PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20729, 13 February 1939, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

MAIL NOTICES

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

DUST ON THE STREETS

(To the Editor) Sir,—l would like to draw attention to the water being used on Victoria and Ward Streets in order to settle the | dust. Surely something could be thought of better than than. As it is now it only splashes up on the public's shoes and stockings. It is not only the passers-by who suffer, but the shop people as well need to be considered. The streets will be much more dusty in a few months’ time. One good idea is to wear sun-glasses, and then you can at least keep the j dust out of your eyes. I do, and find j It a help.—l am, etc., SUZETTE AHIER, Hamilton, February 10.

BIRTH CONTROL

(To the Editor) Sir,—l agree with “Trust God's" sentiments to a certain extent, but I do not condemn birth control altogether. There are some criminal traits which are definitely hereditable, and should be stamped out. Take the ijan who has been gaoled { for robbery with violence. He has an inherent cruelty which, coupled with laziness, leads him to become a prey on society. Has this man a right to risk perpetuating his crimes? As for the potential scientists, inventors, etc., who were not allowed to have their chance, the two mentioned are not unmixed blessings. Think of the weapons for the next war! What we want are leaders for peace—men of wide vision, strength of mind and leadership, who would show this fear-ridden world that “only that which is feared is dangerous." Take the fear of war away and the danger of it at once begins to dwindle.—I am, etc., DUM SPIRO, SPERO. Cambridge, February 11.

GUIVIUANDS EXPERIENCE

NATIONAL PARTY

(To the Editor) Sir,—Mr R. M. Algie, in a statement i in your paper the other day, wanted to ! know where was the National Parly. \ When they read this they awakened j from their slumber and put statements j in the paper expressing grave concern | for the country. Mr Hamilton wanted ! Mr Savage to call Parliament together. I These Tories remind me of a ship I j was firing on once. We ran into a ' heavy gale and the passengers got the | wind up. They were afraid we would ! not reach land. They kept asking the officers: “Will we get out of this | storm?” The reply was: “We have got a good crew down in the stokehold that will stick to its task and pull us through." This is like what Mr Savage told Mr Hamilton. No need to fear: all will be well. We have got a good captain and crew to steer this country through any storm, with the help of all hands. ■Now that these gentlemen know what Mr Savage means they will be able to go back to their berths and sleep in safety.—l am, etc., J. MOODY. Hamilton, February 11.

Mails will close at the Chief Post Office as under: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Apia, Pago Pago and Niue Island close here 4.30 p.m. (letters only, 8.30 p.m.), to connect at Wellington with M.V. Maui Pomare. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Australian States, China, Japan, Balkans and Italy. Also parcels and second-class mail only for Ceylon, India, Malaya, South Africa and Egypt. AIR MAIL Great Britain, Ireland, Ceylon, India, Malaya, South Africa, Egypt, and other Empire countries served by the Empire air services, due London March 2. Also air mail correspondence for foreign countries (for special rates apply post office). Mails close at 8.20 a.m. to connect at Auckland with s.s. Monterey. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Mails for Great Britain and Ireland (s j cond-class mails and parcels), also letters and other articles for foreign countries in Europe, Central America, Jamaica and South American Western Slates via Panama, Pitcairn Island, close here at 4.30 p.m. (letters only 8.30 p.m.) to connect at Wellington with s.s. Tamaroa. Due London March 29. R. G. MAY, Chief Postmaster

INWARD MAILS

English second-class mail by Opawa from London on Febrbuarv 16. Empire air mail and Australian mail from Sydney by Wunganella on February 16. U.S.A., Canada and English (secondclass mail), by Monterey on February 17. English (second-class), Canadian and American mail from Los Angeles oy Monterey on February 17.

(To the Editor) Sir,—About forty years ago the writer went north from the West Coast. I inspected a gumland farm that lay well to the sun. Buildings were good; in fact, everything was laid out very attractively, including nice clumps of shelter. The price suited my pocket (as I thought), and although little or no grass appeared the agent, explained the reason. The owner worked in town, but all I had to do was to get a couple of horses and plough, and in no time I would be able to carry a herd. With butterfat at about 8d to 9d, ha. figured out—or even at 6d—and low overhead it was a proposition far better than giving high prices; and I landed myself with a gumland farm. I bought three first-class active farm horses and a plough to suit (I knew that part of the business, being a first-class ploughman). As the weather was fine, after a long spell of wet weather, I made good progress, and as the soil resembled blue papa that I had been used to I visualised different catch-crops growing, to be followed bv grass in the early autumn. To-day I could write a hook on what I did not know. The mistakes I made were laughable, and anyone who has handled gumland knows what to exi pect if it is ploughed wet and let get too dry. A heavy set of discs will not make a mark on it. All I could show for six months’ work was three well-broken-in horses; as for catch-crops, the less said the better. My finances and outlook did not fit in, so I was on the point of making the first loss the last and going on to land I understood. The only thing that deterred me was the words of my old schoolmaster: “You will often meet with discouraging’ conditions in any undertaking. Always remember, there is no such word as can't." Going down a hard clay ridge one day I noticed a clover plant growing . through a tea tree bush. It looked as if it had a gardener's skill lavished on it. I wondered if stock would eat it. Did they? Yes, and nearly robbed me of the sample I took to Auckland next day. i found it was Lotus angustisumus, supposed to grow on poor land. After the seedsman had dried his eyes following my recital of ! gumland experiences he suggested I j take 51b to Gib per acre and sow it | with 2cwt basic super. Although I i strapped a bag of earth on the discs ! I could get very little cover for the | seed, so I tried to replough, and ! lumps a couple of feet through were | the result. In disgust, I sowed the seed and took a job from a neighbour, who told me many things not to do. Being busy I and tired, I never bothered to look at I my job for a couple of weeks. Then I noticed, on looking across that there was a healthy green tinge. On the following Sunday I went over and got the surprise of my life, Not only only was the angus up, hut it was i growing as if it was on the best of soil, with good cultivation. A week after I had another look: it had then covered the big lumps I had ploughed up, and on standing on one it spread out like sand with a network of long roots like spider webs. I was quite excited about the results, and went across and told my neighbour, and invited him to see for himself. He said: “Look, old man; Nature gave me legs long enough. You are not pulling mine." When I got angry he went with me and got the shock of his life, and agreed it would solve the problem of farming gumlands. In spite of my giving results through the Press and leaving exhibits of soil change and growths alongside the bare gumland, people would not credit the change until they took advantage of my invitation to see for themselves. After a couple of years you could see paddocks of angus on all gumlands from Papakura to Albany. I broke in one farm there known as “ Poverty Flat." About twenty years ago I took a ride to a point above Kaeo overlooking the Bay of Islands, and what a sight it was! Below me the beautiful bay studded with islands, long inlets and bays, with sandy beaches glistening in the sun. Looking south and west as far as the eye could see, lay mile after mile of level to gently undulating land, mostly growing hakea—a sure sign of fertile land if enriched with angus. Nature supplied a range of hills on the west, lime and coal deposits, and one of the best deep-water landings in the world, Opua. As I sat and took on that wonderful panorama I visualised orange groves, vineyards, banana plantations, dairy and fat-lamb farms —a veritable paradise in the making. Yes, angus would revolutionise that vast stretch of waste land, and at a low price. Recently I came through, and what a shock I received. In places splendid farms have been made by individual effort, but the bulk remains, not in its natural state to-day, but a hot-bed of weeds. I invite the Minister of Lands to take Mr Semple and view the future Eden of the South. We require production, population, cheap fruit and vegetables, fish and health. Mr Semple's bulldozers can give all of those items; and at an economic price to-day, if every acre that is turned up is first sown with Lotus angustisumus. Bulk food is required to-day more than ever, as our decreasing minerals cause fresh problems with stock, and I proved that supplying all stock with access to dry.'feed at- all times of the year prevents loss. To-day we have the rotary discs and ploughs that will work ground to tilth at a low cost, and angus will do the rest and give not only an enormous bulk for ensilage and hay. but will not leave a weed on the land, as it climbs up them and buries them with its prolific growth. The writer had an eyesore in front of his farm—about three acres of buffalo grass. It took three horses all their time to plough it. It was sown in March with angus, and when ploughed the second time one horse could do it. Dead dry grass was all that remained. Now is the best time to sow it for very quick results, but. it gives good results at any time of the year. Tt is at home in any class of soil, clay or pipeclay, and will leave them in a condition to successfully lav down a permanent pasture or crop. On very poor clay land devoid of any humus it is advisable to grow two or three crops. After feeding one crop half through its growlh then plough a good bulk in. I would like your farmer readers to plant a good area, using the poorest parts«and all weedinfested land, and report results. Lotus angustisumus is only on annual and no