POTATO GROWING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 8

POTATO GROWING

MIRAMAR SCHEME DUBIOUS

HELD OVER MEANTIME

CULTIVATION OF GARDENS

A meeting of the committee set up by tho Mayor to encourage the growing of potatoes was held last night, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presiding. In opening the meeting, the Mayor said that he wished to. have tho opinion of the committee as to whether tho Miramar scheme should be gone on with. He mentioned that tho Minister of Agriculture had promised (.!•,« help of his Department.

Messrs. F. Cooper, Ltd., wrote offering to aid the project with a donation of twenty guineas' worth of the best and most suitable vegetable seeds for the purpose.

An offer of the free use of a tractor was ruado by Messrs. Hatrick and Co. Tho meeting carried a resolution of thanks for these offers. Mr. F. Townsend, Mayor of Miramar, [ said that the position regarding tho land at Miramar had changed somewhat since last meeting. Possibly owing to the'advertisement the place had received thero had been inquiries for the Miramar land, and ho had let a large portion of the land for a vegetable garden, and ono portion of it- was part of the area he. had in ■ mind for this potato-growing scheme. This land would not now be available. Regarding the racecourse, this area was let for grazing, and the tenant did not fool inclined to give up possession. There would, however, be ten or twelve acres still available. Discussing the Miramar scheme generallj', he said that he did not think the scheme was worth while if all the labour had. to be paid for. If voluntary labour was available it would be worth while. Ho was in favour uather of encouraging individual effsrtls on garden plots and on allocated -plots possibly of this land. Mvv Wangh agreed with Mr. Townsend in, this. If the labour had to be paid for tho project could not succeed. But he understood that the Mayor had an idea of getting tho assistance of the National R-eserve for the labour, and if this were so he would advise that the scheme be. proceeded with. There was enough land still left which was quite suitable for potato growing. Mr. Townsend said he did not think the project would work, for the reason that no interest was being shown by tho public. He saw no prospect of getting free labour to carry out tho work. Even if_ a number of people promised to help with tho work, he was afraid that the enthusiasm would evaporate very 60on. In any case it would not be possible to cultivate the land and grow potatoes by working on Saturday afternoons. More', attention than this had to be given the land. Ho did not think it was worth while to go on with tho scheme. He did believe very strongly in the proposal that men should be encouraged to plant their own garden plots, and that they should if necessary be assisted with seed.

The Mayor submitted this resolution: "That this meeting emphasise tho importance of all citizens having suitable plots of land for the growing of garden vegetables to cultivate same in the interests of individual and national efficiency. To aid in the carrying out of this resolution a committee be set up consisting of the Mayor and Messrs. Startup, Townfiend, Hurley, Waugh, Westbury, Tilbury, .Copper, and Ball, with full power to act, lb enable growers to obtain the best seed, and such advice as may be necessary." This'resolution was accepted and carried. After some discussion on the Miramar scheme, the Mayor put to the meeting a proposal that the big scheme for the cultivation of an area at Miramar be deferred, and that the committee make inquiries as to the possibility of getting individuals or associations of men to undertake the cultivation of parts of the area. Mr. Luke said that he was just as anxious as ever to have the scheme go on, but he was concerned about the supply of labour. He admitted frankly that the response had not been so ready as he had hoped. The resolution was carried. Tho Mayor said that he was by no means downhearted by the apparent failure of the Miramar proposal, and his only regret was that the work of tho gentlemen from Hutt had seemingly gone for nought.

Mr.. Waugh said that all that lie and Ills friends had done had been a pleasure to them. Ho would suggest that they now prepare a set of hints and instructions to aid individual workers in garden plots, and that these should be printed- and distributed in pamphlet form.

This suggestion was adopted, the Mayor agreeing to arrange for the printing' of the pamphlets.