FARMING IN BULLER

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1940, Page 9

FARMING IN BULLER

OPTIMISTIC PREDICTIONS j i , [FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] i WESTPORT, February 11. Confidence that the Buller district would prosper rapidly as a dairying; centre and that, as a result of the | land clearing scheme now in opera-1 tion, the 7,500 cows now on the laud Avould be greatly added to, was expressed by the Minister tor Agriculture (Air. Lee Alartin) at a reception on Saturday evening. The Minister, who was met by the Alayor (Air. J. Al. Robertson), the chairman of the Buller County Council (Mr. D. J. Archer), and members of local bodies, is on a tour of the West Coast. He is accompanied by the Director-General of Agriculture (Mr. A. H. Cockayne). Air. Lee Martin said that some of the ground in the Buller district was comparable Avith the best in New Zealand, and it was the desire of the department to see its production increased to its greatest capacity, so as to give more stability to the district, which hitherto had been almost solely reliant on gold, coal, and timber for its existence. These industries 1 could stop, he added, but dairying would continue to develop through the years. Mr. Cockayne said he was pleased to note the progress of the’ district. In the 26,000 acres of cleared land and other land to be cleared, Buller had a great asset, especially when more attention was given to better grassing. He said the West Coast, with 60 to 70 inches of rain a year, bad an excellent climate for grazing purposes. While Buller had developed, Greymouth and Westland districts had also progressed with 15,500 cows and 90,000 sheep on 100,000 acres. Replying to a complaint by Air. C. F. Schadick (Engineer-Clerk to the Buller County Council), Mr. Cockayne said that superphosphate should not cost any more than £5/12/- a ton to any farmers in the district. Mr. Schadick said that the present cost was £6/12/- a ton. and £l/7/-.for lime. He said that 2,500 tons of lime would be needed by Buller farmers this season.

The Minister said that when the report of the Lime Investigation Committee was. available, he would see what could be done for Buller farmers.