A GREAT SUCCESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 23 August 1928, Page 8

A GREAT SUCCESS.

HAURAKI PLAINS SCHEME. A FEW HARD CASES. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The success of the Hauraki Plains drainage scheme was referred to by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri) in the House this afternoon, when the annual report of operations in that area was tabled. Some 90,000 acres of land had been converted from swamp, said Mr. Samuel, including 40.000 acres of what was once a reserve for ducks and native game birds. This area could be regarded as a great success. Part of the land was among the best in New Zealand, Last summer it withstood the trying drought period. During the drought departmental officers had been able to carry out a great deal of work, which could not have been done had weather conditions been otherwise. Mr. Samuel asked the Minister to see that some provision was made for protecting settlers from fires. In peat country fires were difficult to avert, but the spreading of fires could be prevented by a system of breaks and area drains. The officers of the Department who worked the round of the clock last summer in assisting settlers to suppress the fiames were deserving of gratitude. It was unquestionable that the Minister had been very sympathetic in a number of cases of hardship, where settlers found themselves on wet or "floating" sections, caused by the s\ cm of ponding districts. Mr. Samuef .suggested that such cases might be reviewed, and when it was established that settlers could not make a success of their holding, they should be put on to another holding in a more suitable part of the plains. Many settlers found themselves in an unfortunate position, and it was only fair that any loss sustained in improving the chances of success should be charged to the profit and loss account of the land drainage scheme. Wet sections could be used profitably for flax growing. Mr. Samuel asked that paspalum be planted, so that there might be no shortage of good pasture. The Hon. Sir Maui Pomare (Acting Minister of Internal Affairs): It breeds the tick! Mr. Samuel: It may breed the tick, but it has bred a lot of prosperity. Better that it should breed the tick than ergot, as is done by the tall fescue.