SURVEY PLANNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19979, 3 July 1939, Page 4

SURVEY PLANNED

LAND UTILISATION HAWKE'S BAY PROVINCE CHECK TO DETERIORATION SERVICE OF RAILWAY (Per Pri'ss Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Tito part played by the railways in the development of the Dominion and the problem of soil erosion, were dealt with toy the Minister of Railways and of Industrial and Scientific Research, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, at Wairoa. Mr. Sullivan described the New Zealand railways system as one of the most modern to be found anywhere, and declared that the future of the railways in the Dominion is definitely assured. In some districts the railways had not received the support they deserved, but this was a matter for the residents themselves. In the case of Hawke’s'.Bay,' the- district had suffered severely from disasters in the way of floods and earthquakes, but it had risen rapidly from desolation, and had proved itself to be one of the most prosperous provinces in the Dominion. It was this characteristic, perhaps more than any other, that had induced the Government to proceed with the completion of the line between Napier and Wairoa. Recuperative Powers “It is true that this railway winds through rather precipitous country, presenting great difficulties *in its utilisation for agricultural and pastoral purposes” he said. “It has suffered greatly through heavy rainfalls, removing much of its soil fertility, but its wonderful recuperative powers lead me to believe that it will come into wealthy production.

“Land deterioration means a backward march in farming, but we confidently hope that, with scientific aids, we will prevent the country from becoming a farming wilderness.

“As in many countries overseas. New Zerfland is investigating this problem and a report is about to be published. The matter is being followed up with a view to ascertaining the methods that can be put into practice, to stop this wasting of our land resources and to enable them to be conserved, so that they be farmed profitably.” Confidence of Government Mr. Sullivan said that in the case of Hawke’s Bay, the Government had gone even further and the province had been selected for the first land utilisation survey. The question arose whether the railway to Wairoa would pay and whether it Would go through land that was worthy of the advantages of better transport.

The -Government had carried out a thorough survey of the land in the district and the farmers would be apprised of the results of this work.

"The confidence displayed by the Government in completing this line will be largely based upon what produce can be derived from ' the farming lands surrounding Hawke’s Bay,” said Mr, Sullivan. “The approach to the search for oil has been through a preliminary scientific survey which afterwards has been implemented by further scientific direction, so it is reasonable to expect that the agricultural development of Hawke’s Bay will respond to similar approaches.”