DIGGING FOR GUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15560, 18 March 1914, Page 8

DIGGING FOR GUM.

EFFECT OF DRY WEATHER. FUTURE OF GUM LANDS. CROATIAN* AS FARMERS. At the present time- some four hundred and fiftv men 'are scattered over the Northern Wairoa guinfields, and their -weekly gum winnings aggregate 25 tone, of a value of £1300. More than half of that quantity-is of-inferior grade, obtained from the now dry swamps (says our Dargaville correspondent), but the bulk of their winnings compensates for the small value. . For some months past the high prices ruling - for bard whit* gum have led many men to confine their attention to getting these, varieties/ but the large quantities recently vended' have dislocated the market, and caused a serious decrease in lues. Owing to this many men are shifting palters, and their removal from tfoe district is unfortunate from a business point of view. Storekeepers report that the Ausferiaßt' diggers especially live we!; and are valuable clients, their trade alone forming a large business turnover. Those diggers who confine their attention to swamp gums are not affected by the fall in price ■, and are strenuously exploiting- the low areas whilst the dry weather ; ' wrcrfcirrues. The Wairoa gum market has been firmer this summer than for years past, ..settlers have obtained larger royalties for digging rights, and all connected with the industry have been satisfactorily reimbursed.

The directors of the New Zealand Gumcleaning 'Compaasy have secured an option over a quarter-acre factory site, adjacent to the t)argaville railway station. The purchasing price is stated 1 to be J3BOO. They expect to start machine-clKining operations in June, and indicate that the company will probably buy the gum as dug from the' diggers, and clean it 'for direct export or for sale through Auckland merchants. The bulk of tie share holders in the company are diggers. The announcement that the Goverßtoenl; has appointed a commission to determine whether, gum reserves should so continue or be thrown open for settlement will hot materially affect Wairoa diggers. Scattered throughout Hobson County there are numerous reserves from which all payable gum ha« fen removed, and these are not now exploited by the regular digger. Occasionally settlers in their locality essay to augment their purees bv going over old workings, but the bulk of the areas are 3 at present only useful in that thev furnish || rough grazing grounds for vagrant live 1 stock. 1m If the bulk of "these reserves are thrown 1 pen for settlement settlers in the neigh- S bourhood will *i» with one another for % iieir possession, and large parcels tif Tagged-looking, country will be brought "I into cultivation.' % Many of the diggers, notably the Clroatians, who have had an agricultural training, are anxious to acquire sections and desert their present nicmadic life for that of a farmer. Those who .have secured holdings are successfully improving their properties, and clearly demonstrate that they are tire right men for the work. The aim of many of the lingers is to relinquish 'field work, make * home, and earn money by day latour n assisting farmers who are unable to eenre workmen. The scarcity of farm abourers in the Wairoa district is acute, md if the services of a number" of >oatians were always available, the dis- j abilities of farmers would be much, light- ■! med. i