FROM SWAMP TO FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 12

FROM SWAMP TO FARM.

! THE KIKTJRANGI AREA. : A NINETY THOUSAND SCHEME. | (By Telegraoh.—Special to -Star. , ) WHANG-\_REI, Friday-. One of the most important functions I attended by the Premier on tlie present. tour North took place this afternoon, j when he performed the "first sod" ceremony in connection with the Govern-' nient's £90,000 Hikurangi swamp drainage scheme. A large gathering accompanied Mr. Massey by motor ears to Ruatangata, where the ceremony took place. Sir. W, Jones, chairman of the Whnnga-1 re-i County Council, who presided, extended a warm welcome to the Premier, ■who was accompanied by Mr. D. H. j Guthrie, Mr. V. H. Reed, Mr. V. Mander, and the Hon. E. W. Alison. Mr. Massey performed the ceremony, working one of, the large Bucyrus digging machines with I ■the assistance of the Minister of Lands. > In the course of an interesting address,' in which he touched upon Government i drainage efforts in various parts of the ; Dominion, Mr. Massey said he had n&! idea that the Hikurangi swamp covered such an extensive area. The Government had had considerable experience in such matters, and he did not doubt one moment but that the project would be a gfoat success. Mr. Massey eulogised the j efforts of Mr. F. B. Thompson, the most ] experienced drainage authority in the I Dominion. The work would not only be j of great benefit to the Crown and private land owners and the town of Whangarei, but would greatly assist the country's ] production. Other ventures in the past had been most successful, and the Prime Minister instanced the Pinko. Tlauraki j Plains, Rangitaiki. and Kaitaia areas, i formerly covered with raupo, rashes, flax, and an occasional cabbage tree, but! now producing butterfat. It was some of the best dairying bird in the world. ] "Some swamps take half a century to drain." he proceeded, "others are in useful occupation -in five years. I believe this to be one of -lie latter kind,. I am convinced ther«! i& *, grfcs4 future in store for T:* dietr , : t. it it (tit duty to increaf produe jjon. The Government has done ts part acre and the machinery is the jst up vo dtte in the world. We havT rot to iacrease the productivity of the i Jtintry. I have preached that doctrin ill along. I believe in a man having , .aough land to niake a living and thereby increasing the wealth of the country." A voice: You will be able to borrow a few more millions on this. Mr. Massey: When we borrow again it will be for productive works, anil at a I lower rate of interest than in tli.e past (Applause.) In conclusion he wished those engaged in the enterprise every success, and! hoped that they would make it homes i for niany thrifty, successful, and prosperous settlers. Mr. Guthrie (Minister of Lands), who lias taken very keen interest in the scheme since taking over the portfolio, also paid a high tribute to Mr. Thompson. The work, he said, was one of a general productive nature, making for the prosperity of the people. Mr. Mas-1 sey. as Finance Minister, had given every I assistance. The purchase of machinery! in America by Mr. Thompson was most! opportune and fortunate. Fifty thou-1 sand acres would be benefited. 23,000 of j which would be uhwatered. Nineteen thousand acrrs of the unwatered land' in the vicinity was owned by settlers; and two thousand by the Government.! In the past settlers were much "dis-j tressed J»y floods. They took up land with big hearts, and despite the*disad-1 vantages made good. To date, said the Minister, 300,000 acres of unproductive swamp coTwtry had been brought into cultivation in other parts of the Dominion. Referring to the present scheme, he said there would be no "taihoa" policy under the present engineers. The Gov-' ornment would push on with all vigour. He had perfect confidence that the area would pay over and over again, and the I settlers would receive a very high return for their enterprise. Mr. J, B. Thompson, recently appointed Undersecretary of Lands, presented Mr. Massey and Mr. Guthrie' with gold replicas of one of the large machines at work as souvenirs of an important occasion. For thirty years he had been ' associated with the district, and felt confident that the scheme would be successfully carried out. Mr. Massey said that he would treasure the souvenir. Referring again to the undertaking, the Premier' said he hoped that the most important cutting would be completed by June, and in two years' time the work would be brought to finality. He then hoped to be present as Prime Minister to take part in the opening ceremony. (Laughter a~l applause.) [ Conversing with the "Star's" special > representative later, Mr. Guthrie said: the estimate of cosl. was based at. £3 per' acre. As he hoped to deal with 30.000. acres in the present scheme, he would! not contradict the statement that the; work would approximate in the end £90,000. i