VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 8

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT

PLOUGHING TOWN

Volunteers are urgently required by the North Taranaki Council of Primary Production to clear, plough and disc certain town sections that have been offered by owners for the growing of root crops, the proceeds of which would be devoted to patriotic purposes. Volunteers willing to lend sections of usable land will also be welcomed. One such section of nearly an acre in extent was lent by Mr. Allen Veale in Lorna Street, just off Devon Street west. It was felt by the council that if the heavy work of preparing the ground for the crop could be done by voluntary labour the pupils of the Catholic school nearby could be persuaded to take an interest in the matter and attend to the crop in its growing stages. Another section had been offered' in Morley Street by Miss Tyrrell, who undertook to look after the crop once the seed was sown. This area was deemed too small for ploughing and the suggestion was made that a squad from the New Plymouth National Service Corps might undertake the work of digging the land prior to the council taking it over for sowing. Still a third area, measuring about an acre, was available at the Catholic school, where Mr. T. McPhillips, a retired practical farmer and chairman of the school board, had guaranteed that the crop would be well looked after by the boys of the school, under his supervision. Inspection of Sections. Having inspected the Lorna Street section, Mr. J. M. Hopkins, of the Department of Agriculture, New Plymouth, advised the council last night that it would be quite suitable for growirig a root crop such as mangolds. The main part of the section was flat with a steep portion running down to Lorna Street, but, despite this, cultivation would not be difficult. Mr. Hopkins pointed out that it would be necessary to have the area cleared and ploughed as soon as possible to allow for a suitable fallow period. Implements and horses, he said, could gain access to the section from Calvert Road. Mr. Hopkins also reported favourably on the other section. Mr. D. LeC. Morgan, secretary to the council, said he recently issued an appeal to farmers in the Omata district to undertake the preparation of the Veale's estate section which it was desired to sow down first, but so far he had had no reply. That groups of boys would be available from the New Plymouth Boys' High School for a certain amount of the digging and weeding was mentioned by Mr. J. C. McDowall. Donors of sections and those who had offered to care for the crop were thanked and the secretary was authorised to purchase the necessary supplies of seed and fertiliser.