SETTLING PUMICE LANDS.

Matamata Record, Volume XI, Issue 933, 2 July 1928, Page 6

SETTLING PUMICE LANDS.

DEPUTATION MEETS MR. F. F. HOCKEY, M.P.

Request for Commission Keenly Supported.

Unfair Stigma on Fruitful

Lands.

Last week a deputation organised by the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce waited upon Mr. F. F. Hoclcly, M.r., in the Oddfellows’ Hall, when several burning questions touching the Putaruru district were thoroughly gone into, and a request made that he use his influence in an endeavour to get a Commission of Enquiry set up to sift to the bottom

the points raised. Objects of Enquiry. The objects of the enquiry were set forth as being: 1. A delimitation of the sick

areas by grading same so that the present stigma which appertains most unjustly to the whole district may be removed. 2. The enquiry to deal with allegations that the Putaruru district is not securing fair treatment from Government departments in regard to advances on loan. 3. Scope of enquiry to include prospects of settling areas of pumice land under Government supervision:

. Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, president of the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce, presided, and the deputation includ d Messrs. J. \R. O. Lochhead, H. J. W. Scott, A. R. Vosper and G. G. Griffiths, representing the chamber, and Messrs. J. Campbell, A. Carruthers and A. J. Ingle, Tokoroa. Outline of Requests.

In opening, Mr. Griffiths mentioned the fact that there were difficulties in the way of the deputation’s requests, and some slight opposition. There were, however, difficulties in the way of everything worth while, and always some who took the contrary view. He wished to particularly stress two points, however: 1. That the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce, the Putaruru Town Board and the Matamata County Council were unanimous in their desire for an enquiry, though the latter had only discussed the subject in its relation to tree-planting. 2. That the/ deputation did not, as had been stated, desire to stop any enterprise in any way. It was out to help, and was constructive in its aims.

If the Eailway Department regarded, as it should do, every acre as a potential customer, then there were on the Lichfield side of Putaruru 30,000 acres of land in blocks of 750 acres or over, some point of which was within three miles of a railway line. Mr. Hockly himself had stated that day that there were 2,000,000 acres of pumice land suitable for settlement, but this area was yet to be served by means of access,-while that near Putaruru was already served. Small farms, reasonable finance, and plenty of manure were essential to success, and he knew, of no land in New Zealand which was cheaper at the price than some near Putaruru. Cards on Table. It was said the land was sick. The deputation did not deny that; it was prepared to lay all the cards on the table knowing it must win its case. Waotu land was not sick and never had been. Tokoroa hills were in the same category and there were other areas besides.

At Waotu, after 10 years from the unimproved state, 300 sheep, 100 head of cattle and 7 horses had been wintered on 200 acres by one farmer. Seventy of the cattle were milking cows, 40 doing over 3001 b and one over 4001 b of butter-fat in the season. There were thousands of acres of similar land available, and he doubted if the figures mentioned could be bettered in New Zealand at the price.

In regard to sick areas, reputable men—all farmers —like Messrs. H. J. W. Scott, Worth Bros., A. R. Vosper and many others, could testify that in this district sickness could be overcome if the land was farmed in small areas and top-dressed. At the last meeting of the Town Board such an experienced judge as Mr. Yandle had stated that local land improved every year, and that when top-dress-ed it gave wonderful results, and cattle-sickness was overcome.

With such testimony it was idle for anyone to condemn the district as a whole, and most reprehensible for Government officials to do so.

The Official Attitude. During the past few days he had

been informed on most reliable au-. thority that a Government official had blocked a sale of local land which Trad been sold at a reasonable price an 4 which was being farmed successfully at Lichfield, by advising the purchaser it was sick. Other Government officials s had openly condemned the district with J ..out any justification mainly through the red-tape and hide-bound methods which obtained in Government Departments. One Government department topped the New Zealand market at Westfield with stock from areas which another Government department condemned.

The Putaruru Town Board * when asking for a loan—a first mortgage —Had been bluntly turned -down wholly in the speaker’s opinion because it was in a “ damned ” area, so'far as Government officials were concerned.

The position was an intolerable one, and grossly unfair to many reputable and struggling settlers of years of standing, and all the deputation asked for was a righting of these wrongs and the removal of a stigma which prevented - settlement on what had been proved to be some of the most productive land in New Zealand.

Government’s “Bad Boy.”

Mr. J. R. O. Lo.chhead stated that the whole district was undoubtedly suffering because some small parts were affected by like a whole school which was kept in because of one bad boy. (Laughter). Applications for financial aid from State lending departments by farmers in Putaruru, Lichfield and Tokoroa districts were invariably turned down or choked off, despite, the assurance of valuers that they were practically set. It seemed there must be some reason, and it appeared to be that these districts were not regarded as being satisfactory, yet their present state totally disproved this from a practical point of view. It bad been suggested that when an application was put in it should be styled as being so many miles from Tirau instead of from Putaruru. This was done and it came off. (Laughter). It thus appeared that if Tokoroa farmers could describe their properties as being so many miles from Wellington they might succeed. (Laughter). To give the Department its due, there were old loans at Tokoroa, but when refusals covered a period of years there was no doubt in his mind as to the attitude of Wellington. •> A curious anomaly was that when native lands were being purchased the valuations were fixed at, say, £lO. Yet if a loan were asked for the same valuer set a much lower figure. The deputation was not launching a direct actack on the Department, but they ieP the district was black-marked, and that it ,was time a realisation was conveyed to Wellington so that a more reasonable view of the district might be adopted.

“ Still Surviving.”

Mr. Carruthers stated that he had been told his place was sick and he would lose his cows. By using manure and farming in a reasonable manner he had survived four years. (Laughter). Next year he hoped to milk 50 cows and to date he had not been troubled with sickness. If three cwts of manure halved into two dressings were put on great results were achieved. In regard to grazing he knew of no district where cattle would fatten more quickly than at Tokoroa. Roots which were subjust to club-root and other diseases in Taranaki also did wonderfully well, and grew to perfection. The land was well suited for closer settlement. Assistance Secured.

In reply, Mr. Hockly stated he was very pleased to have had the conference. He was convinced that the time had gone by for any dispute as to the value or productivity of pumice soil. Unfortunately, Mr. McLeod had visited areas near Eotorua some time ago and the condition of the settlors was absolutely deplorable. This had put the wind up the. Minister. There! were difficulties iff the way of any classification. The only tangible way he could think of was for farmers to produce their books, but few farmers kept books. In view of Ngaroma and other parts the Government was extremely shy in case of failure. However, he would be extremely pleased to advocate their case with the Minister.

In regard to finance, he agreed with them and maintained the Department should give , a reason when they turned a man down. He was entitled to it. He thought it quite possible to get the land classified and was satisfied the day would come when it would be regarded as clean country. He had seen with his own

eyes a wonderful difference in- the last three years.

If what had been stated in regard to a property not being, sold were* so, it was a scandalous thing, and he was satisfied if he could get the letter the author would never have the opportunity to write another.

He had advocated sub-division on the lines desired in the House. Eighty per cent of farmers in the Auckland province were holding too much land, in his opinion. To farm 1000 acres these days' a man needed the Bank of New Zealand #eZind him. This trouble appeared on the Rangitikei swamp and he had appealed to the. Government to evolve some scheme to help, but so far they had not been able to do so.. He believed that in n Taranaki it . took 101 b of milk to make 11b of, cheese and only 91b in Tokoroa. He was satisfied Tokoroa could be made-into some , of the richest land in New Zealand if j properly manured. *v Mr. Hockly then, concluded his re-/; marks with the words quoted at the head of .these columns.