HAURAKI PLAINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 15

HAURAKI PLAINS

EFFICIENCY OF DRAINAGE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE DANGERS OF NEGLECT ["by telegraph—special reporter"! WELLINGTON, Friday The necessity for maintaining a high state of efficiency in the drainage system is emphasised in the 26th annual report 011 drainage operations in the Haiiraki Plains, presented to Parliament to-day. The chief drainage engineer, Mr. R. G. Macmorran, says the depressed state of the dairy produce market meant that last year was probably the most difficult period in the history of settlement on the reclaimed swamp lands. The settlers are essentially dairy farmers, and a consideration of the present produce market position suggests two fairly obvious lines of action to meet the changed conditions: (1) The adoption of mixed farming methods for more diversified production; (2) winter milking to spread production more evenly throughout the year. A few years ago, states the report, those methods could not be recommended {or the Hauraki Plains, but they could be adopted to-day. Another possible means of increasing returns and improving pasture was the fattening of lambs. The railway now provides quick transport for lambs from the east coast to the rich pastures of the Hauraki Plains, where under suitable conditions, they fatten with remarkable rapidity, and at the same time the3 T consume the surplus grass during the flush of the season. In view of the satisfactory prices received for fat lambs, farmers should look into the possibilities of definite gain in this direction.

An expansion along these lines will demand a very liigh state of efficiency in the drainage system, and it would be disastrous if, through a false sense of security resulting from a succession of good seasons, or through financial difficulties, the drainage system were neglected. In one district where the drainage system was recently handed over by the department to a local body, the control board was unable to carry out the annual drain-cleaning last year, and it was only an exceptionally favourable winter that prevented serious damage to the grasslands by flooding. No matter how great the difficulties, settlers cannot afford to neglect drain maintenance, and, in fact, the trenr of future developments will demand an improvement and extension of the existing svstcm. "The day when we can rest in satisfaction that the district is fully improved and that more drainage and other public works would be wasteful, savs the report, "is still far in the future; and with the assistance offered under various schemes to meet the needs of unemployment, much useful work can be accomplished." .