PUMICE LANDS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 283, 11 April 1929, Page 5

PUMICE LANDS.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, Despite Lack of Government Aid. The question of the suitability of pumice lands in the vicinity of Putaruru for settlement is a very live one, and the interest has been accentuated by the recent visit of the Minister of Lands (the Hon. G. W. Forbes). A representative of the Putaruru Press had the opportunity of seeing some of the land, and one could not help but being struck by the excellent farms that have been evolved from this class of country.

One of the farms visited was that ■of Mr. W. H. Taylor, of Tokoroa. Mr. Taylor’s section is a portion of an Education reserve, there being at one time 12,000 acres in this block. The greater portion has, however, been sold to an afforestation company, and if all the land in the block is capable of being broken in as Mr. Taylor is doing with his portion, then such action is to be roundly condemned. Mr. Taylor stated that the flats were the least satisfactory, the rolling- country being undoubtedly the best. This farmer said that he had ploughed the land to a depth of six or seven inches, and he had used a mixture consisting of 151 b of cocksfoot, 61b Italian rye, 61b perennial rye. 21b of white clover and 61b of timothy. The result was a- good sole of grass. Eight cows were being milked on 22 acres, and no difficulty was being experienced in raising calves.

In conversation, Mr. J. B. Campbell, manager of the Matarawa Land Company, said that the land could be brought in as easily as any other in the country. Whilst dairying was the chief industry, some went in for fat stock raising, and the Press representative was shown a fine mob of fat bullocks and a line of fat lambs. These lambs were brought to' the estate two months previously as stores, and they were on the eve of being despatched to Southdown. The progress of dairying is well illustrated by the fact that the Tokoroa cheese factory was built in 1920, with one vat, and now there are five vats in operation. The first annual payout was £4OOO, and now cheques to the value of £20,000 are paid out annually.

The Matarawa Land Company have 25,000 acres, and on a 33 years rental the rent worked out at Is per acre. The Government valuation was from £1 to £1 10s an acre. The cost of bringing the land in, fencing, etc., was approximately £ls per acre, and it would carry one cow to two acres. Mr. Campbell, in common with others, stressed the fact that 150 acres at the outside was ample for one man to farm successfully. The company advanced money averaging £750 for the erection of residence, sheds, etc. The winters were being gradually shortened by the putting in of plantations. Mr. Campbell said it was the aim of his company to first develop the land sufficiently to enable the farmer to start producing right away; This, he contended, was a step in the right direction, in that the farmer could start milking and get returns at once without waiting for a few years until the land was broken in.

Another farmer seen by the Press man said that his herd of 38 cows averaged £l7 10s per cow. He had 100 acres, and he had increased his herd to 60 cows this season. Another successful farmer is Mr. E. H. R. Leslie, of Wiltsdown, and one cannot but be impressed by what has been done. Paddock and paddock covered with a first-class sole of grass was gone over, and the owner said that several of them had not been top-dressed for some considerable time. Several fine paddocks of swedes were inspected, and Mr. Leslie said that last year swedes weighing over 271 b were frequently to be found. The bullocks on the place are in excellent condition, and when complimented on the farm, Mr. Leslie said that the land in the district was all capable of being turned into farms such as his. Mr. Leslie instanced a block of 1000 acres improved I part of the Selwyn estate) where there were 2000 wethers, 600 lambs, 100 ewes,, 200 bullocks and 120 milking cows in two herds. Mr. Leslie said that the carrying capacity could be increased by practically double if all this block was all topdressed. The Tokoroa cheese factory has for two seasons past secured the highest grading notes for its product in +he Auckland province. There is a feeling among the farmers and apparently not without reason that this district is “ blacklisted ” in Wellington so far as the granting of loans is concerned. Farm-

er after farmer stated that though there land was not sick, yet they could get no .financial assistance. When pointed out that surely the valuing was done by men with a knowledge of local conditions, the answer was that these men apparently received their instructions from Wellington not to recommend loans in this area. The general impression is that the feeling against the district lies in Wellington.