HUTT VALLEY COMPOST SOCIETY

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 42, 9 May 1945, Page 5

HUTT VALLEY COMPOST SOCIETY

PROTEST AGAINST ATTACK

At the monthly meeting of the Hutt Valley Compost Society in the Wesley Hall last week, strong excep-

tion was taken to the recent broadcast address by Dr. Turbot under

tlie auspices of the Health Department, i'l which he deprecated the value of h' mic compost and attacked the aeti\iti(£ of the compost societies in New Zealand. It was agreed to back up the national executive in demanding the right of reply over the radio to Dr. Turbot's remarks.

The speaker for the evening, Mr. D. K. Pritchard, of the Department qi Agriculture, was unable to attend owing to ill health, and the secretary Mr. John Hogan read and commented on extracts from new books on the subject of soil fertility and compost-ing—-"This Plot of Earth," by H. J.

lassingham, and Lore Northbourne's

"Look to the Land." Interesting and instructive discussion followed. An important point raised was that soils deficient in certain elements would encourage the growth of weeds whose return to the soil through the compost heap, would provide just the elements required. Reference was also made to the amount of organic materia} wasted in the Hutt Valley which should be scientifically composted and used to maintain soil fertility.