MOUMAHAKI'S FUTURE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 521, 31 May 1909, Page 8

MOUMAHAKI'S FUTURE.

• PRISONERS OR DAIRY FARMS? The_snggestion that Moumakaki Experiment Farm should bo converted into a prison tarm -is criticised'in' Some quarters, many considering that Moumahaki is unfitted for that purpose. It is pointed out that' it is one ot the essentials of a prison farm that ; shall. consist. of ? cropping rather than the keeping of live stock. But iMoumahaki has insufficient arable- land for this purpose.' If it/be' assumed that in order to make the scheme worth carrying out, the number of prisoners accommodated must not be.less .than 100, then .tho 200 acres of arable land at Moumahaki. will not meet tho case, ®if, it were desired that, all the land should: be dug ;by. hand instead of being ploughed. Digging would bo a wasteful form of. cultivation, audi if profit be aimed at, ploughing is essential.' The remaining 600 acres of Moumahaki. consist if hilly pastoral country. Tho circumstances that a man-proof fence-all round the farm would apparently be necessary-—fori.tho: reassurance' of..thoi surrounding settlers, if for no. - other object;— IS' a' disadvantage common to any place that might bo chosen in.a settled district. -If Mounuhaki farm; must inevitably be discontinued—which. does pot yet appear to have been finally decided—it is held that its best use would bo to turn it into a' settlement of model dairy, farms. - Situated, as it us, : to Waver ley,. in a - busy . dairying centre, it would appear to. be suitable .for. this. . Tho 800 acres of land would make from 10 to 20 exoellont dairy farms,, and, if' tho Government torovided . a homestead on each, and model milking shed and the, other necessary buildings, the settlement' might havo groat educational, uses. The land: has a carrying capacity of- about/,half ; a .cow pet acre,' .so-, that,, at an average return of £10 P° r .cow,_ a.■ 40-acro:farm .could.yield l a total, return ,of about ,£2OO. per annum' from the cows,, with receipts from „pigs, etc.; extra If :such a.scheme were, carried out, 'it would no doubt be popular; as ' dairyfarmers welcome an addition to their numbers—increasing, as it'does, the suppliers ,to their croamenes. ■'