THE MOUTOA SWAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3797, 26 May 1928, Page 2

THE MOUTOA SWAMP.

SHOCLD GO'VERNMENT ACQUIRE IT? TO PROMOTE WELFARE OF HEMP INDUSTRY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED AT PUBLIC MEETING. There was an attendance of fifty odd residents of Foxton including a number of Uaxmill-employces at the public mooting convened by the Manawatu Fkixmills Employees Union, and held in the Town Hall supper-room on Thursday evening. Mr. M. E. Perreau (Mayor), was voted to the chair and formally introduced Mr. P. T. Robinson, Union Secretary. MOUTOA SWAMP GOING BACK, Mr. Robinson said the executive of the Manawatu Flaxmill Employees’ Union had gone fully into the question of unemployment in this district and, owing to the state the Moutoa Swamp, had come to, owing to neglect, had decided that it was in the best interests of the district to consider the advisability of asking the Government to acquire the clean and replant it with llax. The swamp was a l present in such a negleetel state that, more than half of it was growing willow, bellvine, fescue, goatsrue, etc., and in a short time, unless something was done to clean it and plant llax, the existing flax would disappear altogether, to the detriment of Foxton. People who knew the condition of the swamp were all agreed that it was going back faster every year, and in a few years time there would not be a blade of llax there. It was only a few years ago that llax grew in profusion from the Whirokino Bridge to the Shannon ferry right to the water’s edge. Now there was not a blade of flux within 10 chains of the river bank, the river bank growing nothing but fescue and other weeds. Mr. Easton had been approached to clean and plant "llax in the swamp but there did not seem any chance of him doing so. That being the case and the swamp going back every year, the executive decided that the Government should be asked to acquire the swamp and clean and plant it. Mr. Robinson confidently expressed the opinion that there was not a swamp in the district to equal the Moutoa for growing flax. No other swamp got annual silt deposits as the Moutoa did. The Massey College intended going in for flax cultivation and suitable plants for planting could be procured from this quarter. If the Government acquired the swamp the problem of local unemployment would be solved because cleaning and planting work could be carried on in the off season—two or three- months every year. If the suggestion were carried out Mr. Robinson felt sure that in ten years time the output of flax from the swamp would be trebled. A SOUND INVESTMENT.

In the event of the Government being approached to take over the swamp it would he necessary to submit some proof that the proposition would be a sound investment. That was quite, easily done, however. Mr. Seifert only a few weeks ago made a statement to the effect that 49 tons of ilax had been cut to the acre off Miranui. If that had been done at Miranui then there was no reason why it could uot be accomplished on the Moutoa. Mr, Robinson then went on to quote from an article written by Mr. Seifert for the Agricultural Journal in which he gave figures which showed that llax growing was a far better proposition than dairying. Mr. F. W. Wilson: Does he compare fiood areas? Mr. Robinson: He says the samo class of land. Mr. Wilson: Yes, but under different conditions. Mr. Robinson: Some people would deny anything no matter what proof was brought forward. Continuing', he proceeded to quote from an article by Mr. H. A. Seifert, and another by Mr. Smerlie on the crops that could be taken off flax land. By side leaf methods 20 to 25 tons of flax had been cut per acre per annum. Mr. Wilson: No one will convince me that you can cut 20 tons of llax per acre side leaf. INTERESTING FIGURES. Mr. Robinson said that off an experimental block the other day 25 (*wt. of ilax was taken off onetwentieth of an acre. The speaker then quoted figures from the Miranui prospectus which, he said, showed that growing green leaf was a good proposition. One hundred acres at £SO per acre would produce 700 tons of green leaf per annum. If the Government took over the swamp after paying £1 per ton royalty it could have £250 for 700 acres for upkeep. The Moutoa Swamp could be and is cut every three years. Taking 3G tons to the acre every three years which was equal to 12 tons per annum, royalty 15/- per ton, a 3G ton crop would give a return of £9 per acre per annum. That, flaxmillers would agree, was a fair return per acre. Messrs A. and L. Seifert started in 1907 with £3,600 and in 19 years added £193,500 of undivided profits into capital and paid £130,319 in dividends. Yet Mr. Seifert in evidence recently said that millers only got 4i per cent, interest on nominal capital. What they actually got was 30 per cent, on what was put into the industry.

IMAGES AND QUALITY. A flax worker present asked how it was that the grade and price were at present so low and gave his opinion that this was due to the millers cutting wages . “The wages were cut, and the scutching and paddocking are cut, and we have to do the best we can for the wages, and so can’t put out the same article. The employees should be paid according to the scale of prices,” he concluded. An opinion was expressed that if the Government took over the’' swamp the workers would be paid 9/- per day. Mr. Wilson asked Mr. Robinson if he honestly thought the Moutoa Swamp a suitable area for flax cultivation. Mr. Robinson: Without fear of contradiction I say the Moutoa Swamp is the best swamp in this district for planting llax.

Mr. Wilson contended that tho Miranui and Moutoa swamps could not bo compared with regard to flax growing. Flax could not be 4 planted on the Moutoa according to Mr. Seifert's ideas and figures. The area was subject to a good deal of flooding.

A voice: It could he drained. Mr. Wilson: That’s no use. Mr. J. Smith asked if the Government had the power to take the land. A voice: No. OFFERED TO GOVERNMENT AT VALUATION. Air. Robinson said he did not think such action was necessary. A few years ago there had been a dispute between the Government and the owners over the valuation placed on the property, and the owners had then offered the property to the Government at its own valuation. In reply to Mr. Wilson he said that it was a remarkable thing that the Moutoa was not suitable for flax growing when all other swamps suffered the ravages of yellow leaf ten times worse than the Moutoa. Mr. R. Shaw asked if there would he any unemployment during the winter months if the Government ' did take the swamp over. Air. Blanche stated that many years ago he had cut flax all the year round in the Aloutoa. RESOLUTION CARRIED.

The following motion was then moved by Air. Robinson and seconded by Air. Hall: — “That this public meeting of the citizens of Foxton views with alarm the grave deterioration of the flax in the Aloutoa Swamp owned by Alessrs Stevens, Easton, and Austin, and is fully convinced that tho Government should acquire this swamp and have same thoroughly cleaned and planted in flax, otherwise the flaxmilling industry in this district will practically go out oi** existence to the detriment of the people generally.” Air. Shaw, again asked if unem-** plojunent would be done away with if the Government took over the >• swamp.

The Mayor: During the. winter planting could be proceeded with. Mr. Shaw, senior, considered the Government would not' be faced with any great difficulties if it acquired the swamp. The flooding in winter would do good. It was such top-dressings that made the Moutoa flax disease resisting. He was doubtful, however, if the Government could be made interested enough in the project to do anything. He knew of 50 tons of flax having been cut to the acre at Paiaka.

Mr. Fox voiced the opinion that the scheme would hardly relieve unemployment during the winter months owing to floods being encountered. A NATIONAL ASSET. . Mr. Robinson said there had been a lot said about the flood menace being detrimental to the growing of flax. How was it that all the high land in the Moutoa was growing rubbish and all the low-lying good flax? There were hundreds of acres where men could be employed planting flax at the present time. Young plants could be put on the river banks where water scarcely stayed longer than two or three days after a flood. It was only agitation such as this that established the Forestry Department, on which the Government spent thousands every year. If money could he spent on forestry work it could also be spent on flax . nltivatiou. Mr. Robinson submitted figures in connection with the expenditure on afforestation. In conclusion, Mr. Robinson said he felt sure that they were in a position to show the Government that flax planting and the acquiring of the swamp would be a national asset.

IS MOUTOA SUITABLE FOR FLAX CULTIVATION? .Mr. Wilson said the idea was all right if the area was suitable. The question was “was the Moutoa swamp suitable for the scheme?” Could the plan's he handled to maturity on the banks? Even so, the scheme would not alleviate the unemployment. If the State took the scheme over everyone would have to pay for it. It was a serious v question. The motion was then put and carried on the voices. Mr. Robinson was deputed to carry on the work and take whatever steps were necessary. Mi\ Robinson thanked those present for their attendance and the Mayor for acting as chairman. The meeting terminated with a. vote of thanks to the chair.