F. Farmers

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1949, Page 4

F. Farmers

Speaking on behalf of the Whangarei sub-province of Federated Farmers, Mr H. E. Hewlett emphasised the need for immediate development of productive capacity to the greatest possible extent.

“First reason for this is the great demand for the type of fodstuffs we are most fitted to produce,” he said. "Second reason is the urgent need for a much greater population, able and willing to defend the land in which we live.

“This need is so great that neither the Crown, the Maori nor the pakeha should be allowed to keep land lying idle any longer than can be helped. “There are, to my knowledge, many blocks of privately-owned land which the owners are anxious to make productive but for the fact that they are hampered by poor access, in addition to the heavy costs, which it is impossible to avoid at the present time. “Land development is at present an expensive matter, and it would be a sound proposition for the Government to remit taxation upon money to be spent on this work, as it would result in increased revenue in the near future.

"Perhaps the most important point of all is the supply of increased quantities of fertiliser as and when required. "The present manure works are most inconveniently and uneconomically situated for supplying the North. "There are two bottlenecks in the capacity of the works and in the means of transport, which are seriously hampering farming activities. "There is nothing which would contribute so much to the progress and prosperity of the North as the erection of processing works at a suitable point or points in the North.”

LWhangarei County’s case was published oil Thursday. Two other submissions, those from Ilokianga and Whangaroa, will be published in precis form next wcck.J