WORKING WELL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 343, 3 October 1932, Page 2

WORKING WELL

MORE PRODUCTION SUCCESSFUL RESULTS OF RANGITAIKI PLAXNS BRAINAGE. ANNUAL REPORT OF ENGINEER. ; In his annual report upon drainage operations in the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended March 31, 1932, presented at the present session of Parliament, the Chief- Drainage Engmeer, (Mr. R. >G. MacMorran) states, inter alia: — The year under review witnessed the cessation -of capital expenditure on this area. For some years it has been our policy to complete the original programme of works and the many extensions made desirable by the rapid development of the area. In many cases the completion of construction has had to await the necessarily slow process of consolidating and stahilising the country. I have elahorated in previous reports the point that the stopping of capital expenditure does uot mean that all possible or desirable works for the complete drainage and prot'ection of the area have heen undertakcn. It is considered that the wcrks originally planned and undertak'en have reached a stage where all future expenditure can equitably ecme under the heading of maintonance. Any further desirable extensions of the scheme come under the heading of works benefiting isolahed areas, and estimated to cost more than- it would je equitahle to load on to the general rating; or are of such a magnitpde that the area could not reasonably hope (in its present stage of develop1ment) to pay interest and sinking fund on the outlay. Nq flooding was experienced during the year from the several rivers and streams running through the area. The work being carried out last year at the mouth of the Rangitaiki Itiver was completed, and the river led hack to a straight channel. Success of Dairy Farmers. The Rangitaiki Plains continues to demonstrate its unique suitability for intensive dairy farming, which is refiected in the very ereditable increase in the output of butter from the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Co. The amcunt of butter manufactured hy this company totalled 2825 tons, an increase of 300 tons on th'e previous year. The Tarawera Cheese Factory went out of business before the commencement operations during the year, and a'l- ! ihough definite figures are not available, its quota would bring the total butter manufactured to over 300Q tons. ; Although this increased output de- j monstrates that the area is making j rapid strides in development, as is only to b'e expected with a new district, there are still considerable areas of good and piedium quality j lands on which production has not i yet reached the average. Present indications point to the time heing not far distant when, without further capital expenditure by the department, the total manufacture of butter will reach' 5000 tons, giving a return on present prices of £560,000 from dairy- i j produce alone. | Development work on the flax areas I with the area, aggregating approxi- j mately 7500 acres, has not proceeded i vigorously during the year, although j present cultivations have been fully maintained. A new flax-mill was ! j erected near the mouth of the Tarawera River, and milling will no doubt be commenced when payable market prices for hemp are obtainable.