TUSSOCK DOWNS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 2 March 1938, Page 15

TUSSOCK DOWNS

DEVELOPMENT SCJHEME FREEZING COMPANY’S POLICY Interesting subsidiary activities are being conducted by the Southland Frozen Meat Company. In his address to shareholders at the annual meeting the other day the chairman of directors (Mr Jno. Gilkison) stated that the board, having in mind the development of the province the company acquired about three years ago an area of 2500 acres of rolling downs, mostly In tussock, lying between Hedgehope and Waimumu. In the short space of three years the whole area had been broken up by plough, fenced into paddocks, limed, cultivated and sown in various crops. Suitable buildings, wool-shed, yards, dip and employees’ cottages had been erected, and- he was glad to say that the land had responded well to the treatment given it, and from now on would be a revenue producer. The company had recently acquired another area of 2400 acres which it intended to treat in a similar mm l " ner, cut up into areas from 400 to 500 acres, anti when these areas were fully productive it was hoped to settle young farmers thereon. Less the uninformed accuse the company of being land grabbers the chairman desired to say there were further areas of tussock land in the same district awaiting development. “Recently we were induced to take an interest in the matter of deep tillage of close-bottomed land with an implement known as a gyrotiller. Mr Gilkison continued. “Many of our friends in the Waimea Plains area were desirous of securing the services of such an implement, and the directors accordingly promoted a small company to purchase and operate a gyrotiller. The machine commenced working in November and a number of fields tilled are now under various crops, all showing the undoubted advantage of deep xillage on pan land. It is not to be expected that such n plant will be operated pofltably, but rather is a long term investment to increase the carrying capacity of a large acreage of land, which in its present state suffers from drought m summer and from excessive water m winter, all due to a somewhat impermeable soil.” THE AMURI HARVEST USE OF THE HEADER One of the best harvests for some years In the matter of weather conditions has been experienced In the Amuri County this year. The weatlu. since Christmas has been cxce.lent, except for a full of rain ever the week-end of January 20. Although the rain caused a temporary stoppage, the root crops, which showed signs cl withering, received much benefit. The hot weather that followed permitted the harvest operations to continue almost uninterruptedly. A notable feature of this year s lurvdsl Was the popularity of the header which was used with groat surcer owing to the fine weather conditions and the absence of nor’-wost wine a. Another interesting feature was jin shortness of the harvest. Commcncnig about a week after Christmas, the whole harvest has been completed. It is understood that the wheat yields are on a par with those of lasi year, in fact they may be a little better. Owing to the extremely dry spring, the oat crops suffered extensively, and the yields were much below those of last year.

“At the moment pelts worth 3Bs 6ri a dozen last year are unsaleable at 20s a dozen; slide wools are down 35 to 40 per cent., and other products ere also affected (stated the chairman of a southern meat comuany at (he annual meeting of shareholders). We market a lot of our goods in the United States and as that country Is suffering a severe setback, we are also affected. Unless we see a recovery in (he value of wool, skins, hides, etc.. New Zealand exports of UrnsC lines will be down from £8,000.000 to £0,000,000."