WAIKATO SWAMP LANDS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LI, Issue 8273, 27 April 1923, Page 3

WAIKATO SWAMP LANDS

HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES IDLE.

There are 100,000 acres of swamp lying idle in different- parts of the Waikato waiting for the band of man to develop it. Speaking at a meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Mr A. M. Bisley aaid he had a great deal of confidence in, and could foresee a great furtur© for the peat swamps of the district, and the crops and the grass which they were now producing, were of a character to excite one taking a greater interest in their development. When the Prime Minister was last at the Rauknra Experimental Farm he had expressed the greatest surprise at the manner in which swamp land was being brought in on the Eureka side of the property, for when he had inspected the station some time previously he did not think that the land could be brought in for many years to come. Continuing, Mr Bisley quoted many other oases throughout the Waikato of swamp land having been bought at £lO per acre, and £l2 expended on it now being equal tn the best land in the Waikato. Great areas of the vast swamp extending from Rauknra to Motumaoho were being brought in every’ year, but the development would be still greater if farmers had the money necessary for the work. Mr J. A. Young, M.P., said the difficulty experienced by the Government in tackling the swamp lands of the Waikato was that they were held in small holdings, whereas the land on the Hanraki Plains and at Hanrangi, which State enterprise was now turning to such good account, was owned by the Government and held as Crown lands. After further discussion m which all were unanimous that a greater development of the vast swamp area of the district spelt untold wealth fo* the Waikato, it was agreed to call a public meeting to go fully into the question to take steps to hasten the reclamation.