. Townsend, in answer to a Question, said there would be about 35 acres in Miramar Park. He also said that there was some of tho best land in Miramar to the north of Miramar Park. Mr. A. Crawford said that he was sorry to have to make some remarks that might not be encouragiug, but he spoke as one who had known every 1 inch of Miramar. He thought they j would make a failure by ' planting potatoes on Miramar Park, but i'nero wc-e likely pr.rclies at Miramar north and lower down near tho old farm, right down to the golf links. He pointed out that the basis of Miramar land was sea-sand, and the land was well salted all over —that was what i made it so good for cattle. He had | never had to buy rook salt at. any j time. He believed with Mr. Barber j that good potatoes could be grown at j Seatoun, and the Maoris in the old ' days had grown excellent potatoes at j Karaka Bay. He thought that tliej scheme was a much bigger one than | was imagined. He thought that if the Government acted they might utilise the good land round about Foxton, where the Manawatu River bad been making rich deposits for many years. There was good potato land in Canterbury and Hawko's Bay, enough to grow potatoes for tho whole of New Zealand, and for export, too, but be was very much inclined to believtf that the Miramar schenioJ would result in failure. Mr. Georgo Frost said his ideas of Miramar land had been very different

from those of Mr. Crawford, but since hearing one who probably knew moro about the land than anyone in the 'room, and in the faco of ho said, they would probably have to drop Miramar.

Mr. W. H. P. Barber said that Mr. Crawford was probably spsaking. of many years ago, since when the land had boon changed. His experience was that good crops could be raised if advantage was taken of the wet season. He quoted personal experience of successful cultivation of vegetables and flowers at Seatoun, whero the" soil was moro sandy than in Miramar. Mr. Townsend said that at the present time he could take the committee to Miramar and show them vegetables equal to anything grown at tho Hutt. When he lived at Miramar North ho grew vegetables for his own use, and used tofgive away sacks of vegetables to different homes. Ho was prepared to recommend tho Miramar_ Borough Council to allow an area of eight acres in tho park for potato-growing ; and he could probably arrange satisfactory terms with the company in which ho was interested for tho uso of tho rest of the area. (Applause.) Mr. Waugh said that notivithstanding what Mr. Crawford had said ho was satisfied that a good crop of potatoes could be raised at Miramar. ' Mr. F. Westbury said that ho would not mind taking over the racecourse and cropping it himself .for a. year. The fibrous matter resulting from the planting of English grasses was something favour. He was N not inclined to go back one ipta on the-ir report. Messrs. Ball and Tilburv (experts) were also of the same opinion. The chairman, referring generally to the subject, stated that it was pretty certain that there was going to be a food shortage in the worm A They had onlv to road that day's paper to find that the American whea.t crop was a small one, so that what they had done j tip to the present was in order. He j pointed out that all the parks in Lon-! don were being cultivated, not by com- I mcrcial men, but by groups of people. I He had had an offer from tho National ' Reserve and the labour they would pro--! vide would effect economies in connec-1 tion with the scheme. i

Mr. Towusend said that he could give the assurance that some twenty acres would be available for potntogrowing at Miramar. The chairman expressed the thanks of the general ooramittee to the committee of experts, ajid moved that the j Miramar scheme he gone forward with. That- was agreed to. j Mr. W. J. Thompson said that he I hoped that the committee would en- | courage anyone who Tia3 a small plot j of land to put it down in potatoes, and i moved that in the interests of food I economy people bo urged to cultivate | all the available loud possible. The j motion was carried. ■Mr. Crawford moved that the Executive Committer make inquiries as to any large sirens on the west rea-st between Wal'iustoii and Palmerston North, i" which matter they might intercsfc i'm Onveniment, and perhaps Mr. W TT. Field, M.P. Mr. Tlimr.psoii thought if they were eoiiu' in for sreh a his as Mr. Crawford proposed they would require a .Tood deal of finance. j On the supgrstion of the Mayor that i ohnso of rte matter 'vac deferred, pend- I ing a further report from the Executive | Commitf"? on the Miramar project. Tho F-cermtivc O-ovnmitteo is to. visit Mi-rainst no-n;« to-morrow afternoon. D;iri)H; the oveninc the Mavor announced that the following, offers of 'land Iu"! been r'-wived:—Mr. Driver, a section -■- Reikiornppi; Mr. Gray, section «*■ Mirnmar: JJY. Tfcinpton, section at M'ramar: Mr. Mann., seo+ion at LudJf.m Parle; Mr. Morris, section at TCilbirute: Mr. A. Wiren, section at Seatnun; Mr. Holdsworth, section at | Townsend Ttond, Mirp.mar: Mr. Newman, section at M'rnnw: Mr T. BallinsT"!-, section nt Miramar (on behalf of Mr. \. J. Cook). The offers wore received with thanks. — -== I