NEW LIME PIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1943, Page 2

NEW LIME PIT

TO SERVE COASTAL AREA PROPOSAL BEFORE MASTERTON - COUNTY COUNCIL. SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR G. MOORE. A proposal to purchase a site for lime pit at Abbotsford to serve the Uriti and Castlepoint areas was considered at yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the Masterton County Council when it was decided to discuss the matter further at the next meeting of the council. The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, wrote stating that if the council wished to purchase land for’ establishing a limestone quarry the scheme could be financed out of the _ general county fund. A further letter was received from the Auditor General advising that the Audit Office would not raise any objection if the council purchased the quarry and charged the cost to a riding account so long as the income derived from the quarry went to the riding account. SUPPLY MUCH NEEDED. Councillor Moore said that lime pits

were starting up all over the country. Lime was a coming thing. Farmers had to have it. Farming methods had to be altered from the way of taking everything out of the land and putting nothing back. As farmers, councillors would agree that what he said was true. Hill country top-dressing was feasible as never before. An area of 200,000 acres in the Uriti and Castlepoint areas would be served. That area needed lime. Transport cost was a killing factor in the distribution of lime. It had to be got on to the farms as cheap and from as handy a place as possible. At the present time lime cost the Homewood farmers £3 per ton and it was very inconvenient to get it. This year the wheat crop in the area to be served by the pit ran into some 600 bags. MORE DETAILS WANTED. “I have gone to great trouble to get a pit and I hope that the council will not turn dog on me,” added Councillor Moore. “There is no question of that,” said Mr R. E. Gordon Lee (chairman). “All we want is the scheme given in more detail.” Councillor J. W. Colquhoun: “We are not trying to obstruct you. All we want is more information.” Councillor Moore said he had been given, verbally, a price of £27 10s per acre for a piece of land at-Abbotsford for a lime put. The Farmers’ Union was interested in the proposal. The owner was prepared to sell only to the County Council. Councillor Colquhoun said that the council had not been given any idea of the quality or the quantity of the limestone. The Weraiti Hill pit was being worked and yet it was proposed to start another venture at a cost of £l,OOO or £1,500 a few miles away. The pit might look all right from outside appearances but who could say what was underneath? he asked. Councillor Colquhoun said he did not think another pit was justified. Councillor Moore: “That is a dog in the manger attitude to take.” Councillor Colquhoun: “I am not going to be bulldozed into anything.” Mi- Lee said he thought Councillor Moore should call a general meeting in his riding to discuss the proposal. FOOTING THE BILL. “Do the ratepayers want to foot the bill?” asked Councillor H. H. Mawley. Councillor Moore said he had nearly all the settlers’ names on a petition asking that the site be acquired He said he wanted the pit vested in the county rather than fall into the hands of private enterprise. Councillor Colquhoun asked on what authority Councillor Moore had gone to Wellington to press the matter. He said Councillor Moore had seen a Minister and as a result the Audit Department gave a different opinion to the ' council to that given by the Department of Internal Affairs. Councillor Moore: “Was that j wrong?” “Lime is certainly wanted but we . shouldn’t go into it blindfolded,” said : Councillor Colquhoun. “If it is a white s elephant who will be responsible for 1 it?” | Mr Lee: “The county.” < Councillor Moore: “The Uriti Riding - will pay for it.” 1 After further discussion it was de- 1 cided to obtain an offer in writing re- 1 garding the site for the pit and to con- 5 sider the matter further at .the next f meeting of the council. j