FIGURES THAT TALK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 535, 19 May 1933, Page 7

FIGURES THAT TALK

E. H. A.

Alexander.)

genuine proof of production three years' work government and native lands

' (By

Those who waver in their faith with regard to the future ofj Rotorua would. do well to give their close attention to what has been accomplished in the development of pumice lands during the last three years The returns from the Government and jMaori areas quoted below provide striking prOof of progress and indicate what may be accomplished in the future.

^tafo*5)T is not the purpose in tb[is article to diseuss (r]uiMv/^vT Huality of pumice \\imH (7Q land, methods necessary to ensure its successful farming or the future possibilities arising from dts occupation. Those points have been fully covered by contributions from. experts and experienced farmei's in this issue. There will simply be 'a presentation of facts vouched for by responsible officers in charge of the development work whdch is to come under review. An expression of confidence in the worth of pumice land is, no doubt, encouraging when it comes from practical men who are qualified by experience in agricultural 'and pastorai pursuits. But there are many good, .sound fanners in the Dominion who, though not directly prejuddced against pumice country, have, nevertheless, been accustomed to naturally richer and, apparently, more vigorous soils. These fiarmers 'are inclined to lbok upon the pumice areas .as something in the nature of a cheap proposition which might be taken up if nothing better were offering. A' Courageous Example. The Minister for Lands fth'e Ilon. E. A. Riansom) had a good deal of this prejudice to' fight against when he started out to convince his Cabinet colleagues and Parliament that development upon a large scale was justified. It ' was a good thing for the Dominion that Mr. Ransom was possessed, not only of practical farming knowledge, but of the courage to back up his visiott of future prosperous settlement. To-day results from both No. 1 and 2 blocks at Nga~kuru stand ias a splendid vindication of his policy and the work of his i colleague, Sir Apirana Ngata, on the i native areas, supports right amply j the wisdom of the course followed. j Three Years' Work. Let us then recall the fact that a little over three years ago there were } thousands of acres of land adjoining j

the Atiamuri Road 'and in the Whirinaki basin covered with stunted scrub and sparse tussock. The area was so barren that there was an astonishing absence of all animal life. The only living things to be seen were hawks high dn the lair or occasional wild horses in the valleys. Th'ere was not even an earth-worm to the acre. Yet confidence in ultimate success brought a remarkable change in the scene. The scrub was cut, and burned, the land P'loughed, cultivated, sown in grass, fenced and planted with shelter trees and to-day tha-t waste of uninh'abited scrub has been transferred into rich p'astures which are yielding, even at this early stage, butter-fat returns which are a triumphant vindication of the policy of development. Here are the figures which fell th'e tale.

DEMO'NSTRATION FARtM For the purpose of gaining experience in farming, this pumice land and guidinig prospective settlers in the best methods for management of their holdingsr a "demonstration farm" of 224 acres was set aside and handed over to the control of the Agricultural Department under the direct supervision of Mr. C. Dalgliesh', fields instructor. At the present time this farm has 88! acres of p'ermanent pasture, 74! acres of temporary pasture and 10 'acres of turnips. Milking on this farm commenced in August, 1931. The 88! acres of permanent pasture were used for the grazing of the dairy herd during the milking season and .tbe 74! acres of temporary "pasture for late autumn grazing and winter feed. In the first season, on one-yeiar-old pasture, 56 cows were milked 'and 33 in-calf heifers grazed. The area wintered 110 h'ead of stock. For 1932-33 the stock carried comprises 82 dairy cows, 16 in-calf heifers, 12 calves, one bull and numerous pigs. Winter feed saved comprises 58 tons of hay and 220 tons of ensilage.

Since the commencement of operations 30,1941b of butter-fat have been produced. Development of "other area.s has made it possible to extend dairying operations on the share-milking ,basis. SHARE'-MILKING FARMS. There are six of these farms in occupation, each provided with' a comfortable cottage, modern cowshed and machine equipment. The farms total 753 acres and for the period from September last to date they have carried seven bulls, 331 cows and heifers in milk, 19 dry cows, 150 in-calf heifers, 88 calves ~apd 80 pigs. ~ For winter feed. 203 tons of hay and 310 tons of ensilage have been saved. Butter-fat produced t0 date, 46,5431.b BALANCE OF BLOCKS. There is still a large area awadting individual occupation/ but, nevertheless, in profitable occupation. Th'ere is a total of 3960 acres in grass, 12 acres in swedes 'and 238 acres in trees; 450 tons of hay and 1425 tons of en- * shags were Saved for winter feed. Owing to wet weather conditions haymaking was unduly curtailed, but as autumn feed is plentiful the need for hay is not so greiat a faetor as in the average year. Stock is being carried as follows: — Bulls, 29; dairy cows and heifers, 90; yearling dairy heifers, 626; calves, 50; beef cattle, 576; sheep (wethers), 1193; pigs, 32. Before turning to the native areas, it may be mentioned that the great majority of the Ngakuru sub-divisions have been planted with splendid belts of shelter trees and that in a little over two years many of these trees have reached over seven feet in h'eight. NATIVE AREAS Preliminary remarks with regard to the nature of the country and the • work undertaken apply equally to the native areas as to the Government undert'akings, but a much larger area has been brought under occupation. The development figures demonstrate in a most striking manner what is beihg done for the Maori farmers under the energetic policy adopted by Sir Apirana Ngata. HORO HORO. This block, which was placed under

development about the Ngakuru No. 1, has ( acres of turnips, 800 tonsf^^^^^^f tonS of ensilage, 2235 shee;^B^^^^H cattle, 722 dairy stock (co^^^^H | heifers) including 110 c alves^^^^H For six montlis the output was 52,7781b. PAREKARANGI. ^HB One hundred acres of swed^^^H 2954 sheep. PEKA. Ten acres of swedes, 388 sheepl^B 169 beef cattle. TIHI-O-TON'GA. Swedes, 260 acres; hay, 170 tons; sheep, 3012; beef cattle, 268; dairy cows, 113. Butter-fat production, 28,0001b. Wharenui Tuhetawhere.

Sheep, 183-7; beef cattle, 196; dairy heifers, 32. TIKITERE. Swedes, 50 acres; sheep, 974; beef cattle, 178; dairy cows, 181. Butter-'fat production, 75001b. Taheke. • Sheep, 2457; beef cattle, 374;', cows and heifers, 152. RUATAHUNA. Sheep, 3500. TOKAANU. Sheep, 688; beef cattle, 152. MAKETU. Swedes, 60 acres; sheep, 250; cows, 304; one-year heifers, 390. Butter-fat production, 41.0031b. RANGIURU. Swedes, 60 acres; sheep, 500. Stock Saies. Besides the output of buter-fat froin these 'areas there were saies of 3680 ewes, 4547 wethers, 1500 fat lambs and 544 bullocks. 4 A Fine Record. The potential feature of this development is that it has been accomplished in a little over three years.