GROWING RICE IN HAWKE'S BAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 33, 2 November 1937, Page 4

GROWING RICE IN HAWKE'S BAY

Experimental Area To Be Planted A POSSIBLE INDUSTRY t An interesting experiment which may result in the establishment of a new primary industry in this distr-ct is now being embarked upon in Hastings. The proposal is to test the possibilities of rice-growing »nd the experiment is aimed at ascertaining whetner it is possible to grow rice in this district, and, if it can be grown, vhether it can be ripened and harvested. The idea emanated from a visit recently to Australia by Mr J, Wattie, of Wattie's Canneries, Ltd., who was greatly impressed by the development that had taken place in the rice-grow-ing industry in Australia, and in particular in the vicinity of Leeton, in New South Wales. He was given a sheaf of ripened rice during harvesting time there and, in collaboration with Mr J. G. C. McKenzie, Hastings, Borough Superintendent of Reserves, it has beem decided to plant this seed in two small beds at Cornwall Park to see if it will grow and mature in this district. 'All that matter s at the moment is to know whether or not it is^ possible to reap a harvest in this district," said Mr Wattie in an interview. "It is just a fleeting thought of mine that it might- be possible to establish the ricegrowing industry here, but I have not giv.en it any serious thought as yet. Much will depend upon the results of this experiment." Mr Wattie noted that in Leeton it was necessary to bring water 200 miles from the Murrumbidgee River for the cultivation of the rice fields. This was only one aspect of the vast irrigation seheme in operation in that aud other Plates in Australia and he said that he was immediately sLack with the possibilities of developing the industry in this district. "My tjhoiight was that the land round Meeanee and Pakowhai should be ideal for rice fields, '* he said. "Those areas could be flooded with waters. from the two rivers, the Ngaruroro and the Tutaekuri, at only a fraetion of the cost involved m the seheme at Leeton. The question of flooding in the localities I mentioned should not present any great difficulties." . * . In Australia the rice-growmg industry was now a particularly flourishing one. There had been set up a Riee Control Board and every grower had to have a license to grow rice. What was inhre, n& grower was; allowed to liave more than 80 rcres under cultivation. "Even with this limitation the growers are making quite a handy income out of the proposition. The industry has grown to such an extent in just a few years that it is now possible to supply lice for local consumption and still have sufficient to export to New Zealand and to England." Mr. Wattie considered that the ciima-

tic co'nitions in this part p£ Hawke's" Bay were very similar to those in the Leeton district and, judging from his examinatoin of their products, such as peaches and pears, the productivity of the soil here was measurably; better than in New South Wales. In Australia the fields ar6 flooded by bringing the water along the irrigation canals some hundreds of miles and then baaking up the fields of rice. About two or three weeks before harvesting . the water is drained off. Then at Rar-vesting-time the special stripping machineS come into operation.