UTILISING THE GUM AREAS.

Northland Age, Volume 16, Issue 41, 3 July 1919, Page 5

UTILISING THE GUM AREAS.

CROWN LAND COMMISSIONER SAYS TO BE MADE SUITABLE FOR GENERAL SETTLEMENT PURPOSES.

At ■’ last meeting of the North Auckland Land Board, Mr. Wells drew attention to recent articles appearing in the Press in regard to gum lands, which, he said, were calculated to give quite a wrong impression with respect to the treatment of these lands.

Mr. Greville, the Commissioner, said

“ I have noticed the articles referred to, and there does appear to be some misapprehension as to the policy which it is proposed to pursue. The position is that we have large areas of such land in the North Auckland district. lam referring especially to the clay lands—exhausted gum fields—which are now lying in an unproductive state. The Minister of Lands recognises that this is not a desirable state of affairs, and has decided the best thing to he done is to improve the lands and convert them from their present wilderness state into a condition suitable for settlement purposes. An impression has got abroad that the lands are being improved for soldier settlement. This is quite a mistaken idea. There is no fixed intention in the mind of Minister that the land is for soldier settlement at all. The position is simply that the land is unproductive, and the Minister is going to put it into such a state that it will be easily made productive before disposing of it. If, when the land is broken in, any areas are suitable for soldiers and the soldiers feel disposed to select them, they will, of course, have preference. The first area being treated is at Swanson. There we have an area ot 1100 acres only about 15 miles from Auckland at present being put to no use at all, and in an unproductive state. Wc have made a start with the development of this land, and at present there are two parties of returned soldiers felling scrub preparatory to ploughing. As soon as the clearing is sufficiently advanced, we propose to proceed with tinploughing, and for that purpose have procured a Samson tractor. After the land has been broken in it will be manured and limed and made suitable for cultivation. There are large areas of such lands in our district, probably 30,000 or 40,000 acres, all of which arc capable of being brought into profitable use by following the treatment which I have indicated. For instance, there is a large area in Whangarei district —the old Purua Kauri Gum Reserve. This land can be truly described as very easy, undulating country. It is practically all in danthonia. I recently inspected this land with Mr. Finlayson, and he is very anxious that the area should be dealt with as we are dealing with the Swanson area. I propose to submit this proposal to the Minister for his consideration. lam sure members will agree with me that we cannot afford to have any land lying in an unproductive state, and in regard to these clay gum lands it is useless handing them over to settlers until they have been broken in.” WASTE LANDS MUST BE MADE PRODUCTIVE.

Mr. Greville said the whole question resolved itself into one of supply of labour. It had been thought there would be a tremendous demand by soldiers for work on their return, but this was not the case so far. From the country’s point oi view we want land to* settlement. We have large areas producing nothing, and they have got to be brought into a productive state, especially land that is capable of being made so. For instance, there was Purua, which has a metalled motor road to it and does not require road access or anything but breaking in. GUM AREAS FOR RE-AFFORES-TATION.

In the course of a conversation with a Luminary representative, Mr. Greville said there were areas of gum country that were suitable only for re-afforestation purposes. The Kapiro Gum Reserve was one in point. It was especially suitable owing to its position. Pinus Itisignus could be planted and in twenty or twentyfive years a deal of the timber would bo fit for milling. An impression had got abroad that this area was to be cut up for soldier settlement—that was never contemplated.—Luminary.