WAIKATO SWAMP LANDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16113, 30 April 1923, Page 10

WAIKATO SWAMP LANDS.

SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT. '

With a view to ascertaining the prospects for increased production in the Waikato by. the development of swamp and pumice lands, Mr E. A. Ransom, ALP. for Pahiatua, lias been visiting the district investigating the possibilities of settlement.

After inspocting the land and making himself conversant with the potentialities of the ai'ea comprising South Auckland, Mr Ransom want away greatly impressed. He has in view a land settlement- schemo under which immigrants from Great Britain can bo engaged in the work of developing many of the Waikato swamp areas and the pumice country lying between Rotorua and Taupe.

When interviewed, -Mr Ransom said that Now Zealand was losing a splendid opportunity of increasing her production and national wealth by not adopting some scheme that would ensure greater and more rapid development of the lands that were at present uncultivated. What lie. suggested was that a small colony or group of immigrants should be placed on an area of undeveloped land under the supervision of a Government officer, their work being to bring the land into a state of productivity. While the immigrants were engaged in this operation they should bo paid for their services by the Now Zealand Government, assisted by the Imperial Government, which had promised a £ for £ subsidy to any country within the Empire which would put a land scheme such as the one ho described into operation. Furthermore, the Imperial Government did not want, its money back. WJ.en tho efforts of the immigrants had brought the land into a productive state, subdivision would take place, and they would In- offered tho first option of taking up the land. Thus the difficulty experienced in the past by men who, with limited capital, took on the herculean task of breaking in the swamp and pumice areas with no income for tho first few years would be overcome, for the wages the immigrants earned during the time development work was proceeding would be. ample for all their requirements.

. Even if the men selected when the subdivision took place did not take up the land allotted to them, the work which they had done would not be lost, for work valued at £1 would have cost the New Zealand Government only 10s on account of the Imperial Government's subsidy, and the improvements effected would represent solid valine. No difficulty should be experienced ip disposing of the lane} at prices that wou}d recoup the Government for the inoney expended. The swamp and the pumice lands of the Waikat# were ideal for the purpose of a land settlement scheme. They were not poor men's land, and the average settler, to obtain the best results, required State assistance. Mr. Ransom examined areas which only a few years ago had been over-run with scrub and gorse, but were now covered with rich grass and clover. Evidence was provided showing thai, pumice land, when scientifically and properly farmed, could be made to give great results.

Mr. Ransom cited tho case of a farmer who previously carrjed on agriculture pursuits in the Rorigotea district, one of tho richest parts of the Manawatu. This man topic up pumjoe land in the Lower Waikato, and the results of his farming oi| this land wero such as to dispel froin. his inind any thought of rcturing to the Manawatii. Mr. Ransnm said the success thjs man had obtained couk} be the experience of others, provided always they had sound financial backing. . '*'