NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 264, 6 August 1942, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The scheme devised in Christchurch for the growing of potatoes on idle land appears to be an excellent example of co-operative community effort. Not only has the committee in charge been given the free use for the duration of the war of some 90 acres of land, but it is also to have free labour. It lias been estimated that this season’s crop, which is to be grown for the Army, will be worth something like £3OOO net. The monetary aspect of the project is not, however, the most important one. The increase in production of a staple commodity is the main thing. That this can be done at little or no cost other than the price of the seed and fertilizer, plus the incidental expenses of the scheme, is simply an added advantage. Other groups, in other communities where suitable land is idle and volunteer labour available, could give considerable national assistance by following the Christchurch lead. Vegetable growing directly for Army consumption, if more widely extended by patriotic enterprise, would provide considerable future relief to the civilian market.

References made by the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr. Bodkin, on Tuesday to the importance of static, or still, waler for emergency firefighting, have particular application to Wellington. It is true that in the event of high-pressure waler mains being destroyed by enemy bombardment the limitless reservoir of harbour sea water would be drawn on by fire brigade and E.P.S. pumps. But it is also true that the range of this supply would be limited largely to the low-level areas. The drafting and pumping of sea water under pressure to other points would involve an elaborate concentration of appliances—and this might become impracticable during a mpjor emergency. The need, therefore, is for a prudent supply of stored water at strategic points on the high levels. The city is not ■well off in this respect and no opportunity of improving the position shouk be lost. For example, school committees who are planning to install swimming baths on high-level sites handy to closely-built residential areas should be encouraged—or even assisted —with their projects. In at least one case in Wellington a proposal of this kind was recently shelved because permission to use a certain site, and to obtain the necessary materials, was not forthcoming. In the light of Mr. Bodkin’s statement—which follows on a strong recommendation io the same effect by the Superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade—-private plans for the provision of swimming baths should be re-examined with an eye to their dual- purpose.