UTILISING THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1924, Page 8

UTILISING THE LAND

COMMISSION AT OHURA. EXPERIENCES OF SETTLERS. SMALL HOLDINGS SUGGESTED. The commission of inquiry appointed to go into the question of the difficulties in the profitable utilisation of Grown leaseholds jn Nlorth. Taranaki and South Auckland met at Ohura last yveek and heard evidence from several settlers in the district. Mr. G. H. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lauds, presided. N. J. Dougherty s-aid the main difficulty was lack of money, and also lack of fencing. Regarding grasses, he had sown cocksfoot, danthonia and browntop, the latter doing fairly well in .shady places. The land in the district was very deficient in lime, his own farm being six tons four hundredweight deficient. Bracken fern was in the ascendency in the district, and the land had gone back through lack of fencing. The second growth started to show about three years after the bush was cut. He had not done any top-dressing on account of the heavy expense. Generally speaking, interest on mortgages in the district was 8 per cent. It cost a man's yvages right b’om the start to keep the country clear on an acreage such as that worked by the speaker. In his opinion, the only w-ay to break down bracken fern was to cut up farms into small holdings and crush out the fern. Howex er, the question of second growth would always be present.

M. Cameron said he tried all methods to keep the bracken down, including running goats, but the position was hopeless.

J. L. Robinson, who holds a farm of ■about 800 acres a mile south of Ohura, said the only solution he could find to keep the country clean was to run mixed stock and fence up into small holdings of about 50 acres. He had been sorry he had not sown more of his property in paspalum grass, as stock, both sheep and cattle, appeared to thrive on this grass. In his opinion the country had gone back through the slump. This caused firms supplying m'oney to tighten up. • A BELIEVER IN FENCING. W. S. Currie said deterioration on his farm was not apparent until the slump came. At present he nearly had the biaxikeu beaten. If he were to start farming again he would sow danthonia, especially on the hjgh parts of his land. He was a great believer in sffb-divisional fencing of a strong and permanent nature. It cost about £1 per chain to fence. He had no Country he could not utilise. W. M. Roache said he held papa country at Tokirima, and had no trouble from fern. His manures used to cost £lO per ton, but now they were cheaper, but not in accordance with distance. Regarding the question of access, his roads were summer roads only. In winter the roads were impassable’ He considered £2 per chain was the average cost of fencing to-day. He thought bud lands should be allowed rent free, and close supervision should be made of the grass seed sent out to the backblocks. TROUBLE TRACED TO SLUM- I ’. H. Chjipman, who held a Crown holding of 500 acres, said all his farm was in grass, and he carried 70 milk cows and 80 store cattle. His ibutter-fat average was about 1601 b. Hg had difficulty in keeping his property in order. After every burn the fern came away again. Danthonia, cocksfoot, and black top grew all right on his country. He traced all his trouble to the slump. He paid 29s for sheep, and sold for 16s, and paid £7 to £9 for cattle and sold for £3 2s 6d. That was the hurdle he was up against, but he had no intention of giving in, and was absolutely sure he could carry on and make, a success of his farm. He had never asked for even a remission of interest from his dealers. 'Several other settlers gave evidence. The commission continued its tour of inspection to-day, and takes further evidence at Taumarunui on Tuesday.