INSTRUCTIVE TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 6

INSTRUCTIVE TOUR

WAIRARAPA YOUNG FARMERS RETURN IMPRESSIONS OF THE TRIP. MAORI DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES. “There is no question that the members of the party thoroughly enjoyed themselves and that the tour served its purpose,” said Mr N. Lamont, Agricultural Instructor, on his return to Masterton today after an eleven-day tour undertaken by members of the Wairarapa Young Farmers’ Clubs. “The tour,” he added, “has given the Young Farmers a generally broader outlook on farming in the North Island. This is one of its principal functions,” he observed, “as it gives them a good idea of what the farming conditions are like in other districts.”

The party, which comprised 23 members, in charge of Mr Lamont, left Masterton by bus on May 23. The first day entailed considerable travelling, the night being spent at Ohakune. An inspection of the Ngakura and Horo Horo native settlements was made on the next day, the work being carried out here being most impressive. They were entertained at Ngakuru by a Maori Young Farmers’ Club, the only one in existence. The Maoris extended an extremely warm welcome to the visitors. — ROMANCE IN FARMING. 8 Making some observations on the development of these pumice lands, Mr Lamont said he was much impressed with the way in which the Maoris were tackling their task. The work they were doing was really most significant. There was, he said, a certain amount of romance attached to it. At Horo Horo was a symbolic stone that embodied much of the spirit and enterprise with which they worked — formerly the two tribes were enemies, now they were united in building up an agricultural race. After seeing the sights of Rotorua the party proceeded to Tauranga, being entertained by the Paengaroa Young Farmers’ Club en route. At Tauranga they had a launch trip on the harbour and a sports gathering, at which several of the Wairarapa members were successful. Continuing to Te Aroha, much interest was shown in the limo works, where a 34-acre depcsit of shells, having a depth of about feet, is being worked. The shells, mostly pipis, are being ground up for liming purposes. PAMPAS AS FOOD. Mr J. McLean’s pampas plantation at Pipiroa was of much interest. Mr Lamont said Mr McLean wintered his stock on the pampas grass and if his summer feed was rather strong and too lush he used it to balance the diet. Nine months’ growth of one plant would feed an animal for a week. Stock relished it and a six foot plant would be eaten down to six inches from the ground. Mr Lamont expressed his doubts as to whether this grass would do half as well in the Wairarapa.

Speaking of certain areas in the Hauraki Plains, Mr Lamoht said the country at the time of their visit was looking at its best but later in the year it was practically a quagmire. Flood control and drainage was a big question in this district. There was a remarkable growth of grass for this time of the year, throughout the Auckland district. After a visit to Auckland, the return journey was made via Hamilton and New Plymouth, visits being paid en route to the fertiliser works at Otahuhu, the Te Kauwhata Horticultural Station, Totara Park Friesian Farm, Ruakura Experimental Farm, Arapuni Hydro-Electric Works and the Waitomo Caves. At Ruakura some attention. said Mr Lamont, was being paid to the question of sterility in bulls and experiments were being undertaken to ascertain whether certain diets induced temporary sterility. Throughout the trip the weather was practically perfect, only one wet morning being experienced and that did not interfere with the itinerary.