RECLAIMING OF SWAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18578, 10 December 1923, Page 8

RECLAIMING OF SWAMPS

MAGNITUDE OF THE WORK. MR. BOLLARD IMPRESSED. GREAT ASSET TO STATE. _—. Interesting comments on his trip through the Hauraki Plains, Waihi swamp, and Bangitaiki Plains, with the Hon. W. Nosworthy, were made on Saturday by the Hon. E. F. Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs. *' I have always said it is impossible to gather from reports an accurate estimate of the vast amount of work undertaken by the State on these lands," stated the Minister. " One must see the works to appreciate what has been accomplished, and the vastness of the reclamation is a surprise to me. What were previously large bogs or lakes the size of some of our metropolitan cities are now well-grassed lands, and in many instances are highly cultivated. The swamp areas will become a tremendous asset to the State, and there is nothing to prevent that." The Minister said that the work which had been done by Mr. J. B. Thompson, now Under-Secretary of Lands, and Kis officers, in reclaiming the swamp areas was deserving of high commendation, and ho was sure they would get that from the settlers now occupying the lands. It had been the desire of Mr. Nosworthy and himself to see the settlers and discuss matters of interest to them, and to the State in regard to the development of lands. "We are both practical farmers with a knowledge of land," continued the Minister, " and I feel that what we have learned on our visit will be of benefit to the settlers and to the Government when we consider the representations which have been made to us."