PUMICE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 14

PUMICE LAND.

Sir, —Mr. F. Wilson implies that I am afraid to show my figures. I would reply to this that he lived alongside cf me for some time, and should know that'l am always willing to give .my advice or experience I have had to anyone. Mr. Hay's returns for three years average £727 for butter-fat and calves, pigs not included, and he started with a scratch herd, not dairy cattle at all. Mr. Neilson, who followed on after Hay had cream returns just on £6OO, not counting calves, pigs or other returns. I did not reckon these returns out till I heard settlers denying Mr. Vaile's average, for whole of . Reporoa at £6OO. My figures help to confirm this. The trouble "here is that one has only to make a favourable comment on the district and the few unsuccessful settlers set up a howl of protest of the awful conditions they are under, and are indignant if anyone suggests their failure is due to their own mismanagement. I say anyone on Reporoa who is not getting a return of over £6OO a year (it ought to be £1000) is not running his farm pro.perly, and should get some competent farmer to look over the farm and accounts and v advise how to make a success. William G. Butcher.

• Sir, —For some time past there has been a great deal of adverse criticism in the columns of the press about the pumice lands and Reporoa While such letters appearing in the papers may not mislead the public, they are certainly no aid in the development of any young district, and are very unfair to people who have made their homes, and have the welfare of the district at heart, At the same time, they do the writers no credit, and the worth of them can only be compared to a farmer, without any other business training, opening up a draper's shop in Queen Street, and then writing to the press condemning Auckland as an unfit place for anyone to do business. Settler's Wife.