NORTH AUCKLAND INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 14

NORTH AUCKLAND INDUSTRIES.

Sir,—Having travelled lately through the hot, sheltered valleys of the Far North of this island, largely given up at present to tea-tree, fern and rushes, it struck me that here lay latent possibilities for intensive cultivation and profitable horticulture for many a family not at present blessed with riches. On tho Continent of Europe, \vc have, many of us, seen families where all assist, perfectly independent, with no fear of the future, making a securo living on small blocks of, say, 10-20 acres of land. One would (hink the Government would busy itself with this problem by means of experimental plots, as is done very largely by tho United States Horticultural Department. I refer to certain agricultural industries that require intensive cultivation, a sub-tropical climate, sufficient rainfall, good soil and an industrious family. There are thousands of such who could not possibly raise the necessary capital to stock a dairy farm. I may mention, for instance, olives, tea, tung oil, perfumes, with a central factory, mulberry culture for silkworms, passionfruit- pulping for export, sisal, vineyards on a large scale, lemon-peel manufacture, tobacco culture, among many others. I could show on a North Auckland fruit farm an olive tree that yearly bears enormous quantities of fruit, which ripen and fall to the ground. Also in tho early days of the colony the tea plant was successfully grown in the Bay of Islands. The tung oil plant seems to bo suitable for the hot, humid lands of tho North, and, in many places, mulberry trees may be seen growing that would be a revelation to. say, tho Mediterranean peoples. The evident near approach of tho harbour bridge will greatly facilitate tho close settlement of the north of Auckland Peninsula. I trust some abler pen will take up this matter of small rural industries and eventually induce the Government to realise Ihe value of this part of the Dominion for sub-tropical products. A.P.H.