SOYA BEANS NOT SUITABLE AS WEST COAST CROP

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 8

SOYA BEANS NOT SUITABLE AS WEST COAST CROP

The possibility of the valuable, many-purpose soya bean being grown on the West Coast was discussed at a recent meeting of the Westland Progress League, but inquiries made since have shown that conditions here are not suitable. The Cawthron Institute, Nelson, replying last evening to the league’s inquiries, stated that no’ success had been achieved in obtaining a good yield of soya bean seed in New Zealand, and it was considered that the West Coast would not be suitable for this crop in view of its high rainfall and relatively low amount of sunshine in the summer time.

“As a result of extensive trials with soya beans, the department can see ho future in the growing of this crop in New Zealand, and, therefore, has not gone further into the question of its cultivation,” stated a report by the Department of Agriculture. The department gave a summary of the findings announced after the experiments, as follows;— 1. Wherever soya beans or soya products are used they are used in place of crops and crop and animal products that are cheap and plentiful in New Zealand. 2. Prices are not and never have been low enough to attract manufacturers in the Dominion. 3. Prices are not and never have been high enough ,to make it-pos-sible for New Zealand farmers to grow soya beans. 4. The crop can only be grown in maize-growing districts. 5. Even in the maize districts the ciop is somewhat precarious. NELSON-GREYMOUTH BUS SERVICE EXTENSION WANTEDThe extension of the Bus service from Nelson to Inangahua Junction to Greymouth m order to eliminate the present delay while bus passengers await rail connections at Inangahua, was proposed by the Westland Progress League last evening. It was pointed out, when the delays were discussed, that no alteration could be made in the railway timetable due to the need to make other connections, and that for the same reason the departure time of the bus from Nelson could not be delayed. The league decided to write to New-, man Bros, Ltd, regarding “the great inconvenience caused to passengers from Nelson to Greyrnouth and Hokitika by the lengthy wait at Inangahua Junction and suggesting they, might consider making a fresh application for a licence for extension of their service from Inangahua Junction to Greymouth and promising the League’s full support.” It was pointed out that m February. 1946, the League approached Newman’s on similar lines when it was ascertained that they had already lodged an application for an extension of their licence to run from Reefton to Greymouth, and that this had been refused. The League wrote the Licensing Authority in support of Newman’s application, but was advised that the time for an appeal against the decision had expired and therefore the views expressed could not be taken into consideration.