UP AGAINST IT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1929, Page 2

UP AGAINST IT

,'' -FARMERS ON..POOR LAND. Hauraki Plains settlors are experiencing dfficiiltips, in common with jother! farming v communities in Now Zealand, and 'the. Minister of Lands (the Hon G. W. Forbes) has had them placed before him. Some of the farmers are “right up against it,” and the Minister ha.s promised to do what he can for them. That these are problems to be faced there is no doubt, but the greatest so far are tall fescue, a grass that is ruining hundreds of acres of country; crickets, which appear from time to time in swarms; and a soil deficiency which Dr. Peakes (Director-General of Agriculture) has promised to investigate Another .trouble is flooding of various parts of the area in winter. The huge drains and. canals which run through the country are becoming blocked, and are not. able to carry away the amount of water they were constructed to deal with. The chief drainage engineer, Mr MeMorrin, with the Minister approval, will tackle the problem, and these waterways will be cleaned out and in time be made more capable. In com moil with settlers on bushsick areas, Ilauraki Plains farmers have discovered that they have to provide themselves with “change” paddocks during the winter months, and with that object in view they have asked the Minister to open up blocks of country at present reserved for afforestation purposes on the higher ground. Mr Forbes has been sympathetic in all these matters and has stated that he would do what he amid, because it is the Government’s ideal to make land that it already producing more productive. It was mentioned to Mr Forbes that there were 50,000 acres of swamp. Crown and forestry lands hounding on the counties of Hauraki. Franklin and Waikato. Mr Forties has told deputations tliat he had no desire to hold hack any land which could he settled, especially if that land could he made to .pay something towards its cost Anytninu; lie could do to c-ontri'mtintr to the prosperity of any district would he done.