USE FOR IDLE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20553, 2 May 1930, Page 11

USE FOR IDLE LAND.

EXPERIMENTS IN NORTH,

FARMING OR FORESTRY

INSPECTION BY MINISTER.

[TIV TELEGRAM^— SPECIAL REPORTER.]

KUSSELL, Thursday. Whether the Kripiro block of about' 1

16.000 ncre.s, centring upon Waipapa, lf>3 miles north of Auckland, is suitable for farming, or whether it should bo used for afforestation, is a question to which an answer is being sought by .means of experiments in pasture establishment on part of the area. The Minister of Lands, Hon. G. W. Forbes, visited the block this afternoon and met a number of settlers from the adjacent districts. An explanation of the work in hand was given by Mr. C. Hambiyn, instructor of the Agricultural Department, who- is carrying out tho experiments. A conclusion based on the tests has not yet been reached. Tho Kapiro block is ironstone country, which is growing scrub, but has never been clothed in forest. The soil, is a recent volcanic formation, containing ;i high percentage of iron and limonito pellets.

Variety of Methods. On the surface tho land is apparently suitable for cultivation, being rolling downs, lying well and adeqnatelv watered. On tho experimental area tlir» cheapest and most expensive methods of pasture establishment aro being used, side by side, in order to ascertain which, or cither, will yield economically satisfactory results. These methods vary in thi* amount of cultivation and fertilisers and tho species of grass. Although a comparatively small -area, 16 acres, is being dealt with, the experi- . rnents cover a wide range of methods, and,.. ; a wide variation in tho types of fertilisers and pasturo plants used. Tho Minister was told that some of tho settlers on adjacent lands wero of opinion that the block should bo thrown open for settlement at once, thus giving scope for practical farmers to break it in by their own. methods. Weed for Certainty. .. ,t Mr. Forbes* reply was to the effect that, v..;while desiring to foster settlement of all suitable lands, ho could not favour the ■ offering of this block for selection until it had been ascertained beyond doubt that it could be profitably brought into cultivation. It was obviously difficult land to deal with. By throwing it open the Government would assume a responsibility toward tho settlers which could not ba got rid of if their occupation of the holdings proved unprofitable. 1 The Government had had experiences of this kind in connection with cattle-sick and similar areas. The mere throwing open of the block would bo taken by niost men seeking land as an implication that it was suitable for settlement. Co-operation Favoured. Therefore, it appeared to him that this suitability would have to be clearly established before such action could be taken. It was stated that the nature of the. tests had been determined by Mr. Hambiyn, after consultation with- the North Auckland Land Settlement League, Mr. Forbes gave an assurance that his department would favour the setting up 5; of a settlers' committee 1 to bo associated with the experimental work, should this be desired, in order to ensure the officer in charge being in tho closest possible touch with the settlers. - /