Mr Johnston’s Case For, Establishment Of Works At Cobden

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 August 1947, Page 7

Mr Johnston’s Case For, Establishment Of Works At Cobden

“I am here to try to get your support for the opening of my proposed limeworks at Cobden/’ said Mr G. Johnston, the promoter of the scheme, who was allotted 15 minutes in which to address the meeting. ‘ He added that he was not asking the farmers to buy the lime which he proposed to produce, but he thought he could assure them that if the works were started they would get the cheapest lime in the district and possibly m New Zealand. He traced the history of his efforts to start at Cobden and also at Whitecliffs, stating that after making preparations for starting at the latter place he found that the overburden on the quarry there was so great, as to make the lime very expensive indeed. When he saw the report in the newspaper that the Ross Company was about to cease operations, he decided to come back to Cobden. 30,000 Acres of Pakihi Land Mr Johnston added that he had taken up about 30,000 acres of pakihi land at Westport and he needed a dressing of lime for that. In addition, in the present shortage, of lime in the district, he proposed to make lime available to the farmers. There had been a lot of talk about the quality of the lime at Cobden, but the stone where he proposed to put the works at Cobden had been tested by a local chemist at 81 per cent. So far as he knew there was nothing as low as 40 per cent, in the whole quarry. The lime was required in the district and he asked the farmers to support his efforts to get the works started at Cobden.

In reply to Mr W. Vallance, Mr Johnston said the lime would be bagged if the farmers supplied the bags, at the same price, but if the lime-works sup-plied-the bags, it would be slightly more expensive. Concerning the size of the lime he would supply, he said that the tendency today was to spread it as a sort of gravel, but the farmers would be able to get it in any size they required. He thought, however, that they would be well advised to put it on very rough in the West Coast climate. .. >

Type of Lime Mr Johnston added that his lime would be crushed lime. All over the world, he said, the tendency was to use carbonate and not burnt lime. He quoted figures from the United States in support of his statement. Replying to Mr M. Wallace, Mr Johnston said, that the dressing on the pakihi lapds at Westport would be in the first place four tons to the acre and it was expected that that would do for four or five years. Mr Wallace said that the man who was successful in bringing the pakihi lands into production deserved well of the country, but with the deposit at Whitecliffs why should Mr Johnston wish to use the railways for free cartage over all the additional miles at the expense of the New Zealand taxpayers, who maintained the railways? Mr Johnston said that the overburden at Whitecliffs had been found to be so great that it would be almost impossible to work it. It would mean taking away about three tons of overburden for one of lime. As far as the use of the railways was concerned he had been informed by the engineer in charge of rolling stock that trucks were going back to Westport empty, that they could be used io carry the lime, and that they were easier to handle when they were full. That also had been a consideration.

Mr Wallace said that was an amazing statement, for the farmers of the West Coast had been hammering away for years trying to get empty trucks coming back from Canterbury to be used to bring winter fodder, but they had been unsuccessful. Now M

Johnston, whp wished, to carry lime over 80 miles, when he had a more accessible source, was told that it was cheaper to run the trucks half-full or full. Mr Johnston said another point about the Whitecliffs site was that there was nowhere to deposit the overburden when it was removed.

In reply to Mr A. W. Bell, Mr Johnston said he had not investigated the site across the river from Whitecliffs because it was off the main railway line, and it cost £lO a yard for railway track construction. “You have been reported in the Evening Star as saying that you had been approached to reconsider the Cobden scheme, Mr Johnston,” said Mr Wallace. “Will you tell us who approached you?” Mr Johnston said that Mr McLeod had told him that he had been asked by the Progress League to come back and try Cobden again, and so he came back. It was said that there was a chance of the works being established there.

Question of Profit

Mr Wallace: That does not quite square with the overburden story. I suggest that if I could get control of limeworks at Cobden and the market on the West Coast and get rid of the co-operative companies, at the price quoted by you I would have more money in 30 years than all the farmers on the West Coast could get collectively in direct profit from their farms. (Applause). Mr Johnston: What you have said is quite true, but I have come into the lime business because I want lime for the pakihi lands. What money is gained at Cobden will go back into those lands. If this works is opened at Cobden you will get lime cheaper than you ever dreamed of getting it, but it is not a profit-making concern —I have no directors and no company—and what money is made will go back into the pakihi lands and in cheaper lime. Replying to Mr Mulcare (secretary), Mr Johnston said he had had no personal experience in lime works. Carbonate was sold at Winton at 14s 6d a ton and his machinery was much less expensive and would be erected in more favourable conditions; so he had no fears about the price at which he would be able to produce it. Mr Mulcare, speaking as a working farmer, said he found it difficult to imagine that anyone would be able to handle the pakihi- lands. They might get some hay off them but not much more.

Mr Johnston said that the land which had been treated with lime was already quite solid. Messrs Mulcare, W. A. Jamieson and Wallace gave as their personal experience that the more lime was used the more difficult drainage became, Mr Jamieson seating that since he had been using lime extensively (since 1913) he had constructed literally miles of drains. Replying to a question by Mr P. J. O’Regan concerning his tenure of the pakihi lands Mr Johnston produced his agreement, in which, he said, he was given a 33-year renewable lease with a proviso that the Government could take any land which it considered suitable lor farming at any time ana would compensate him with a like area of pakihi. Assistance for Whitecliffs.

Mr Mulcare asked what would be the attitude of Mr Johnston if .the Federated Farmers were able to persuade the Govenment to assist him in the development of Whitecliffs and put him in a position as favourable as he would be in Cobden. . Mr Johnston said he had not thought of that aspect. He believed the farmers needed lime and he was prepared to supply it. He detailed his experience with farming and added: “The farmer deserves every help he can get as he is the only man in New Zealand who works/’ Mr Mulcare said that if Mr Johnston could be persuaded to start at Whitecliffs then he would be able to serve the other end of the district admirably, and it would avoid the long haulage. The federation had received advice that the free railage would soon be lost.

Mr Johnston said he had been in conversation with the' Minister of Agriculture recently and no mention had been made of that matter.

The chairman (Mr Martin) said that he had been advised at the recent conference of the Federated Farmers in Wellington by the Director-General of Agriculture and by other responsible officers that the new system was. to be introduced shortly.

Shares In Buller Works: Offer To Sponsor And League

The wish that Buller farmers woud establish a new co-operative lime-works, in the Buller gorge, with Mr Johnston, members of the Westland Progress League, and himself as some of its shareholders, was expressed by Mr M. Wahace, of KokatahiKoiterangi, yesterday afternoon, following the decision by the West Coast Federated Farmers not to support the proposal to establish a limeworks at Cobden. He proposed also that the Minister of Lands, Mr Skinnei, and the Government should back .up recent statements and give practical support.

“From what I have learned, a lime-works at Whitecliffs, in the Buller Gorge, would be a workable proposition, and I am going to suggest that the farmers in the Buller district should seriously consider the establishment of a ' co-operative works there,” said Mr Wallace. “At the same time I want them to consider taking in Mr Johnston as a shareholder and allowing him to invest capital to the . extent of the amount of lime required by him for the development of the pakihi, lands he holds: “I will subscribe £lOO towards this proposal, myself, and am prepared to hand a cheque to this farmers’ organisation to be held in trust,” continued Mr Wallace. “The only stipulation I make is that the works be completely co-operative, the articles of association to be drawn up so that no private interest can get control of the products of the woi?ks, and Mr Johnston, though a shareholder, can never, be in a position to get complete control. Invitation to League

“In order to allow members of the Westland Progress League, who are so keen on the development of waste land in, Buller, to back up their sentiments, I am going to invite them also to subscribe £lOO each to this proposed new works,” he added. “This way we will get the job done quickly,” he remarked. Taylor, Saunders, and Harker will, no doubt, be only too pleased to come in and see that Buller gets the lime it so badly requires. ■ “I am serious about this proposi-

lion,” he continued. “It would not cramp Mr Johnston’s style and the Progress League would be assisting in the object it has advocated.” A resolution framed by Mr Wallace, as follows, was adopted by the meeting:—That this conference of representatives of district branches of the Federated Farmers, haying fully considered the position, is of the unanimous opinion that the increasing demand for lime can most satisfactorily be met (a) by the West Coast Farmers’ Co-operative Company endeavouring immediately to step up the manufacture of highgrade lime at Ross to meet any demand as far north as the Reefton Saddle; and • (b) by the immediate formation of a farmers’ co-operative company to work the high-grade deposits in the Buller Gorge at Whitecliffs. The chairman, Mr W. H. Martin, expressed appreciation of Mr Wallace’s public-spirited action. He pointed out that at Westport an alternative site to the works at Cape Foulwind was essential. Transport costs were going to play an important part in lime development in the future, he suggested, _ with the increase in railway freight charges.

Views of Minister Mr Wallace said that the Minister of Lands, Mr Skinner, had been talking in glowing terms of land development possible and needed in Buller and he invited the Minister and his Government to back up their words with action and help m the establishment of the works. Tneie would not be any need for Mr Johnr ston to put about £ 2OOO . into the making of a siding at Whitechffs i the Government considered that lime supplies were of national importance. The Government should get in behind the proposition and P™™ u siding, and the." Minister of Woiks, Mr Semple, should see that the Grey Electric Power Hoard extended its reticulation to Whitecnffs. Ana to Ross,” he. agreed, in response to a suggestion by Mr Mulcare. Mr L. Mockett, of Westport, commended the scheme to the farmers of the Buller area.

MR MULCARE FREED FROM BLAME ON MEETING ISSUE

Mr M. Wallace made a statement when the meeting of. the Federated Farmers resumed yesterday afternoon to the effect that he shouldered the blame for the alleged failure of the secretary (Mr : J. Mulcare) to call together the federation’s lime committee. on which there had been discussion during the morning. He (Mr Wallace) had received a direction from the president concerning the calling together of the special committee and had told the president that as Mr Mulcare would be visitm & him that day he would then advise Mr Mulcare. , . He (Mr Wallace) had spoken to Mr Mulcare at the adjournment for lunch and Mr Mulcare assured him that he (Mr Wahace) had not conveyed the message to him (Mi Mulcare). Therefore,- if any blame was attachable to anyone it should be attached to him (Mr thought it was only fair to Mi Mui care that he should make that staternsut. Mr Wallace’s explanation was accepted by the meeting.