IDLE TIDAL LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21116, 25 February 1932, Page 9

IDLE TIDAL LANDS.

RECLAMATION SCHEME. " WHANGAREI DEVELOPMENT. HOMES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED[FROM OUR OV.'N correspondent. ] WIIANGAREI, 'Wednesday. The development by unemployed labour of 6000 acres of idle tidal lands, at present under the control of the Whangarei Harbour Board, was suggested in a report to the meeting of the board to-day by the engineer and secretary, Mr. W. M. Fraser. Mr. Fraser said the greater portion of the tidal areas, if reclaimed from the sea by stop-banking, and properly drained, would became highly suitable for dairying, fruit-growing and general agricultural purposes. From experiments carried out, lie was confident that with thorough drainage and the right treatment of the surface, this land could be made productive within two years, fto fertile would the land become under proper treatment that 20 acres of it would be st/fficient. to support an industrious and thrifty family in comfort. He suggested that negotiations should be entered into with the Unemployment Board and others interested for the carrying out of a comprehensive scheme. The proposal was that the board should find the land and direct the work of reclamation, drainage, subdivision and building. The labour necessary for the carrying out of the work would be provided under, the Unemployment Board's scheme No. 5.. Material for the houses, fences and tidegates would be found by a Government department, probably • the Public Works. Manure and seed for the first year would be found by the State, possibly through the Department of Agriculture. The finance necessary for the purchase of cows, cream-separators and dairy utensils could probably be arranged with a dairy company under a system of guaranteed instalment repayment. On becoming established on their'holdings, the new settlers would be advised and guided frum time to time by officers of the Department of Agriculture and of the interested dairy company. Mr. Fraser said he had detailed the scheme to about 40 relief workers, all of whom expressed their eagerness to secure a section on which to establish a permanent. home. Ihe chairman, Mr. J. A. Finlayson, said normally the reclamation would not be done for a number of years. "This is the class of scheme which will meet with the approval of the Unemployment Board, and it will be an asset to the country if carried out," he said. Mr. L. A. Johnson proposed that t.he board approve of the principle of the report, and that copies be forwarded to the Commissioner of Unemployment and to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister in charge of Unemployment. The motion was carried.