THE PUMICE COUNTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16914, 1 April 1929, Page 10

THE PUMICE COUNTRY

METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT MINISTER ’ S INTENTIONS BREAKING IN BY GOVERNMENT. No comprehensive announcement on the Government s land settlement .tn'.i development policy is likely to he made until Msv according to u statement by the lion! G. W., Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, on the completion of a week’s tour, during which ho made a thorough inspection of the vast expanse of pumice land in what is broadly known as the Taupo-Roiorua area. Holding fne opinion that this area gives scope for further development, the Minister has given instructions to the officers of the Lands Department to make a thorough inspection of the terlitorv with a view to selecting u block or blocks for settlement purposes. Ihe Minister is most favorably' impressed with the ppportnnt ies for further development in the Atiarmiri district, fn the vicinity of which the Guthrie settlement was established about 18 months a ./ 0 . There arc only nine Crown settlers there, and the view is commonly hold t-ilat many more could be established in that locality. The district Ims the advantage of convenient access to the railway at Rotorua, from which the present settlement is about 16 miles distant.

S ATIVI v S ETTLEM EN T SCHE ME. The Atiamuri country is mostly undulating. A detailed inspection emphasises the fact that large blocks could not be conveniently be found, partly bocause of the checker-board ownership, in which Crown, native, forestry and private interests are co-mingled within the area. Sir Asirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, made it his chief mission in a recent tour of the pumice country to investigate the possibilities of the Atiamuri district for the settlement of native farmers on the principle followed on the East Coast, and he is expected shortly to confer with the Minister of Lands on the subject. Topographical and soil surveys ot the distvict were sought by settlers who met Mr. Forbes during his tour. It-has now been arranged to make a more detailed topographical survey, probably in 50ft. contours, while the Minister indicated that the Department of Agriculture would probably be abb to arrange for the making of a soil survey.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK ON AREA

A new departure in the method of settlement has been indicated and the Department of Agriculture is likely to play an important part in the scheme. The block selected will probably bo regarded as a test area, an*, as such, there must be a certain amount experimental work attached to it. This work is likely to cost more than would be the case if the methods to bo adopted in breaking up the ground, selecting suitable seedt, and crops, planting shelter breaks and ensuring adequate water supplies were definitely known. If the work is done at a loss, therefore, it must not necessarily be assumed this is due to mismanagement. Broadly expressed, the procedure followed, after the Cabinet has approved of the land to be developed, will probably bo that the Lands Department will provide the mouev estimated to be necessary for the work. The land will then be 'handed over to the Agricultural Department for the purpose of breaking it in and preparing it for settlement. The most important link in the scheme will be the selection of the right man to take charge of the development. The selected officer will need to ho a capable, vigorous man, who has had practical experience in the bringing into profit of scrub and fern country. It has been suggested that a committee of not more than three farmers, with experience of the pumice country, should be appointed, with authority to go on to the area to satisfy themselves that the work is progressing in a proper manner. They should be invited to suggest any improvement in methods, but .should "not be allowed to interfere in any way with the manager, who, if he is "a wise officer, should be only too Willing to act on useful suggestions.

ANALYSING THE PASTURES. The experiment will give the Agricultural Department the opportunity to demonstrate to the farming community and to the general public that its officers are. capable men. It will be equally important for the department to place its best men in the field for the successful accomplishment of the task. An intensive soil survey of the area to be settled will bo essential. Even more important will be a complete series of pasture analyses of samples taken at frequent periods throughout the year. These will be invaluable in affording information as to the pasture to be expected on further new country, and will give a line on the manurial treatment required for the growth of a normal healthy pasture, which can be built up into a pasture giving a high state of production. A large amount of pasture investigation is now being done under the direction of the department, in connection with the Empire Marketing Board scheme, and similar work can usefully be extended to the country yet to be developed.

BREAKING IN BV CONTRACT. It is expected tenders will bo called for ploughing and working the ground, •which will be grassed, fenced and cut up into suitable holdings—including, say, 150 acres of ploughable land—by men working on contract. This method may also be followed for the planting of shelter belts, and the provision of adequate water supplies. The land will then bo allotted to suitable settlers, who are not in a financial position to start on their own resources. The Lands Dcpart/hient can be expected to provide the money for buildings and stock. The experience of these farmers will be their capital, and they will need to be carefully selected from applicants with dairying knowledge. These men will doubtless be asked to pay only a reasonable amount for the land, tin? money being left on the land as a longterm mortgage. To ask the settlers to pay full cost of any experimental work, which may not be' successful, would be imposing too great a burden on them, according to those who have made a close study of the Government's scheme, so far as it. has been divulged.—Auhklaira Herald.