RECLAMATION OF SWAMPS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 130, 4 June 1919, Page 6

RECLAMATION OF SWAMPS

By its professions of zeal in the matter of reclaiming waste lands, and improving inferior lands, the Government occasionally endeavours to atone for its lack of zeal in the breaking-up of big estates. Under a proper policy, land for settlement would be made available from all sources, including the big holdings; but' as the latter appear 'to be, ior the present, tapu, little progress is likely to be made in that direction until the General Election has cleared the air. \ In- the matter of inferior lands and waste lands, however, the Minister-in -Charge, Mr. Guthrie, is endeavouring to formulate an active policy; and we notice that, in reviewing the possibilities of high country, dry country, wet country, pumice, and gum, 'he specially emphasises the value of swamps.' Not having any direct acquaintance with tho Central Otago dry areas, we are not inclined to challenge the inference that drainage, is more important, than irrigation. Everyone who knows the North Island knows that drained or partly drained swamps have been converted into splendid assets, and will probably agree with the Minister that they "represent some of the most productive land of the Dominion"; also that they constitute " one of the. most important fea.ures,-of the land question to-day." But is the work of swampreclamation being carried on in a manner commensurate with its importance? We notice in a Northern contemporary strong criticism of the insufficiency and inefficiency of the plant, the antiquity of the dredges, and tho inadequacy of the results. <sa.„ If this criticism is just, it is still open to the Government to reply that the plant is backward because of war conditions; and that reply would probably suffice, so far as the past is concerned. But for future operations it is surely good policy to improve all means and methods with the least possible delay, especially it—as the Minister asserts, and as most people admit-—swamp reclamation is one of the most fruitful sources from which can be derived high quality land. Long ago, most of the best land of the country was spied out and alienated. If some of it has been retained in the hands of the Government, by the accident of being water-logged, the asset will be all the richer if the drainage of il- is carried out on efficient and economic lines.