THE SHOWGROUNDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 259, 31 October 1929, Page 6

THE SHOWGROUNDS

WANGANUI EAST PROPERTY. AREA TO BE PLOUGHED AND TOP-DRESSED Lengthy discussion took place <1 yesterday’s meeting <ff the Wanganui Agricultural Association regarding the Wanganui East grounds. A decision was come to, to plough the area to cope with the gorse and fit the land for sale at some future date. The meeting was a special one called for the express purpose of dealing with the grounds. Air F. Spencer, vicepresident, occupied the chair in the initial stages, the president (Mr Donald Ross) arriving later. A sub-cora-inittce which had inspected the grounds recommended that the front paddock be grubbed of gorse and the land be offered for lease (annual lease) by public tender, that tenders be called for grubbing right away, and that the back portion of the area be shut up. The discussion centred on various methods of dealing with gorse, one section of those present favouring deep ploughing in preference to grubbing. Air J. Hodges thought the grubbing could be done for £25. If he were a young man and out of work he would do it for that. He would not grub gorse and let it lie. It should be stacked in heaps. He thought deep ploughing might be effective. Afr R. Farley agreed with the recommendation up to a point. He characterised the Wanganui East ground® as “No Alan’s Land.” He thought £22 would cover the cost of grubbing. He was no advocate for cheap wages, but the Association could not afford to spend a great deal. The land had been a drawback to the Association. They had had very little revenue from it and the rates and upkeep were high. He maintained that if it was to be let it should be let for a term with tho proviso that if it were sold the tenant be compensated. If let from day to day, and week t 6 week, it would never be looked after. Air Farley was also of the opinion that something should be done with a view to selling the land. He would like to see it put in tho hands of agents. He did not know how the Association stood with subscribers to the ground on that point.

The secretary (Air F. G. Seddon): A general mooting of subscribers was held to discuss whether the land should be hold in trust or handed over to the Association as an asset to be dealt with as thought* fit. It was decided to hand it over.

Air F. Spencer said that the committee’s object in offering a year’s lease was to protect the Association in the event of .ft sale He agreed tlf.at a long term, with a good tenant would be sound policy. Afr J. R. Franklin condemned the suggestion that they should offer tho land for lease and have hanging ovef the head of the tenant the knowledgo that it might be sold at any time. No matter who the tenant was, unde? those conditions he would take very little interest in keeping the land clean. “What is the use of putting the grounds in the agent’s hands?” Mi Franklin asked. Afr Cooper: Not a bit of good. Afr Franklin: Call tenders to cleat the gorse, got a tenant and give him a good long lease and if it is sold ovef his head, compensate him well. Air J. Patterson favoured a ten to five years’ lease and that should bo given he thought subject to the tenant clearing the gorse and keeping it down. At this stage it was decided to di> vide the recommendation and deal with gorse clearing only. The matter of leasing tho grounds to be subject to whatever decision was arrived at in the first instance. Afr Donald Ross said that the grounds had been a piillstone round the Association’s neck ever since they were bought. He was sure that the only way to deal with the gorse was to plough it to a width of twenty-eight inches and not less than ten-inches deep, twelve if possible. He felt that if they went on grubbing it there would be gorse there as long as the Association was in existence. He advocated ths use of a tractor and a plough similar to tjiat in use at Flock House. Once it had been ploughed the land could be left lying until the seed was killed. The surface could be worked up with harrows and discs, given manure and grass planted. In that way the land could be got ready for sale. “I would like to see you do something definite.” Air Ross added. “I’ll tell you what I’m prepared to do. If you agree to plough and if gorse comes up within two years, or three", I will clear it by paying out of my own pocket.”

Mr R. W. Green asked what the cost of ploughing would be. It seemed to him that the discussion indicated that it was a question as to which was the best way to get rid of gorse. Afr Ross thought £4 to £5 an acre would cover the cost. Afr J. Blair said that the Association had to aim at a new policy. That of the past had been a failure. Ploughing was not a new suggestion. It had been tried, not so deep as Air Ross recommended, but it had been a failureWhen thp land was ploughed first » great deal of levelling was done and he was afraid they would disturb the seed by ploughing again. If tie Association spent £1 an acre a year on the ground and got rental for it they would be better off. He favoured grubbing instead of ploughing and the Association would have to meet the expense. It was foolish to expect a tenant to do the work. In the meantime the back portion of the ground should be shut up and planted with trees. After further discussion, during which the merits and demerits of the plough as a means to get rid of gorse were debated an amendment to the recommendations moved by Mr Ross, that the area be ploughed, the furrow to be 28 inches wide by at least 10 inches deep, that the ground b<j allowed to lie for a time and then be harrowed, disced, fertilised and sown, was carried by 11 votes to 8. Afessrs Ross, Spencer, Baldwin and Hughes were appointed a committee to carry the scheme into effect. As the meeting closed Air Ross repeated his offer about clearing the ) gorse would hold good if he remained i alive. *