PUMICE LAND FARMING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6815, 19 January 1929, Page 12

PUMICE LAND FARMING

Successful State Scheme

WORK DONE BY PRISONERS

Greatly impressed •with, the progress made by the prisons authorities in breakingun pumice land at the Hautu prison farm, Mr P. Fraser M.P., and Mr E. Semple, M.P., who recently returned from a motor tour of the middle portion of the North Island, expressed their conviction that the development of that class of country would provide for those out of work, and increase productivity and encourage land settlement. Their main object in inspecting the farm was to ascertain what had been accomplished in the development of pumice land for cultivation. When the first prisoners started operations six years ago the whole area now occupied by th'e farm was covered densely with manuka scrub. Now 1760 acres of the 10,000 acres are in cultivation, mostly in grass. The visitors expressed surprise at the wonderful progress made by the Prisons Department, and at the apparent fertility of the land which has already been broken in. The clover in places is up to the knees in height. They were also impressed with the progress in the production of sheep and cattle, and learned that top prices had been obtained for them at the Hamilton market. At present the pasture carries two sheep to the acre, with a possibility of even more. Experiments in breeding sheep are projected and already excellent results have been achieved in the breeding of horses. Some Remarkable Results. Mr Fraser said the results in the garden attached to the farm were remarkable, and equali to anything to be seen iu any other part of the Dominion. It was understood that ultimately, when a sufficient area of land was in production, it was proposed to cut up the farm into, suitable areas for dairy farms and, make them available for settlement. A good deal of discussion had taken place in Parliament in regard to the advisability of the Botorua-Taupo railway. A good deal of scepticism had also been voiced in regard to the project. One of the objects of their visit had been to satisfy themselves as to the possibilities of the pnmico country for profitable settlement. As a Tesult of their inspection both he and Mr Semple were strongly of the opinion that if other pumice lands were dealt with by the Government in the same way as the prison authorities had dealt with the area at Hautu, a great future awaited those portions of the Dominion. Land’s Potentialities Proved. When the project at Hautu was first started it was considered 'that if 50 acres could be reclaimed in one year good progress would be made. Last year about 700 acres were cleared of scrub and made available for the plough, and it was anticipated that about 100 acres would be dealt with in a similar fashion during, the present year. What has been done at the Hautu prison farm proves what can be done on such land,” said Mr Fraser, “and it also opens up the possibility of absorbing the unemployed of the Dominion in the most useful productive work imagineable. So far as wo could see, after making enquiries into the economics of the subject, we believe it would be possible for a very large number of physically fit young unemployed workers to be transferred to that area, and by their labour utilised under a properly organised scheme to convert the land into good dairy country. * < Young men would also be trained so that they would be capable later of taking up land on their own account, and those who'showed particular aptitude could be given the opportunity of settling and acquiring portions of the country they have helped to break in. The area in question lies half-way between Auckland and Wellington, and we consider the Government should take the matter into earnest consideration forthwith. The railway probably could be continued from Taupo to Waiouru or Waimarino, to the advantage of trade for both main ports.” Mr Fraser said he felt sure any scheme of the kind suggested would receive the unanimous support of the Labour Party.