FAR NORTH’S POTENTIALITIES

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 40, 22 February 1949, Page 3

FAR NORTH’S POTENTIALITIES

Sir.—Your recent edicorial calling for more diversified farming and a greater capitalising of this wonderful climate, is timely, to the point and sound. As a newcomer from the far South, I hasten to second you in your realistic lead. I am bound to say the potentialities of the North are mostly unkonwn and unsung—and enormous. What amazes an outsider, is the vast area of useful and often easily handled country that is idle. I understand the Crown Lands Department is a major offender in this respect. Knowing that with the right machinery and methods it is possible to convert this land to good pasture inside three years and knowing Britain urgently requires what can be produced, one would be justified in trying to trace the cause of such astounding inaction. One is forced to trace it to lack of vision on the part of the Government and the Ministers directly concerned and also to Government policy in general. Where Government po'icy is involved is that farmers’ prices are mostly stabilised while his costs aie not. Enterprise and incentive that are so necessary , where virgin land is concerned, and which incidentally made New Zealand so progressive hitherto, is discouraged by the impact of unbridled taxation. There are hundreds of farmers’ ,ons and others denied a free choice of land and many of these are forced into less important vocations, so I suggest that idle Crown lands be broken in with suitable machinery by the Crown and ballotted at an early stage ; to those stout hearts among us will- j ing to give it a go. Another major weakness at the ; moment is the scarcity and price of lime. The need for lime is greater ; perhaps than anywhere else in New , Zealand and no one thing will do so ! much to boost production. A crying need is a lime works capable of turning out at least 500 tons a day. The small units can only be helpful to further progress by catering for areas outside economic cartage distance of a major works. Sir, it is not impossible to double production in ten years with a little vision and action and I am bound tc say the recent quibbling over a modern transport service is out of step with your editorial and progress. ■ Yours, etc., J. GIBSON SMITH. Kaingaroa, 17/2/49.