HOW TO GROW LUCERNE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21560, 3 August 1933, Page 13

HOW TO GROW LUCERNE

Sir, —The scheme outlined by Colonel Closer in his final article is quite characteristic of a body of men who ha\ e completely lost sight of realities. As a practical proposition it is quite devoid .of soundness. If grass or lucerne is grown at Taupo, the stock must also be kept at Taupo, as otherwise transport costs would be impossible. Also, there is a natural spring surplus of "feed" on every farm that can be saved for winter use at trifling cost. Colonel Closey holds the strange belief that tho output of his Taupo settlers would add nothing to our ('swollen primary exports," as their production would differ in kind. A moment's reflection would have shown him that no such difference would exist. If the new settlers required £5,000,000 a year for their maintenance other farmers would need to pay them that amount for their lucerne, which could only be done if tho uso of tho lucerne so increased the output of butter and other produce that it would realise at least £5,000,000 additional. Obviously, this additional output would affect markets precisely as would the output of the new setlers if they themselves produced £5,000,000 worth of butter and other produce, in place of £5,000,000 worth of lucerne. Coloney Closey regards bank advances as impracticable for his scheme, as their "subsequent repayment would be disastrous!" All borrowing must be regarded as tho temporary uso of other persons' goods or service, as it is invariably these the borrower requires. The Taupo settlers would require buildings, fences, implements, seeds and manures, besides sustenance for themselves and families till the community became self-supporting. Nominally, the outside community would lend these requirements, but since the farcical repayments" would be nullified by equivalent gifts of "consumer-credits, the repayments would have no reality. No doubt Douglasitcs would regard such a method of financing lucerne growing or anv other project hs entirely sound and honourable, but the sooner these reformer* grasp the fundamental fact that use of the property of others can onlv bo obtained on the understam mp: that it, or its equivalent, will be honourably returned, the sooner will thc.\ become useful citizens in a practical world. J- Johnstone. \ —-A— •