FARMING IN WESTLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26998, 25 March 1953, Page 10

FARMING IN WESTLAND

PRIME MINISTER IMPRESSED

.VISIT TO KOKATAHI AND KOWHITIRANGI

(From Our Own Reporter) HOKITIKA, March 24. A confession that he did not know such great productivity marked the Kokatahi and Kowhitirangi districts was made by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) after a tour today. The valley has 33.600 acres of rateable land, exclusive of 25,000 acres of pastoral runs, and only about 40 per cent, is reasonably- well farmed, according to Mr Mark Wallace, deputy chairman of the Westland County Council. Some is developed, some partially developed, and an area almost undeveloped. Also in the county, on the Wataroa Flat, is 36,000 acres of rateable property .also capable of development, Mr Wallace told the Prime Minister. Some of the initial outlay in developing this would have to be covered other than from the men who would actually farm the properties, he said. ‘ We have to admit there is a tremendous area of mountainous and heavily timbered and problem land which with our knowledge today does not permit of development for pastoral purposes.” said Mr Wallace. “Th e day will come when science will find the answer to that.”

The first farm property inspected by Mr Holland was that carrying a barley crop being grown for ensilage by Mr A. MarshaU. president of the Kokatahi branch of Federated Farmers, on the Kaniere road. Fifteen years ago the land was all standing bush, and the plough sank into the bog. From a paddock of eight acres and a half, Mr Marshall estimated that he would take 10 tons of ensilage an acre. The Prime Minister was told that all the marginal land between Mr Marshall’s property and Kaniere could be brought into like productivity, as could also a block of 1000 acres of swamp land towards Kokatahi Valley. Mr Marshall himself broke in the biggest part of hi§ 80-acre farm from swamp on his 110 acres, and he runs 42 cows.

“I am one of the best examples of democracy,” Mr C. W. Barnhill told the Prime Minister. “I worked on this farm during the depression, and now I am inviting the Prime Minister to come along and have a look at it.” With six others Mr Holland was transported at the rear of a tractor over Mr Barnhill’s highly developed farm, where three ewes and a half are run throughout the winter as well as four cows and 60 head of dry stock. He produces four calves a year from each cow. Three-fifths of a ton of superphosphate an acre is spread annually.

Experiment in Drainage An amazing experiment in drainage, was seen at Mr A. Little’s 300-acrc farm. The land was sour before a big ■ cut-off drain was cut. the water being 2ft below the surface. The original! farmers could not go ahead, said Mr ; A. J. Shannon, chairman of the West—land Catchment Board. Mr Little cut; a deep drain for 85 chains, and a I vast improvement has taken place in i u S P as^ures - The water running down the dram has a volume sufficient tol drive a paddle wheel turning a mag-! neto to give power for electric fences.' If farmers used their skim milk to feed pigs, their returns would be profitably increased, said Mr S G Page, who proudly showed the Prime Minister his covered styes. The pigs are housed in concrete block pens They are weaned at eight weeks, allowed paddock run for a fortnight, and then brought under cover and hand fed until they reach the baconer stage. The building and concrete styes were built by Mr Page with the assistance of his father-in-law. a retired builder. Mr Page runs 60 qpws and produces 70 baconers a year: “I cannot understand why other farmers do not grow pigs,” Mr Page told Mr Holland. “They mean work, but they are profitable.” Mr Page was the first man established under the rehabilitation scheme in the district, and had done no farming before the war.

Another rehabilitated man who has made a success of farming with a Jersey herd is Mr M. Patterson, who last season produced 27,0001 b of butterfat from 130 acres. Other settlers praised his work to improve his farm. “The Kokatahi-Kowhitirangi district has 120 farmers at present,” said Mr Shannon. ‘That number could be doubled. Westland has 32 rivers, and many of the other valleys have not been touched.”