PROGRESS DELEGATION

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1922, Page 1

PROGRESS DELEGATION

i LUTHER INTERVIEWS. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. The Progress League delegation enjoyed a day off yesterday, most of the party attending the races, which was a very fine gathering and the 'events were well contested and some fresh records achieved. Hon?. Michel and Grimmond, have arrived for this evening’s conference, also Mr W. Jeffries (Chairman Westland County), the meeting promising to he a most important one

Tiic opinion that the West Coast is certain to become predominantly a pastoral and dairying country was represented to ft “Press” representatives yesterday by members of the West Coast delegation at present visiting Christchurch. The growing of cereal crops would not become a staple industry, Lut winter food in abundance tvould be produced. Most of the grazing land on the Coast consisted of river flats and terrace land not of such high quality. A considerable per centage of river flats consisted of mica schist formation in the Grey Valley and more open country. It might be difficult for Canterbury people to understand why the Coast had previously been so backward in agricultural and pastoral matters, but there Mere good reasons for this. Thero liad been no really good outlet for stock and thus there Mas nothing to encourage progress.

Another great factor in impeding cultivation had been the absence of lime supply This difficulty was now overcome bv the establishment of ft co-ope-rative Lime .Kiln by West Coast Farmers Lime Coy. at Rubs. Hero thero Mas a limestone of a very high percentage, averaging 94. The kiln was now turning out high class agricultural lime and also good building lime Lbne, which liad previously not lieen available at all wns being used more and more every year and cultivation correspondingly was increasing. Thp provision of an adequate lime supply wns undoubtedly one of the most important factors in agricultural and pastoral progress of the Coast. The growing of root crops was increasing and very good crops of carrots and swedes were obtained. Photographs of a crop' of turnips averaging 36 tons to the acre Mere shown. The dairying industry on the West Coast had made rapid strides in the last few years. The highest average return of butter lat for one head liad been 352 pounds. The chief dairy districts M-orc in South Westland, Kokntnlii, Koiterangi, Arnhura, the Grey and lnaiigahua Valley. Karamea and Westport. A

The TCokntahi Company contemplated a lings increase in plant for 1924 season and it M-as possible that the whole of the present plant would ho sold and a totally new nnd much larger plant installed. Cheese faetiries at Wataroa and Hari Bari had been very successful and the soils were greatly improved by liming and top dressing with phosphoric manures. Clovernng did remarkably well and the Ictus major variety flourished best in Novlh Auckland district, and oil West ('oast vas very prominent in rough parti and swamp lands. Tt was acting ns a pioneer plant nnd was doing invaluable work. A great factor to be taken iito consideration in estimating the possibilities of the dairying industry on the West Coast was the absence of those dry periods which were usually experienced i'i nther parts during early autumn. While other parts were hone dry, the Coast was always verdant. It was toiv probable that when the Otira tunnel wns available, stock could he tailed to the Coast in dry periods and much money sued. Tlie ('cast was now producing very good stock. Addington sales proved this in regard t<* fat catt'e. The dairy herds were also being improved' niid a good number of imported jersev cattle were coining to the (.Vast for next season Everything pointed to a revival oi the dairying industry.

Tup swamp lands of the Coast were receiving attention. A complete survey of Hari Ifari swam]) lands had been made, the scheme had been approved by the Drainage Engineer and a stare would be made with it this spring. Kokatnhi-TCoitornngi swamps were surveyed and the next to he treated would he the Alikonui swamp. There were tine areas at Tiotokino and Afaponrika which would he treated in due course. The whole scheme would add many thousand acres to ho made available for pastoral purposes. The most successful grasses on heavy lands of the coast were timothy, rye. grass, cocksfoot, crested dogs tail and clovers