The Gaurdian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 4, 1927. THE SWAMP LANDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1927, Page 2

The Gaurdian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 4, 1927. THE SWAMP LANDS.

The swamp lands of Westland are very considerable in area, and left as they are they are waste lands. The question of turning them to material advantage has been referred to previously, hut the matter never has fieen taken up in the determined spirit it should. A letter published on Saturday from the Minister of Lands to Mr Seddon with res]>ect to the La Fontaine Swamp, at Harihari, should do something to revive interest in the matter. The Minister referring to the particular scamp area mentioned, said “it was thought that the time had arrived when the area could he subdivided and offered for selection either for dairying nr llax-grow ing.” This seems to give a clue as to what might be done—utilise the area and similar areas for flax-growing. Westland has proved equal to producing best grades of flax, that is, as good grades as any part of the Dominion can produce, and as the industry is a profitable one. it would be a step in the right direction to make a trial. We do not know from experiments made already that there would he much hope of bringing such land into areas suitable for dairying, excepting at very great cost for tilling and fertilizing. It would appear that if the areas wore thrown open for selection they would in the main fall into the hands of adjoining land holders for grazing purposes only, and would never lie developed to the extent they should he to serve the purpose of dairy farms. But as flax farms they, at once, have prssihlities which would give quick and recurrent returns. On the particular swamps referred to there has been a large public expenditure in drainage works. It would he worth while for the State to go a little further now, and try flax growing expert-.

menially. If that, succeeds, as there is everv reason to believe it will, there are many other areas throughout the district which will lie taken up for a like purpose. The flax crop reproduces itself so quickly that the project has features much in advance of timber-growing and as a means for profitable Stale returns, ami seeing the money private enterprise is putting into llax-grow ing in the North Island, the venture is attractive enough for the Stale l> utilise some ol the large area of Crown Lands in Westland, as a demonstration of what can he done in bringing the swamp lands of the district into profit. Adjacent to me st of the larger rivers in Westland there is a considerable expanse of sw'ump land, ami much i f it would ,he drainable at no great cost. Native llax already griws in ierritutw very much waterlogged. if fired .from liio surplus water, the quality of the commodity would impaivc quickly. In drained areas cultivation could he tried, and it seems reasonable to expert a greatly enhanced crop season bv .season. I hose who have ventured into llax-inilling already have demonstrated its possibilities, and if the scope were enlarged the industry would increase considerably. Much of the country being cut out of timber could also he utilised for llax growing, thus pro'onting profitless scrub growing up. The Minister of Lands appears to he taking a very practical slop ill this matter hv asking for a comprehensive rep ,rt from the Agricultural Department, and ,it is hoped Mr Seddon will press for the earlist production of the report so that the decisons of the experts may he known. From a general survey of the fiossihilities of flax-growing. wo are persuaded it is an industry of great future importance to Westland, and believe it cannot he taken up too soon on a comprehensive scale.