A PENINSULAR OF PROSPERITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 12

A PENINSULAR OF PROSPERITY

HOPE OF THE NORTH DEEP SEA PORT DEVELOPING COAL AREAS (From Our Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, To-day. At a meeting of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce yesterday evening, Mr. A. Marshall, district public trustee, gave a most interesting address on the potentialities of the North, which he summed up as being bright and full of promise. In the face of a spirit of pessimism obtaining among a large section of the community, this assurance was not always easy to maintain. These gloom-disseminators were always ready to heavily discount any attempt to try and establish a healthy optimism in the undeveloped mineral wealth of the district. The two primary factors demanding attention were, firstly, our coal measures, and, secondly, our deep-sea port at Kioreroa. In the geological survey of 1919, the coalfields of Hikurangi were summed up in the closing paragraph of the report in the following terms:—“There thus remains about 2,200,000 tons of coal in the whole of the Hikurangi field. It is unlikely that more than half of this will ever be extracted.” In the same report the Kamo field was summed up as follows:—“There is thus left 400 acres or less, beneath which there may be an average thickness of 10 feet of coal. This will give a coal reserve of 6,000,000 tons." Since the survey was made, it had been proved by further boring and working that the Hikurangi field was far more extensive than was proved by the survey. In the two fields, experts now went as far as to state that there were up to 20,000,000 tons of coal. A Press report recently placed the probable reserves, as estimated by a geological survey, at 371,000,000 tons. The speaker said that if the experts who were working out coal would express their opinions on the unproved measures in the district, there was no doubt this report would be supported. The experts, however, quietly dismissed the matter by stating that it was only by boring that the quantity could be proved. It could be taken for granted, therefore, that there was a large area of coal unproved, which time and increased demand alone could solve. To develop these coal resources, it was imperative to have a deepsea port with up-to-date coalloading apparatus, so that when a coal-shipping trade connection was established ships could bunker in minimum time, and at minimum expense. Once this port became an established fact, an overseas shipping connection would be built up. and cold storage facilities to handle our produce would be demanded. Butter and cheese from Hokianga to Maungaturoto would then be shipped from Whangarei. Other industries—and the speaker suggested a manure works—could be profitably established, as it would be possible to bring raw rock phosphate from Nauru and Ocean Islands, and discharge direct into the works. The finished product could be handled with the same expedition. Economically, an output of 10,000 tons of manure was necessary to run a works, but with the growing demand and the extent of the country that could be conveniently catered for from Kioreroa, the success of such a venture was practically assured. Further, the economy in working expenses that works situated at Kioreroa could effect would practically bar competition from outside the district.

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS WAGES TOO HIGH SETTLEMENT LEAGUE MEETS “Since May the economic position has been accentuated for the worse, while unemployment in iti present volume is an indication that the present unsatisfactory position of the farming industry i* finding its inevitable reflection on other occupations.” In these terms Sir Andrew Russe. opened his annual report to members of the Land Settlement League h* evening. Inferior methods of farming, said Andrew, were largely responsible to this state of affairs. Again, there W a growir g feeling in the Dominion tna: wages were altogether out of proportion, and that the Arbitration Courts had unwittingly given awards whic: had not taken into account econom; facts. Another reason was that a farmer too often controlled more lan: than was justified by the capital ava; able to work it. The protection of unnecessary industries at the expense of the genera community was condemned. In conclusion the speaker congr* l -; lated the Crown Lands Department or its programme of opening up unoccupied land on terms that allowsd tr f settler to put all his capital into cvelopment. “Wages have risen to such an exter that the farmers cannot afford to P* them, and the people have drifted l • the towns.” said Mr. S. Hodge. T* present system of education vzs * fault, he continued. The Governro*should raise money and advance it j long-term mortgage to those men ing to carry on even though the security might not be good. A NATIONAL OBJECTIVE “We should have a national obj* tive, and that should be the cow,” said Mr. G. Finn, who conteo.that herd-testing and the of the scrub bull was one of the ers’ ways out of the present cn«»--quoted figures to show how py .***,,, matic herd improvement wit.jn_ years New Zealand’s produce exp figures could be more than douD; “Increased production will no w!°\ the farmers’ problems,” said * Harding. The costs of adminisu*. and the facilities for handling duce were out of all P^P 01 "**?!!. producers’ returns. Dealing with ers’ finances, he stated that n ' authoritatively informed that tne of the money made available - ' Bank of New Zealand’s new had gone into city securities. NEED FOR FREE TRADE “1 cordially agree that for a reduction of the tariff * D . trade within the Empire, Andrew Russell. He was in * also with the contention that of administration were too »* the league desired the Govefl take action, however, it w ° uia w act and sift out the problem _ ting the farming industry. In ‘ wc j sonal opinion the Government [ take no action unless the leagu it a strong backing. i On the motion of Mr. B - hur r seconded by Mr. M. G. McAri following resolution tvas unanimously:— “That this league expreeM* [ regret that the Government taken no steps to inquire fnC causes of the present ®fistr j [ urges the setting up of a . Jfl «ti« r > Inquiry, and also the of an adequate immigration P* 1 Mr. W. J. Broadfoot con^Jv € nc« : the league should ha\ * i place before the public. V u vital to its existence. On ir • seconded by Mr. W. ot p n ’ g t?ps \ diced that the league ta ße l arrive at the causes of settlement and endeavour back to its former state of