BAD LANDS OF KING COUNTRY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2544, 29 November 1924, Page 7

BAD LANDS OF KING COUNTRY.

Evidence Taken at Te Kuiti.

SOME INTERESTING PROPOSALS ADVANCED.

[Per Press Association.] TE KUITI, Last Night.

The Lands Deterioration Commission sat here to-day, Mr G. H. Bullard, Commissioner, presiding, and comprehensive evidence was given by representative settlers. John Francis, a representative Hairoa run-holder, observed that the deteriorated lands were generally light, loose loam and incajiable of holding English grasses after the potash from the bush burn was exhausted. The cure was top dressing, which only would keep the land in good heart. Two classes of land existed between Te Kuiti and the Coast. The easier type was ploughable and suitable for close settlement, the rougher was fit only for large grazing runs. Private mortgagees and stock firms in many Instances had reduced mortgages to cut losses, but the Public Trustee, who held many in this district, did nothing, which was very bad for the country. The manuring of these lands was a matter for experiment. Settlers were working in the dark and the Government should establisi an experimental station on the education reserve of 1000 acres at Hal roa, which was suitable for a Borstal or prison settlement

The Commission was evidently much interested in the latter proposal.

Mr G. N. Boddie said he had not suffered from deterioration, but his neighbours had, and on good land. It was due to mistakes in sowing down, neglect to pasture and mismanagement generally. In the case of Maori leases, the impossibility of failing finance often crippled settlers at critical times.

' Mr G. Mathers, an Arapae dairy farmer, said he ran 150 cows on 300 acres, top-dressing with 3 cwt oi basic super annually. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, suggested the establishment of a portable lime crushing plant. Outcrops of lime stone existed on nearly every farm, and if crushed on the spot, would greatly decrease the cost of top-dres-sirg.