BULL DOZERS

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1940, Page 12

BULL DOZERS

Southland Demonstration BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT INVERCARGILL, April 14. Tremendous interest was shown by Southland farmers in a demonstration of land-clearing machinery at Papatotara, near Tuatapere, yesterday. A crowd of about 4000. representative of all parts of Southland and South Otago saw giant bull dozers of the Public Works Department, clear, in a remarkably short time, large areas of stump-covered land, leaving it reqdy for cultivation or top-dressing for increased production. The demonstration, which was held in brilliant weather, was attended by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple), the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb), the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton), Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P.; Mr T. L. MacDonald, M.P.; the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works. Department, Mr John Wood; and representatives of the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, the Southland and Wallace County Councils, and other local bodies. Three bull dozers were used in the demonstration, and they proved highly efficient in pushing large loads of timber into heaps convenient for burning. There was much discussion among the farmers about the practical value of using these giant machines for land-clearing. It was generally agreed that the work could not be done so cheaply by other methods. At the end of the demonstration, Hon. Adam Hamilton congratulated the Ministers on t the success of the day. Mr E. A. Cameron, president of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, said that the farmers had been greatly interested in the demonstration, but opinions on the capacity of the machines differed.

In reply, Mr Semple said that drainage was a great requirement in many parts of Southland. Large areas would be capable of producing three times as much as at present if they were properly drained.