LAND DEVELOPMENT.

Auckland Star, Issue LVII, 1 March 1926, Page 9

LAND DEVELOPMENT.

GOSPEL OF SELF HELP.

GUM AND DETERIORATED AREAS.

'' SUGGESTIONS BY SETTLERS.

TACKLING A BIG PROBLEM.

During his recent tour of the North Auckland province, and as a matter of fact elsewhere in New Zealand, the Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, has made it clear that his Deraptment is out to help fanners and settlers who help themgelveß. Reference has boen made by Minister in this re?pect to the settlement of gum lands as well as, in a measure, to the deteriorated lands in the King Country. In both areas affected experimental farms and plots have been established with a fair measure of success as far as they go. But the question might well be asked has the work gone far enough? True, these farms and plots have demonstrated what can be done on certain well-derined portions of gum lands and deteriorated territory; but there are so many different classes of country in these areas which have to be given special study and treatment that it is a practical impossibility to find out from on or two experimental farms, or plots, what the country needs as a whole.

It might be argued that the Government should go in for a most conprehensive scheme in the direction indftfited. It is all a question of finance, and would the results obtained warrant it.

Many individual settlers and farmers have been experimenting most successfully up to a point on their own farms. A time comes, however, when there is a shortage of funds and results cannot be brought to a definite conclusion. A more comprehensive scientific research is needed. It is at this point that it has been suggested the Government should offer to help solve the problems ahead by assistance both scientifically as well as financially. What is Actually Happening.

In order to ascertain what has actually been happening in the gum and deteriorated land areas, a "Star" representative, in addition to accompanying the Minister of Lands on his northern tour, made special investigations in the Albany territory this week, as well as in the King Country.

In Albany, for instance, the Government has had an experimental farm since 1911. It was typical gum country, and it was brought to notice •what similar land in the district could produce at the Industrial Exhibition held in Auckland during fleet week in 1908. Sir Joseph Ward in opening the exhibition, made special reference to the exhibit and said: "If those roots can be grown on gum land there is a great future ahead of Auckland and the north." Two years later, at the Auckland show. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, then Minister of Agriculture, inspected some specimens of turnips, mangels, carrots and grasses taken off Albany gum lands and was so impressed with what he saw when he visited the territory from which they came, that he gave the district the experimental farm in order to break down the prejudice against gum land. Fifteen years have passed and to-day Albany district is dotted with pretty little farms and holdings on the better class gum land.

It is particularly noticeable, however, that there are thousands of acres of the poorest classes of land uncultivated Some of the areas have been taken up, but nothing has been done with them. Suggested Methods for Cultivation. Discussing the subject with successful farmers in the district the "Star" representative was informed that it would cost at least from £16 to £20 per acre to bring the land to a state of productivity. Even then the final results, as far as farming Avas concerned, would be problematical. It was emphatically asserted that it could never be expected that large farming areas in Albany could be made to pay to-day. The cost as compared with results would be prohibitive. It was recognised, however, that the experimental farm had been of great value to the district in the matter of demonstrating what could be done in fruit, vegetable and other similar kinds of culture. One small farmer has been taown to make as much as £1 per day from the sale of violets during the season, and Albany has become famous for Its fruit. It is argued, therefore, that the gum lands in the Albany district should and could be made suitable for email farms of from six to twelve acres. With that idea in view, it is contended tbat as the Government Experimental *arm has outlived its usefulness, the money expended on its upkeep, etc., could well be used in assisting holders of uncultivated lands to brin* their laic properties into a state of productivity.

When settlers were asked if the men Voiding sections of gum land would be prepared to hand over a portion to the government for experimental purposes tne answer was in the affirmative. The point was stressed, however, that as tha nature of the land changed so frequently over the whole area, one or two plots S«H no t be BUffident t0 out the desired objects. hrm, Ve i n . *♦ BUcll a state of affair s w ere Drought to a successful conclusion it must not be taken for granted that conditions at Albany would apply to other gum areas in the Whangarei and far £° ♦ t f ntorie3 - T]l ese again would in, £ m , aye their own experiments and individual treatment.

Similar King Country Conditions. Exactl y similar conditions prevail in regard to the development of the deteriorated lands in the King Country. *v\ 13 a mudl discussed problem "flicii it is contended, has to be faced eooner or later. As with the gum lands. !°, ." ls w ith the King Country areas, uflich have been allowed to go "back to a condition which is worse than when they were in their original state. Each and every district lias to be considered and treated differently. This burning question ha 3 ueen the subject of commissions and individual committees' reports, the most recent announcement being made last year when the Deteriorated Lands Commission made its lengthy comment on the whole subject.

Quite recently a combined meeting of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce and the King Country A. and P. Association passed a resolution of appreciation of the work accomplished on the Department of Agriculture plots at Te Kumi and Aria. The practical value of the results achieved was recognised, and an extension of the work was urged oh those particular plots as well as on other areas in the King Country. It was also resolved to ask that experiments be carried out in regard to the growing of supplementary crops in the

Rangitoto district. Here there is an

area of between 100,000 and 160,000 acres of light chocolate loams.

Government Asked to Experiment. In regard to the deteriorated parts, however, the Minister of Agriculture was asked to have experiments carried out on these lands. It has been suggested that these trials could best be accomplished on a, cooperative basis, the ultimate object being to solve the problems facing settlers who are endeavouring to farm those lands. It was contended that an adequate sum of money should be allocated to provide seeds, fertilisers, etc., to carry out experiments without delay. A request will also be forwarded to the Government asking for an instructor of agriculture to be located at Te Kuiti so that the experiments referred to could be closely followed up and progress results made known without delay to farmers. At Te Kumi where these plots are situated, the land is privately owned and the Government has the use of it for five years. Stock, grazing and labour are given free by settlers, and all the Government finds is the actual cost of topdressing manures. w While in the King Country areas the "Star" representative made inquiries concerning other territories which the settlers wished experimented upon. The question was asked would owners be prepared to undertake similar conditions to those operating at Te Kumi, and the answer was again in the affirmative. Endeavouring to Solve Difficulties. Out in the huge Rangitoto Block, for instance, the secretary of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce, Mr. R. M. Sommerville, assured the writer that there were people who would be only too willing to give portions of their lands for similar purposes. And they would not expect any monetary return. j Unlike the gum lands these deteriorated ; areas were once first-class pastures j currying at least two sheep to tiie acre.' For want of stocking and on account of the actual deterioration of the land j itself, however, water-fern and other ] pests of a similar nature have caused much trouble. How to get these lands back to a payable state of productivity j is the problem. | There is a sum of £3000 set aside by j the Government for the purpose of ex- i perimonting with deteriorated lands in I New Zealand, and settlers and farmers in those particular districts are strongly . of the opinion that the best method" to; obtain the desired results is not by the , establishment of experimental farms, but, by plots and the placing of an experi- j enced officer in the district or districts. ' who would advise as to what practical ! measures should be taken on the various selected farms made by him. i

Like the Albany gum lands it is sug- | gested that experimental plots of say, from 40 to 50 acres on different classes of soils covering the manifold problems ' affecting these deteriorated lands should be commenced at once. ■ Here again the farming community j realises that the Minister's self-help ■ policy is a good one and is prepared to j undertake all the work in connection j with the supplying of stock and labour i free of cost. But they in turn expect the Government, or the departments' concerned, to supply manures, lime, wire • (where necessary), as well as fencing also j free of cost to them. ' Tt must be pointed out. however, that I these last mentioned conditions only apply to the various experimental plots or areas on the respective farms and not to the farms themselves. _____________ I