PLAINS POTENTIALITIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4438, 10 July 1922, Page 3

PLAINS POTENTIALITIES.

MARVELLOUS LAND. NO RICHER IN THE WORLD. A POPULATION PREDICTION. SPEECH BY HON. G. J. ANDERSON. Ah outline Of. the potentialities of the Hauraki Plains and the Thames Valley, and a peep into the future possibilities, were given by the Hon. G. J, Anderson, Minister for Marine and Mines, at the luncheon at the Turua wharf opening on Saturday afternow. The Minister, giving a few figures, said the population was 3360, of which number 434' were Maoris. The improved land value was £1,904,290 and the unimproved £1,551,520. There were 96,126 acres in occupation, and some 250,000 acres which would respond to drainage. There was a total of 16,162 dairy cows exclusive of other cows. There were 9000 pigs. We all laugh at the pig in New Zealand, but in America the pig was a most important animal, it was profitable if properly looked after. Thera was also poultry and bees, which, however, did not matter much then. Cheese to the value of £1,807,000 and butter valued at £2 535,000 had been last year’s performance, which was a wonderful one. Referring particularly to the Plains the Minister said that to date 42,16? acres had been thrown open for settlement after drainage and valued at £307,630. The probable value to-day was £1,500,000. Another 5000 acres would become available for dairying next summer. The prime difficulty has been reading. The metal had to come by scow. There was also difficulty in draining peaty lands, but these difficulties, would be overcome. The Government had now over 50 miles of 1 gravelled and metalled roads on the Plains. In reclamation work the latest machinery was beipg used, and 246,000 cubic yards of spoil had been excavated at a cost of 7%d per cubic yard. That cost cannot he beaten anywhere in the world. As far as the production is concerned, it was marvellous, and the land marvellous. It was rjver silt, which was the best. The river peat can be worn down. Mr J. B. Thompson had travelled America, and now believed there was no richer area in the world than the Hauraki Plains. In America swamp lands were considered of- the most importance. "Here,” said the Minister, “ we know they are.” The Hauraki Plains had the distinction of! having a county which had the largest swamp lands in the Dominion -It was only a few years ago when the draining of this land was. commenced. It was his predecessor who first took the thing seriously in hand. "Though I cannot agree with him in polities 1 respected him a.® the instigator in draining, the Plains I. refer to the late Dr. McNab.” It was fitting, perhaps, that the speaker then should have the honour of opening the Turua wharf. A MILLION POPULATION. The Minister, continuing, said he believed the county would be even greater than it is. The Plains could carry an enormous population and ne predicted that in time to come the Thames Valley would carry a millio.’i of population. Some means would be found to bring the hills into cultivation. The farming industry was important. He wished the district every Sucess and hoped the areas in the district would be subdivided more and the poplation fall in with his predictions. One could see what this great valley would be in the future. SUB-DIVIDING ESSENTIAL Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., while proposing the toast to the local bodies endorsed all the Minister had said regarding the fertility of the land, and he would say more than that the district had the bes.t land in the world, but he would go further and say that it had the finest climate, and if it was not made the most prosperous district it was their own fault. If the fertile valley were not developed as it should be it was the fault of the Government. It was a national asset and there should be no in spending of necessary money. It was the best business proposition the Govenrment had in view. He could remember when mining and timber were the main sources of. revenue. He remembered Turua many ago when the industry was mostly timber. With a district like this, with an abundance of fertile land and capable of being subdivided and 400,000 acres in Thames Harbour district, he saw no reason why there should not be’ some day a million oi population in our lifetime. The land would be too valuable not to be subdivided, and the large debt would be nothing to them individually. Before concluding he said it was his great' pleasure to watch the groat development of the Hauraki Plains and assist them to get every penny of public money for the works. Before he represented the district there had not been one ’penny of public money spent there.