BUSINESS MEN AT PIO PIO

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1933, Page 11

BUSINESS MEN AT PIO PIO

VISIT BY THE CHAMBER FERTILITY AND PROGRESS. RESOURCES OF THE DISTRICT. Leaving Taumarunui at 9 a.m. on Wednesday the, party of members Of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce who have 'been visiting the Ohura district set out On - the return journey via Pio Pio and Aria.. The first part of the journey to the,'eight-mile peg near Pio Pio covered the same route as had been passed over previously, but at the junction of the Moa Moa flat, about half a mile from the eight-mile junction, the party was met by Messrs. R. Body, chairmah of .the.' Wairere. Power Board, F. R. Harvey, engineer to the board, C. K. Wilson, deputy-chairman of the Waitomp County Council, R. W. Neal, chairman of the' Pio Pio ' Co-op. Dairy Company,. J. E. Trust,' a director of that company, and Mr, Craig, of Te Kuiti. The tourists were taken for . an interesting detour via Mapara, passing through some beautiful ; country, on which both dairying; and sheep farming is carried out. Some idea of its quality may be gleaned from-the fact that four settlers take a total of over 50 tons of butter-fat per year to the Pio Pio factory, whilst Mr. R. -Body, on 500 acres, carries 500 ewes which give him 590 lambs, as well as 250 wethers, 183 Jersey heifers, which were wintered-and keptuntil the spring, seven Jersey bulls and three horses. The land in that district is : all in firstclass condition, showing evidence ,of good ■farming, whilst after the recent rains it bears an appearance of spring. Some of it is inclined to flood at times owing to the willows blocking up the Mokau river. That should soon be overcome, as a stretch of about 20 miles of river above Pio Pio to the Wairere Falls is now being cleared of willow by unemployed labour, which is camped in the The settlers have found about £250 for machinery,. and the Unemployment Board and the Public Works Department found the rest, the cost being estimated at about £7OOO or £BOOO. The road traversed by the party would provide an emergency route when the Main Highwayis flooded, as only a small portion is Subject to flood, and it is said that a moderate expenditure would place it all above flood level. A feature of the district is the way in which the ragwort is kept under control, there being very little in evidence. VISIT TO THE FACTORY.

At Pio Pio the party was taken through the factory by Mr. F. N. Walker, the manager. Its output last year was 560 tons from 224 suppliers, but this year there are 250 suppliers and an increased output. Cream is collected over a radius of 20 miles, one lorry covering about 70 to 80 miles daily. On behalf of the directors of the factory Mr. R. W. Neal extended a welcome to the, visitors. They had always appreciated the interest shown .in the district by the members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, he said. He had been, settled in the district for the past 22 years, as had most of the other settlers, and he thought the visitors would realise from what they had seen of the country that the settlers had nothing whatever to be ashamed of in the progress that had been made. That, he thought, reflected the confidence the ♦. settlers had shown in the district. When he came into the district there were not 100 cows milked there. In fact, there was hardly feed enough to keep 100 cows, the country being simply a huge patch' of fern’, rushes and swamp. They could therefore visualise the great improvement that had taken place when they realised that last year the factory output was 560 tons, and that although this season had been exceptionally dry, there.- would be a further increase of t 100 tons. Moreover, the district-was not entirely devoted to dairying, but was a mixed fanning district, some large areas being devoted to sheep and cattle. It was probably owing to the sheep that they had. been able to control the ragwort. Ten years ago \the country was practically one mass of ragwort, whereas' now there was very little to be seen. ’He thought that showed that with sheep and the use of sodium chlorate ragwort equid be> coped with. He pointed out that the dairy factory had been started 21 years ago, and though they had never since gone in for any extravagant or architectural improvements they had never hesitated to purchase the latest machinery in order to manufacture the highest quality produce. •!

FACILITIES WANTED. 'i Mr. C. K. Wilson said that the visitors had seen that the district had potentialities, but it wanted facilities. The settlers had provided roads themselves, and had rated themselves heavily to do so. They were now feeling the burden of that. If, however, a move were to take place in prices, that district would come out best, because' it comprised fairly good land at fairly low values. Certainly the land was patchy, but it had a gigantic area, and he thought that production would increase until the output reached 1000 tons. When things came right it would be one of the most productive areas in the Dominion. , Mr. R. Body expressed particular pleasure in welcoming the members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce because he realised that but for that body they would not have had the main arterial road through the Awakujp Valley, nor the Mokau River bridged. The district had interests in common with Taranaki because a great number of its early Bettiers came from Taranaki. The settlers of Pio Pio had shown great confidence in their district, and he did hot think that any other district could show the same,progress, when it was realised that 35 years ago it was necessary to obtain a. permit to enter the district, which was in the King Country. Not only had they facilities, but it was now possible to go almost anywhere in the district by car, and they had a district power scheme of their own serving an area of 30 square miles. - Ever since its first settlement the district had been handicapped, as it had either been up against world-wide depressions or world-wide booms, and -then the war took 50 per cent, of their virile young men at a time when they were most wanted to develop the district.

I However, the people had great confidence in their district, and it was only a matter of time, with the continued assistance given by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce as in the past, that they would make the district one that the settlers and the people of New Plymouth would be proud of. Mr. Sandford expressed appreciation of the welcome that had been accorded and also of the opportunity afforded of discussing various matters. The country they had passed through had more than favourably impressed them, as it showed how the land had responded to the efforts that had been put in by the settlers. They were pleased with the fine spirit of confidence with which the , settlers had met all difficulties, and he ; hoped that it would not be long before matters improved and they would obtain the results of their labour. The object of the party in making the trip was to co-ordinate matters in the interests of the settlers and of themselves. Throughout their trip they had been struck by the fine spirit shown by the settlors. New Plymouth, too, had felt the depression, but thanks to the enterprise of its public men, various improvements had of late years been effected, in particular a deep sea harbour to meet the requirements of the district had been provided, and if they could do anything to assist in providing feeders to the railway, which would also assist the port, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce would be pleased to participate. Mr. C. E. Bellringer, chairman of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, said that his earliest recollection of the district was at the time of the White Cliffs massacre, when it was .regarded as a dreaded “terra incognita.” It was probably from that feeling that Taranaki settlers pushed into the country when it was opened up. He referred to the fact that in the early days the only means of communication with. Auckland was by steamer, whereas now, thanks to the efforts of the settlers, backed up by the members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, they had an arterial road which brought Auckland and New Plymouth within a few hours of each other. DEEP SEA HARBOUR. The speaker proceeded to outline the improvements that had been effected in providing a deep sea harbour at New Plymouth. He referred to the fact that while the export trade was increasing the import trade had decreased, but he looked forward to a steady increase. He paid a tribute to the assistance given by the shipping companies and the Railway Department.- He recognised that perhaps the Pio Pio district might just be outside the zone of the New Plymouth Harbour, but if after investigation the people in the district found that it would pay them to ship through the' port of New Plymouth, the harbour board would be glad to have their trade, and would give them the best of service. Mr. T. C. List said that he felt that they were amongst friends, 'as they had first visited the district 21 years ago, largely at the suggestion of Mr. C. K. Wilson. As the result of that visit the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce obtained an idea of the potentialities of the district, which had led to their cooperating with the settlers in pushing ahead the work of providing reading facilities, not only in regard to the main arterial road and the Mokau bridge but also in connection with other districts. All, he said, would agree that-the party had not seen better country since leaving New Plymouth than that they had just passed through. He had always been impressed with the quality and courage of the young men who took up land in the back country, and their enterprise and hard work certainly deserved to be rewarded with success. On behalf of the Railway Board Mr. Stanley thanked the company for their appreciation of the services rendered by the railway. He also was agreeably surprised, he said, at the progress made in dairying as shown by their output, in the face of the difficulties they had to overcome. The trip, too, had been an education to him and he hoped that it might also prove of value to the department. The work done by the settlers in developing both their farms and the roads had also been an agreeable surprise, and he pointed out that the development of the country was of vast importance to the Railway Department. Mr. R. Body said that their interests were well looked after by the stationmaster at Te Kuiti. % Mr. G. Fraser gave some interesting reminiscences of his early experiences in the King Country. TWO INDUSTRIES. Mr. J. E. .Trust said that there were two industries of the district of which he was proud—the Dairy Company and the consolidated school. At the outset the proposal to establish a dairy factory had met with a poor response, but the enterprising settlers had gone ahead, having practically to fight the Maoris to secure the site of the factofy. In the first year they had an output of 19 tons, and had paid out 9d, the suppliers later having to make a refund of IJd. There were now more producers, but they had come back to about the same payout. first object in starting the factory was to, give the settlers spme place to dispose of their produce. The consolidated school had enabled them to give their children an education and at the same keep them at home, as it also included a high school. Mr. I. M. Kidd stated that he felt most happy in being able to arrange the present meeting, because he was interested both as a member of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and as a settler in the district

Mr. R. W. Neal briefly replied. Before leaving Pio Pio the party visited the consolidated primary school and district high school, being shown round by the headmaster, Mr. R. S. Webster. They expressed themselves as very impressed with the appointments and organisation. The children from the surrounding districts are brought into school by five motor buses. A visit was then paid to the Wairere electric power station at the Wairere Falls, on the Mokau River. There, in a compact, well-equipped power house driven by water from the falls, power is provided at an extremely low rate, and the costs are further reduced by the plant being automatically controlled. Thus although the cost of reticulation in such a scattered district is very high power is supplied over a wide area at very moderate cost. The plant itself cost £BOOO, and the reticulation £41,000. The revenue at present is about £5OOO per annum. Power is supplied to sheds on a flat rate basis, the cost of milking a 100 cows being £2O for electricity. The

cost for lighting is 9d for the firso 40 units, 2d for the next 100 units, and Id all over that, the meters being read quarterly. For heating the charge is 24d for the first 100 units, thereafter |d. The party '' then proceeded to Aria, where they met a number of settlers before returning to New Plymouth via Awakjno,

BACKBLOCKS DEVELOP WENT TOUR THROUGH ARIA DISTRICT. VISIT BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A run of a few miles took the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce touring delegation on Wednesday from Wairere Falls to Aria, where they were met by Messrs. E. Tohne, president of the Aria Settlers’ Association, A. Riddell, C. Riddell, S. Riddell, A. Bamitt senr., G. Webster, A. W. Barnett, G. F. Nelson, J. Rooney, Calvert, Davidson and C. Piercey The party was entertained by the Aria Settlers’ Association at lunch. Subsequently the needs of the district in regard to roading were discussed. Mr. Tolme extended a hearty welcome to the visitors. As the result of previous visits from the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, he said, in becoming acquainted with the needs of the district, and the assistance given by that body, the Totoro Road to Mahoenui had been formed and n start had been made with the bridge over the Mokau River, which would considerably shorten the distance from Aria to Mahoenui and to New Plymouth. It was expected that the bridge would be completed about April, when it was probable that an opening ceremony would be held at which they would like the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce to be present. Mr. Nelson said that after repeated deputations and representations the Hon. K. S. Williams, when Minister of Public Works, had promised that the Mokauiti Road would be reformed, culverted and metalled with rhyolite at no cost to the settlers. Possibly two years later the settlers might be asked to contribute towards the cost of a wearing coat of metal, but it was also possible they might not. The present Government, however, repudiated all knowledge of that promise. The road was,on the direct route from New Plymouth to the Main Trunk, and would effect a saving of between 40 and 50 miles. At the time the estimated' cost was £20,000 but now it was estimated that the cost would be only £6OOO if unemployed labour were utilised. The settlers were not in a position to do anything, unfortunately. He pointed out that at present it cost the factory Id per pound butter-fat to cart the cream 12 or 14 miles from that un-’ metalled road, as against one third of a penny on the metalled roads. NOT STRANGERS TO TARANAKI. Mr. C. Riddell endorsed the' welcome to the visitors from Taranaki because though cut off from Taranaki for certain seasons they still belonged to Taranaki, and wanted further business connections with Taranaki. They were not strangers to Taranaki, as for the past five years Newton King Ltd had been holding sales in the district with satisfactory results both to the settlers and to themselves. The fat lamb trade also was important as there was a decided difference in favour of transport to Taranaki as against Westfield, of lOd per head, the charges to Westfield being Is lid as against Id Id to Taranaki. He thought by completing the Totoro Road the district to Mahoenui would be so shortened as to reduce the cost to probably Bd, which would be an appreciable saving. While the completion of the railway was beneficial to Ohura, he did not think it would be of much advantage to the Aria district.

Mr. Riddell also said that the district was settled in 1904, progress being very clow because there was no road or habitation except one small house between Aria and Te Kuiti. That meant high costs of transport. The district was just emerging from that condition when the war came on, resulting in stagnation again. Since then there had been various clumps. It was said that the King Country sufficed for the three R’s —Rabbits, Ragwort and Rates. Aria had no rabbits, but it suffered heavily from rates, and unless some relief could be given the position would be very serious, even though the rates had been reduced. He estimated that his tonnage cost to Te Kuiti was equal to £2 5s for road rates. The council had done its best, but the question was a national one. There was ragwort in patches, but ft was not as bad as in the King Country. The ragwort, however, was no worse than anywhere else where they had abundant rainfall, there being little ragwort in the dry districts. The King Country had been suffering from an unjust stigma, and if they cculd be so connected with Taranaki as to be-relieved of all connection with the King Country they would be relieved of one of the greatest handicaps they had. Mr. S. Riddell pointed out that the district had made great progress. When they started out its stock carrying capacity was nil. In fact me surveyors were hard put to it to find feed for their horses. The settlers got to work at once, and the district went ahead splendidly until the war, when men went away who were needed badly, and later men came in under the Soldier Settlement scheme who knew little about farming. There was a reason for their present trouble not generally understood, and that was that after doing a certain share of the work, and having the assistance of a beneficial climate, the farmer did not have the money to carry on with, the real reason being that the people handling the currency had pulled it up so tight that there was not the money to buy the produce, which was being produced in larger quantities than ever. He stressed the necessity for metalling the road to connect with the Totoro, whilst there was also metalling required for about 10 miles on the Waitewhenua Road to connect with the railway line at Ohura. Two miles of that road was being metalled now. NECESSITY FOR ROADS. Mr Gerald Webster, a member of the Waitomo County Council and an ex-New Plymouth boy, joined in welcoming the visitors. Roads were a necessity to the progress of any district, he said, and in the past the district had been handicapped for \vant of roads. Little by little they were trying to overcome the difficulty. There was no doubt that to take full advantage of the new road to the Totoro it should be metalled, but he doubted if it would be possible to get metal unless the Native Department was

prepared to assist. He also asked whether it would be possible to have manure carted as a back load by the lorries conveying lambs to the works, as at present the transport cost 25s to 30s per ton. If the Waitewhenua Road were metalled the Aria district would probably be able to procure its fertilisers from New Plymouth, via the Ohura railway. The Waitomo County Council was flying its best to reduce rates, and had reduced the general rate during the past few years. It was not possible to reduce the special rates. There was also a difficulty over Native rates, which could not be collected, and as a result the remaining settlers had to pay perhaps double rates. There was also the question of the Crown not being liable for rates, which cast an additional burden on those settlers who did not have a Crown mortgage. Mr. A. Barnett congratulated the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on having such a great province as Taranaki with its developed and undeveloped resources. He considered the greatest undeveloped resources of the district were the coal measures, which would be valuable when the full uses of coal were known. There were also splendid metal deposits in the district. He had discovered some in the Waitewhenua.

Mr. Davidson, who said that he had been looking forward to some day retiring at New Plymouth, remarked that during his 30 years’ association with the district he had watched its progress step by step.. He gave some reminiscences of his first trip over the Taumatamarie Hill, as well as later in his first nightmare trip over that road in a car. The Valley Road marked another great event, being another link between North and South Taranaki. They were about to see still another step that would benefit the district greatly—the new road across the river. At present Waitara was their best stock market, but because of its distance they had to take Is or Is 6d a head less. The bridging of the river, even if the road were not metalled, would greatly reduce the mileage to Waitara. As long as the Aria district was settled with a sprinkling of Taranaki people he thought it would progress. The district was quite prepared to do business with Taranaki. NEEDS OF DISTRICT SOUGHT. Mr. A. F. Sandford, in acknowledging the welcome, said that the members of the chamber were pleased to assist the district in - securing any facilities. They wanted to become acquainted with its needs. If a farmer had no requests to make for assistance in improving the district he was not making an honest endeavour. From the many reasonable requests they had made they must be excellent farmers. As in the past members of the chamber would willingly do all they could to assist the farmers in their requests, because they realised that they were also assisting the district and the province of which they were proud. The tour had meant a very strenuous three days, but it had proved throughout enjoyable as they had everywhere met splendid men who were working hard under difficulties to achieve success. The district would be assured that the chamber would do all in its power to assist in the completion of such important roads. Messrs. G. Fraser and F. S. Johns also briefly spoke. Mr. J. L Mander said that fertilisers spoke for themselves, and the New Zealand Fertiliser Company was always willing to give farmers any advice. The Aria district did not come under the area supplied from the Smart Road works, as it was the definite policy that all fertiliser must be forwarded from the nearest works. The difference in the appearance of various farms showed that hard work as well as fertiliser was required. He complimented the settlers on the progressive appearance of the district

Mr. C E. Bellringer said that from previous visits he recognised that the district was a fertile one and should be prosperous. No one, however, could have anticipated the economic conditions that now prevailed, but he looked forward to an improvement. The New Plymouth Harbour Board through its progressive policy had provided a port that had developed a very considerable trade. It handled the frozen meat trade of Waitara and Patea. The board, which was looking for fresh fields, would give the district all possible service, and therefore was looking forward with interest to the completion of the road to the Mokau River, which would shorten the distance between Aria and New Plymouth. ROADS THE WHOLE SECRET. Mr. A. R. Standish, in thanking the come and hospitality, said that he had been greatly struck by the fact that the whole secret of progress in settlement was metalled roads. Mn T. C. List compared the gathering to a’ family re-union. Aria appeared to have been the part of Taranaki that had been neglected. The Chamber of Commerce was always glad to assist the district in obtaining any facilities, because apart from any sentimental reasons the district was already doing business in Taranaki, particularly with Newton King Ltd. and Borthwick’s. They recognised the importance of all the roads that had been mentioned. Mr. List contrasted conditions now with those obtaining on his first trip through the districts visited on horse-back 21 years ago, remarking that it was sad to see so many sections in the Waitewhenua Road abandoned for want of metalled access.

Throughout the trip this week he had been surprised at the improvement that had taken place, and he was especially pleased at the appearance of the land in the Pio Pio district. The chief impression he formed, however, was with regard to the great scope for the employment of men in the development of the rural resources of New Zealand. It should be possible to devise some scheme whereby labour at present unemployed should be used for the development of the country. It was a great reflection on New Zealand. He could understand the position arising in an industrial country, but a rural country like New Zealand should be able to employ a population many times as great. Mr. Stanley, business agent of the Railway Department, Wanganui, stated that he had gained a lot of information that would be useful to the department. Mr. J. Brown said that as a farmer of 40 years’ standing he could sympathise with the struggles of the backblock settler. He had sold butter at 4d per pound and had then paid Is for a four-pound loaf and 20s for a pair of boots. He briefly described the facilities provided by the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Works, together with the progress that it had made. He was anxious to see the Waitawhenua Road put through so that the produce from Aria could come through to the New Plymouth works by rail, and

he could promise the district the support of the 46 shareholding companies to bring that about.

It had been intended to proceed over the Kumara Road to the Totoro Road and thence to the bridge now under construction over the Mokau River. Owing to the lateness of the hour, as well as the fact that the wet weather would have entailed a walk of a mile on a clay road, the programme was curtailed. The party, however, motored a few miles up the Kumara Road, and there ascended a peak from which a splendid view of surprising fertile-looking valleys and rolling hills—ideal sheep country—was obtained. On the return journey the party met Messrs. P. O’Connor and D. McClymont, who drew attention to the need for protecting the shoulders of the road so as to prevent the metal being wasted. Following tea at Awakino House Mr. List expressed appreciation of the manner in which the president, Mr. A. F. Sandford, had carried out his onerous duties on the trip. He hoped the visit would be productive of mutual good, to the districts they had. visited and to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and the community they represented. If the remainder of his term proved as successful Mr. Sandford would certainly have done good work. Mr. List also expressed appreciation of the fact that Mr. Stanley had accompanied the party throughout die trip. . Messrs. Sandford and Stanley briefly replied.