POTENTIALITIES OF LAND— Strong Case Made For West Coast Farming

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1950, Page 2

POTENTIALITIES OF LAND— Strong Case Made For West Coast Farming

A case based on the unrecognised potentialities of West. Coast land;, and conditions for farming was presented to the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College when a deputation from the Westland Progress League this week made representations for the establishment of a branch of Lincoln College on the West Coast. It was suggested that the branch should be established on a block of 200 acres of suitable land, and the board has undertaken to make an inspection of the West Coast. In support of their representations the delegates quoted the unsolicited opinion of a Taranaki farmei, who, after a visit to the West Coast, said:— “Westland, particularly South Westland, is the last big area of New Zealand where considerable farming development may be expected. In £ ea t“ ity there is a surprising amount -of flat land, much of it capable of high dairy production. The climate of Westland is better than that of Taranaki and the Waikato. It has about the same sunshine and about the same rainfall, but it has one gieat advantage, a mixed winter. The small difference between summer and winter temperatures is an asset which has not been capitalised yet. The chief things needed for the development of Westland into another Taranaki are hard work, lime and drainage. Still Pioneer Stage “Westland, from the farming point of view, is still in the pioneer stage, back where the North Island dairying districts were more than a generation ago. Land is comparatively cheap the capitalisation being estimated at £BO per cow compaied with £lOO in the Waikato and Taranaki, but hard manual labour is required to bring it to full productivity. It is essentially a district for young men who will bo nble to establish themselves with much less capital provided they are willing and able to break in the country. “There is a wider variety in soil conditions on the West Coast than might be expected but all the evidence suggests that the right way to deal with each variety can be found. Westland has much better animal health than the North Island dairying districts and herd depreciation is a much lighter item. It should not be supposed .that farming methods on the West Coast are backward. There are many progressive farmers and some enthusiastic young farmers’ clubs. Pasture management is obviously good on the best farms. What has been done on these properties shows what can be done on a bigger scale when the attention of young men generally turns again to the land and wise and prudent _ development is encouraged and assisted by the Government.” Small Start

Continuing the delegates from the league urged the college to acquire a suitable area of land in a central position in relation to the area stretching from Karamea to South Westland, and the erection thereon of the necessary buildings. It was recognised that a start might be made only in a comparatively small way but the league felt that the time was now opportune for the establishment of a branch or centre under the. control of the college. The view was stressed that the college was founded for the benefit of the South Island as a whole, and that scientific knowledge and experience of the college staff should be available to farmers living remote from the college. The delegates urged that by allowing college students to undertake part of the practical side of their work on dairy husbandry on the West Coast definite advantage would accrue to the students. Among advantage to the students, it was suggested, would be the following:— (1) The opportunity of carrying out the dairy husbandry section of their college course on dairying country. (2) The opportunity to visit and inspect operations on high-class dairying farms and to inspect and recognise high-class and well bred dairy animals and to become familiar with existing schemes and experiments for herd improvement. (3) The opportunity to become thoroughly acquainted with all aspects of the practical side of dairy husbandry under actual and normal working conditions. Coast Advantages It was Dointed out that among the advantages to the West Coast would be the following:— (1) The general advantages that ac-

crue to any district from the establishment of a branch of any college oi reputation and good standing and par ticularly the prestige which flows fr om having such a branch in a district,. . (2) The assistance which the college could give to dairy farmers ana graziers in tne many problems which are constantly arising and particularly dairy farm management, improve a pastures, herd selection, control oi disease, treatment for various diseases, soil deficiencies, improved breeding, demonstrations at the branch for local farmers and veterinary purposes. (3) In their report the members oi the staff of the college referred to the short lactation or milking period on the Coast and suggested that research could remedy this. The establishment of a branch such as proposed would enable research into this important probelm to be undertaken with a probable substantial increase in dairy produce. , ~ Advantages to Canterbury would necessarily flow from the closer relationship between the two provinces. These would be more and better stock for Addington and the freezing works, and possibly a greater number of students making a career of dairy farming or grazing. Increased export oi dairy produce through Lyttelton for overseas and local consumption, would also be an advantage to Canterbury.

Staff Required “The league is not in a position to say what staff would be required for the effective control of the branch, but it is prepared to give any assistance It can to the scheme generally,” stated the delegates. “It is thought that a suitable area of say 200 acres can be purchased on the West Coast and the league would be prepared to endeavour to submit two or three areas which would be regarded by local farmers as suitable for the project. “If Government financial assistance was necessary to enable the college to implement the. scheme the league would co-operate in every way and would approach the Government or support the college in its approach to the Government” it was stated. “If the college board thought that the branch should be in any way under the supervision al control or direction oi a local committee or board suitable men—farmers and laymen—could be secured for the purpose. “The League believes that given a suitable-area of land the project would scon be largely self-supporting,” it was added. An area of 200 acres of suitable country would run 70 milking cows, it was stated, and these could produce an annual return of £2500 to £2BOO without the assistance of pigs which many dairy farmers run in conjunction with their herds. The league’s deputation to the board of governors-of the college included Messrs F. A. Kitchingham, W. D. Taylor, J. Saunders and W. Clayton.