PROGRESSIVE WAIKATO

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15858, 1 December 1923, Page 6

PROGRESSIVE WAIKATO

ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF IT.

OTHER MATTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST. (By Our Special Commissioner ) NO. 9. Whether it be the early morning, high-noon, or in the cool of the late afternoon, Kiwitahi country looks beautiful. From the tops of hills round about one has splendid views of agrielltural scenes which delight the eye. Inquiry and inspection should convince the observer that closer settlement is one of the immediate necessities for this district. Some of the settlers 'hold too much land. In certain cases, despite the fact that sons are there to help, much good country is not being cultivated as it should be. Kiwitahi is not producing enough. It is capable of development by at least 50 per cent. Thei'e are some big holdings of over 1500 acres and more, while on the other hand many of the “smaller men” are holding 200 acres at least. Big holdings in Kiwitahi were quite alright in the early days, but when greater production is the cry, and land such as this is capable of doing better, now is the chance to “strike while the iron is hot.” Generally speaking, mixed fanning is carried out at Kiwitahi. On two or three places sheep farming is indulged in, but these particular farms could well be adapted to milking. All that is needed is enterprise. In this respect Kiwitahi possesses men of discernment and progressiveness to-day, but in the majority of cases they have too much to do. In some cases the farmer has brought in too great a quantity of his land, and he cannot keep up with its rate of progress. Other parts of bis property have had to be neglected. Hence be is paying rates and interest on land which is non-productive. In some cases this state of affairs causes him to have the uneasy feeling that he Will “never get ahead of it.” When a man gets to the stage that he is too busy and never 'has time to even 100-k at a paper, let alone read it, well, to say the least it is a sad state of affairs. No wonder some of the Kiwitahi farmers look tired and worn. Some of the people the writer interviewed frankly admitted it. “I have too much country to look after. What can I do? I can’t sell it for nothing. Even if I could 'get back what I have put into it I’d be satisfied to let some of it go. It’s good land provided it is worked properly, but it would not pay me to employ labour. It’s hard enough now to make ends meet.” That was the text of replies to a question put to several of the “smaller men,” and it was found to be characteristic of the many. During speeches in connection with the forthcoming British elections, the continued cry has been “development of the Empire.” This, together with a great extension of the farming industry, it is said, is the only thing at present able to save us. Some of the farmers in the Kiwitahi district appear to have only a half-confidence in themselves and their neighbours. And they are not alone in this respect. In various other parts of “Progressive Waikato” the same feeling is apparent. If you have half-hearted confidence in yourself, how can you hope to win the confidence of others? The writer gives glad reception to men who can bring things to pass where others fail. There is always a place for such men—men of the intrepid spirit. So, it is contended that with closer settlement Kiwitahi should be one of the greatest producing districts in the South Auckland province. Not one farmer who was interviewed would say anything to the contrary. It might be said that it was to their advantage not to do so, but theirs was not the only opinion sought. Men of integrity and experience from outside the district who were approached held the same views. During the years it has been cut up, Kiwitahi has progressed, and it could be made to progress much more. The land is waiting for assistance to produce more butter-fat, the want of closer settlement is the only thing keeping it back at present. Men here are willing to work. They have the utmost confidence in their district. What is needed is some newcomers imbued with the same spirit and powers of endurance. In the past Kiwitahi appears to have been somewhat neglected or overlooked. The reason for this is difficult to determine. Perhaps it is that the farmer hereabouts has been “too busy” even to further his own interests, let alone those of his neighbours. It appears that a better spirit of co-operalion is needed. Now is the time for all to be up and doing.

Kiwitahi is no small, pokey corner of "Progressive Waikato.” According to the proposed Rabbit Board area it consists of fully 20,000 acres, on which between 40 and 50 settlers have made their homes. It will thus be seen that the average farm bolding for the whole district is approximately 400 acres. It is well roaded, the drawback in this respect being want of metal. At the present time Kiwitahi is patiently waiting for arrangements to be made for taking a poll for road improvements. Some months ago meetings were held and certain decisions come to. Up to the present, however, nothing definite has been done. It was expected that the poll would take place on or about December 5. Last Wednesday the settlers' had received no definite word concerning it. Some of them expressed the opinion that they expected that it would he a case of no roads again next winter. Kiwitahi is one of the most accessible districts about the Waikato. It is within easy distance of Hamilton by means' of the Cambridge road, Tauwhare and Scotchman’s Valley road. Morrinsville railway 'Station”is quite handy and roads go” to Walton and Kiwitahi railway stations. It consists of rich grazing land of an undulating and hilly nature, together with certain swamp areas. On most of the farms a person can get to any part in a motor-car. As a matter of fact intending buyers' have always inspected properties in this district in this manner. There arc several exceptionally good herds of cows in Kiwitahi, and generally speaking thc homes of the settlers are convenient, with modern appliances. Each little home —thc larger ones too—has its pretty garden, and in the majority of cases lawns add to the picture. There are some settlers, the more recent arrivals so to speak, who have not had time to devote to making their surroundings' altracitve. They have been too busy looking after the land, the sheep and the cattle. When matters improve for [hem and they manage to decrease their holdings to advantage, it is safe to predict their living conditions will improve.

Kiwitahi’s Rural Delivery.

Kiwitahi’s rural delivery commences about two miles out from Morrinsvillc, and proceeds to Kiwitahi railway station, thence through Kereone and the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement situated there. The mailman leaves the Morrinsville post-oflico at 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As the express from Auckland docs not reach Slorriirsviilc till 2 p.m., it means that correspondence and papers do not reach the people to whom they have been addressed till the following day. Greater inconvenience is caused on Fridays, however, in that it is Monday before the. settlers get mails' arriving at Morrinsville on Friday afternoon. Originally the delivery was satisfactory. In those days it commenced after the arrival of the express. It cost 25s per year then in comparison to 10s to-day”. And it is maintained by these men that the present, arrangement is practically useless. They even went so far as to say that provided a change is not made they will not participate in the delivery, but will go into Morrinsville and collect their own mail. A private box at the post-office can he obtained by a farmer in the country for 10s per year. Could Changes be Effected?

Could changes be effected which would be satisfactory to all concerned? The general opinion is that they c-ould. At present there appears to be some difficulty concerning the settlers on "Starkie’s Settlement.” Four years ago about 4000 acres of this property was cut up, and now 14 or 15 settlers are there. These people arc agitating for a rural delivery and wish In he in - cluded in the present Kiwitahi-Kereone route. Could not some arrangement bo come to by which the Kiwitahi delivery could be made quite separate from Kereone, and the mails leave Morrinsville after the arrival of the express .as before l

KIWITAHI AND CLOSER SETTLEMENT

Suggested Improvements, Together with the 15 settlers on the main Kiwitahi road, the 15 on Starkie’s would make 30. At present the mailman proceeds up Bell’s road a distance of about two miles in order to serve four settlers, one of whom goes into Morrinsville every day. What is to stop these people from having boxes placed at each end of this twomile connecting link? If they could be prevailed upon to do this the following itinerary could then he adopted: From Morrinsville down the main road to the Kiwitahi school, thence along Scotchman’s Valley road through Starkie’s Settlement and back to Morrinsville. If this scheme was adopted it would mean that Kereone would have to be made a separate rural delivery. In doing his rounds in the latter district the mailman has to travel six miles without delivering a letter in order to do the two districts at the same time. When he gets back to Morrinsville he changes horses and starts off on the Motumaoho delivery in the afternoon. In Kereone a number of settlers have their mails and papers sent to Kiwitahi railway station. This station should really be called Kereone. Matter Simple of Adjustment. The whole matter seems to be so simple of adjustment that there should not be any difficulty whatever. In any case postal facilities should be for the benefit of the people, not the people for the benefit of the postal facilities. The settler has to pay for his sendee. His box costs him £1 in the first place, and for a three-days-a-week delivery he lias to pay 10s per year, while the charge for a daily rural delivery is £1 per annum. In addition to this he has to pay the same as the town folk for his letters to be carried. The question might be asked, why should it be? Why should a man be penalised because he is living in the country and helping along the main production of the Dominion? Why should an imposition of 10s or £1 a year to have his mail delivered be imposed upon him? The folk in towns and cities have their mails delivered two, and sometimes three, times a day for the cost of lid stamp per letter. Should not some encouragement and the same privileges he extended to (lie man on thc land on whom the town, or city, depends so much? Is any further argument needed? If there is, well it is to give the farmer-settler a decent rural delivery if it is at all practicable, especially when lie is compelled to pay for it. Klwltahl’s Pretty School.

Approaching the Kiwitahi school one was struck by the prettiness of its surroundings. Flowers in the neat little gardens were bursting into bloom and the colourings were most beautiful. it was quite evident that much pains had been taken to make the garden a success. Alongside was the “vegetable patch.” And it, too, looked inviting. The scholars were healthy looking youngsters, tanned by the summer sun. Intelligence was written on their beaming countenances', and they appeared to be interested in their work and surroundings. Kiwitahi’s school was opened on November t, 1010, with 20 on the roll. To-day there are 30 children in j attendance. During the last 10 years 1 there has been an average increase of I 1 per year. True the newly-estab-lished school at Kereone has taken a few away, but the small increase in attendance goes' to prove that settlement. in the Kiwitahi district has not i-ercased very much. Even if it had done so the present school would not have been large enough. On Wednesday last practically every desk was occupied. When (lie new school is ('recital at Slarkie’s settlement, however, a number of children from that district will naturally not attend Kiwitahi. Rabbit Board to be Formed. * When the writer mentioned to people .in other districts' that lie intended

visiting Kiwitahi it was remarked that he was going to the land of “sunshine and rabbits.” Sunshine there was in plenty and rabbits were to be seen in fairly large numbers. An endeavour is being made, however, to form a rabbit board, and meetings have already been held for this purpose with a fair measure of success. The rabbit pest is one of the most difficult problems to tackle in New Zealand. Ways and means of every imaginable kind * have been suggested and, In cases, brought into operation. Still we have rabbits, and perhaps they will remain with us always. Kiwitahi is not the only district troubled with them —Jk there are others much worse ofT. TlnjA main difficulty appears to be the settlers wholeheartedly together to clear their land. Some farmers blame 1 the other fellow for the invasion of rabhits, and the other fellow blames the next one, and so on. If a rabbit board is formed in a district the only possible way to get rid of the pest would be to ring-fence the whole of the area contained with rabbit-proof fencing. Of course the idea is impossible, but it would be the only sure method of preventing rabbits coming in from adjoining country. Another suggestion, and a more practical one perhaps, would be for the Government to amend the Fencing Act so that if a neighbour’s rabbits were becoming too numerous he would be compelled to wire-net his boundary fences so as to prevent the rabbits going on the next man’s holding. If this scheme, or suggestion, could be adopted it would be an incentive to the man who was not doing his bit towards getting rid of his rabbits to go in for their wholesale destruction. By doing this he would save himself the expense of fencing and would rid his land—and his neighbours^—at about one-eighth of the cost. In Kiwitahi, generally speaking, there is not much inclination by the farmers to help the other fellow in respect to rabbits, and thus they are not really helping themselves. What Kiwitahi Land Can Do.

A general statement has been made concerning what Kiwitahi country can produce. Here is an instance, in which the majority of cases are similar. The writer visited a farm surrounded by others in the heart of the district. It was one of the “big” holdings, a mixed farm consisting of about 1500 acres. It is practically all roaded, and additional roads would not be an expensive proposition. As with other farms of a similar nature, a car could go all over it. There is plenty of water and the country thereabouts is made up of deep loam. On 85 acres of this particular farm there are 60 cows, a bull and three horses —practically a beast to the acre and a-quarter.. Grass feed there is in abundance. About Christmas' time last year the owner put down some of.his paddocks In barley to help feed his herd in case of a shortage. To-day the barley paddock has been closed on account of the great quantity of grass, which, if the cattle are not allowed to remain on It, will surely go to seed. Milking 49 cows, the October cheque amounted to over £9B with butter-rat at Is 3d per lb. The herd is a very mixed one, and it is' confidently anticipated that, now the flush of flic season has arrived, and with the herd in full milk, 40001 b of butter-fat will be returned.

Does not this go to prove that with smaller areas Kiwitahi is capable of greater production? Another advantage would lie more shelter! Trees should he systematically planted. Land about here can he had from £ll to £l2 per acre. What a chance the Government lost when they were buying land for the returned soldiersettler. The latter could have made a most successful “do of it" on Kiwitahi land, and the man who fought for his country and took up farming would not have been penalised. Who was t* blame?

(To be Continued on Dec. 5.)i