ENCROACHMENT OF HOUSING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27426, 12 August 1954, Page 9

ENCROACHMENT OF HOUSING

Loss Of Land For Market Gardens MR HOLYOAKE DISCUSSES PROBLEM (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 11. The encroachment of housing and industry upon market gardening land near population centres, a< perennial problem, seemed almost impossible of easy solution, said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) at the opening of the conference of the Dominion Council of Commercial Gardeners today. In normal housing area* there were only 12 persons accommodated to the acre. That meant that each 1,000,000 increase in population would require 80,000 acres.

“Assuming that such land was suitable for dairy farming it would result in a production loss of £2,000,000 a year at present prices,” said Mr Holyoake. “If the land taken for housing were market gardening land, the economic loss would be much greater, and there is the additional factor that areas of really good market gardening land are very limited.” It had been suggested that houses be built on third-class land, that flats oi three or four storeys be built, and that the use of land be controlled by c proviso that houses and factories bt not erected on first-class land, he added. However, market gardening acreage registered at September 30, 1953, had increased on the 1952 figure because of expansion of intensive commercial gardening and of production for canning and quick-freeze. The number of growers registered was 2826, and the total acreage was 19,077. About 8700 acres of vegetables for canning and quick-freeze factories were now being grown, of which 7000 acres were for peas, said the Minister. Tomatoes last year were not produced in sufficient quantities to meet local canning and sauce demands and the rising export inquiry for juice. Some import of pulp to meet local consumer demand was still necessary. About 400 acres of asparagus was cropped last year, but canners had so far been unable to meet local and export demands. Prospects for expansion of that line were bright, said Mr Holyoake. Mr Holyoake said he thought he must consider recommending that the Commercial Gardeners Registration Act, 1934, be amended, as he was not satisfied with the present basis. He had in mind the inclusion of growers of peas and corn for canning and quick-freeze, for this industry now used one-third of the total vegetable acreage. If the act required amendment, he would consider any suggestions the conference members would like to make, he said.