CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2177, 16 September 1920, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) ' Sir.—You. stated that the MayoariPj said that the carrying of the water and drainage loan presaged an era of prosperity for Eoxton. 1 sincerely hope that the Mayor’s prophesy will come true. The Mayor is a farmer outside (he borough, with a ' residence inside the borough, and is a small borough ratepayer. To all small ratepayers, and every householder who will be served by the scheme, the successful carrying of the loan is a matter for rejoicing. We shall be richer in health, and that is of supreme importance. But the Mayor is somewhat vague as to what he means by an era of prosperity. There are about (500 dwel- , lings in the borough, not all of which will be served at present, and there are large areas of land used for grazing purposes. Add the extra rales to these sections, and grazing becomes unprofitable. Owners will therefore have to put these lands to more profitable use. The demand for building sections at present is nil, and it is open to question whether water and drainage will attract a retired class of settiers. Well, Sir, there is one industry which should bring idle laud into profit, and that is poultry farming. Ebxton, according to experts, is ideal in every respect for poultry farming, and if lliis industry was taken up systematically by persons with vacant sections, they would be astonished at the results, and the extra rale bogey would vanish like nisi before the sun. The capital required to start a small run is infinitesimal. Green food could be planted, and (-ora grown. This would help to bring about an era of prosperity. With shelter belts, apples could be grown profitably. Weilington, a few miles distant, could fake all the eggs, fruit, and vegetables we could produce. In the past we have gone up and down with the hemp industry, and if I am anything of a profit, unless some change is adopted in the cultivation of (lax, the industry is not going to last. So it is no use relying on hemp for our future prosperity. The port may be improved, and the railway connection may come, but unless there is more intense cultivation and closer settlement 1 am afraid there is not much hope for Foxton's future era of prosperity. Perhaps the carrying- of the loan for water and drainage may compel action in the nature I have indicated. —1 am, etc., RESIDENT.