Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 22nd., 1921. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1921, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 22nd., 1921. THE WEEK.

A lyii'Eimis'DUM was made this week to the growing of lucerne as a prime necessity to increase pastoral production, jln reviewing the general position, Mr Maepherson, late of the Agricultural | Department, went on to say to a Christ'church audience as follows: Tt is quite ! evident that we must alter o.or preJ sent agricultural system which is becoming obsolete. We must eliminate | every bad practice of the past, which hinders development and stultifies pro[duction; we must stop attempting to 1 grow root crops, which are now unreliable on account of the prevalence of fungus diseases, and the ravages of insect pests, and under the present farming methods and conditions are the most expensive crop a farmer can grow o- occupy the land with. We mist hipld our humus depleted lands particularly those used for grain growing by adding orgahic matteir. We mustcease to grow as pastures, particularly on our light lands,' grasses and other plants, quite unsuited to these, and we must feed all our semi-permanent and permanent pastures more rationally if the early stages their growth if they are to have the carrying and lasting capacities so essential to increased production. We must bring all lands undeveloped, now producing little, and capable of profitable cultivation, to add their quota to the production and consequently wealth of the country. Wo have for our example the lines on which progressive countries in other parts of the world organised and overcame such another condition of affairs as exists in the Dominion, and especially in Canterbury. They were alive to the possibilities and benefits that would accrue through an extension in their respective countries of the area devoted to lucerne

growing. Every channel was made use of to disseminate information and bring home to farmers and communities the wealth and progress which is assured ,to those countries adopting an extension of lucerne growing area.”

M. Aristide Briand who for the seventh time in the history of French politics has been called upon to form a Cabinet is, says the Lyttelton Times, the William Morris Hughes of his country—that is to say he is a finished and accomplished professional politician who entered politics as the most radical of Radicals, and the most socialistic of Socialists, but whose administrative ret erd lias shown very little Have ir of Radicalism and no connection whatever

with Socialism. Indeed it was Briaiul who as the head of a Socialist Ministry quelled a railway strike by the use of the atony. He has not played any great part in political matters in the last five years, and when last lieaid of, just before the war, lie was understood' vaguely, to stand for such elemental reilurms) as proportional representation and the overhauling of Franco’s unique and wonderful judiciary system.

The emergence of Briand at the present, juncture in French affairs is duo probably, in part, to his inborn apu tude for hearing the call for opportunity, and partly because the eternal labour problem is becoming rather mine aertto than usual in the Republic. 'The

, administration of M. Loyguos has been indulging in war to the knife with the Soeiete Generale du Travail, and has recently declared that powerful and strongly-affiliated institution to be illegal. The proclamation offers peso bilities of unlimfted trouble and Briaiul is almost as adroit as Mr Lloyd George ,'in side-stopping awkwalrd situations. He is a wonderful speaker—one of those orators who conceal their purpose under an appearance of amazing frankness and honesty. It is a. saying of his opponents that he hands his hearers .. “cup of opium.” Concerning his foreign policy, there can he ]i tfcl e doubt that it will he as Chauvinistic as that

of Millerapd. In fact it will be Miller - and’s policy, but put up in a more attractive wrapper.

The Toaroha river utilised for hydroelectric purposes is again in the public mind by reason of Mr Birks’ visit to the locality this week. An electrical scheme from the source referred to, was formulated by Mr C. J. Parham some twelve or thirteen years ago. Mr Parham had great faith in the scheme and it was intended at the time to use. the generated power for the purpose of pumping water on to Back Creek terrace for mining purposes. Mr Parham went a long way with his scheme, which was almost placed successfully on the London market. But there were hold-up difficulties about the water rights at a critical juncture in the fortunes of the enterprise, otherwise there is little doubt, the enterprise would have been launched. Mr Parham had a definite proposition put forward, and that relating to the development of power involved the diversion of Toaroha stream some 61 miles up from the junction with the Kokatahi river. A right of 150 sluice-heads was eventually secured and was to be taken at a point where an effective head could he got of at least 700 feet. This fall was' to bo secured by constructing a tunnel through gneissoid quartzoze schist for :i distance of 54 chains, and a pipe-line down from the outlet end of the tunnel, 38 chains in length, to the point where the power station was intended to be erected. It was proposed under this scheme to supply 6,142 effective horse power at the turbine pumps which were to lift the water from the Hokitika river to Back Creek terrace.

In the interval since Mr Parham'S scheme was lost, electricity has come more into its own, and if the conditions existed to-day which obtained a dozen years ago, with present-day knowledge for a guide, doubtless the proposition would have come speedily to pass. The proposal in those far-off days was in a very complete form, and much time end and money went in the endeavour io bring the great enterprise to pass. Though primarily intended for mining purposes, it is quite clear now that if the power were actually available there would be a great demand for if for purposes other than mining. Tt would be easy therefore to speculate on what might have been, had Mr Parham’s proposition but come to pass. It would be a great asset to-day,