ARSENIC FOUND IN SOIL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 9

ARSENIC FOUND IN SOIL

SOLDIER SETTLERS SEEK INQUIRY

HIGH STOCK MORTALITY ON REPOROA BLOCK

(tkess association tbugsam.)

ROTORUA. March 23.

Resolutions asking the Government to set UP an independent inquiry into the' position of settlers in the district and to carry out a complete soil survey of lands in the area were carried at a representative meeting of soldier settlers on the' Reporoa block, near Rotorua to-day. The meeting was held to discuss the effect of the recent disclosure that arsenic had been found in the soil and the cattle drinking water in parts of the district, and also to ventilate several grievances which have been agitating many of the Reporoa settlers for years. The Reporoa block, parts of which are highly thermal, were settled under the Discharged Soldiers Rehabilitation Act after the war, but it was contended that in spite of years of hard work most soldier settlers were making no headway. The opinion was expressed that the present position might In some degree be caused by unsuspected mineral properties in the soil leading to exceptionally high stock mortality and a low butter-fat yield. Dissatisfaction was also expressed with what were alleged to be many cases of the inconsistent valuation of soldier settlers’ properties, with the result that further difficulties were encountered in farming sections, profitably. Many instances were cited of persistently high mortality, both among stock and pigs over a period of years, and it was decided to ask the Government to carry out a soil survey to ascertain precisely what are the properties of the soil in the area. Several soldier settlers have had to walk off their farms through their being unable to contend with conditions. The opinion was expressed that these cases demanded an investigation.