DEVELOPMENT OF SWAMPS

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16946, 6 November 1926, Page 11

DEVELOPMENT OF SWAMPS

THE LESSOM FROM ABROAD VALUE OF PEAT LAUDS 'SALVATION OF CALIFORNIA. INTERESTING ADDRESS TO LOCAL LEAGUE. A most interesting address was delivered by Mr N. G. Gribble, at the annual meeting of the Swamp Development League at the Winter Show Hall, yesterday. The chair was taken by Mr A. M. Blsley, president. Amongst those present were Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, and Mr Stewart Reid, M.P., for Waikato.

In presenting the annual report of the work done by the league during the past 12 months, Mr A. M. Bisley, president, referred to the early efforts back as far as 1922, when the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, in the interests of the district, brought the settlers of the swamp together for the purpose of making a united effort to drain the swamp. In 1923 a committee of settlers waited on the late night Hon. W. F. Massey and asked for a survey and report on the drainage of.the swamp of the Waikato. As a result of that deputation a very comprehensive survey of the" Woodlands Swamp was made by the Government drainage engineers and surveyors; and this was published on August 28, 1925. The Government report was considered by a meeting of farmers, drainage boards, and others interested on September 2S. After considerable discussion matters were deferred to a meeting of drainage delegates held about two weeks later. At this meeting all boards were represented, including the Mangawara River Board. At this meeting Government representatives present made it very clear that they considered one control of the swamp necessary and essential. .They also gave the impression that a commission would be granted if asked for. But in spite of strong requests to the Minister of Lands they had not succeeded in inducing the Government to set up a commission to investigate the many problems which this swamp offers.

hundreds of thousands of acres of magnificent crops. ' The speaker referred to different ranches which he visited, and stated that on Ranch A the ground water level.had a minimum of four to six feet. Here there was 2400 acres of asparagus growing on from 25 to 30 feet of peat. This was a most profitable crop, the average being 50001 b of asparagus to the acre. They exported from the Slate of California approximately 36,000,000 tins per annum. This was a most profitable crop, as it bore for 15 years and returned a profit of something like £250 per acre. Canning factories were erected on the banks of the canals which were cut to drain the swamps, and the same canals were used for transport. The manager of Ranch A felt'convinced that New Zealand could grow good asparagus on its peat land. On Ranch B he saw a magnificent crop of wheat and asparagus. This was all grown In peat, which had been consolidated 24 inches in three years. The depth of the peat was 30 feet. The biggest mistake, he found, in developing swamps, was not to dig the ditches deep enough. In California they went over the land with 60- h.p. tractors of 6i tons weight, with a pressure of 651 bto the square inch. These' tractors went over the ground four or five times a day and were ■ ■ repeatedly bogged. The method of handling the land was to throw the spoil from the ditchos up over the ground and to plough-float and disc it repeatedly. All the ditching was cut by a dragline dredge. Mr Gribble.said he was present at the great asparagus festival at San Rio Vista; which was a wonderful sight. On Ranch C the land vibrated with traffic, and double tyres had to be fitted to cars to pass over the roads. The peat was 60 feet deep and formerly was merely "soup." As soon as the slop-banks were put in and the water was lowered to at least 4ft below the surface, the work of consolidation commenced. The chief manure used was potash. The country was irrigated with lOin ditches every 24 rows. Thirty-five bushels of potato seed sown on Ranch C yielded a crop in 92 days of 200 bags to the acre, while onion seed, with the same treatment, yielded from 250 to 350 bags. The manager of the farm told him that he did not know of peat land anywhere in the world that could not be worked most profitably. The manager of this ranch expected to net a profit of £IOO,OOO for 1925-26. University Experiments. The University of California had undertaken extensive experiments with peat soils. It was found that an ordinary analysis of the soil was not much good and they had established that aeration must be obtained or there would be no nitrification. Very intensive and deep working was essential. The speaker went on to quote figures which indicated that a variation of even 5 per cent, in the moisture conlcnt of the soil gave an increased yield of 100 per cent, in the crops. While in England Mr Gribble visited the Fen country, where there were 700,000 acres lying below sea level. This was. mostly peat land and grew beautiful crops of wheat, oals and potatoes, while sugarbeet had been a surprising success. Sir Frederick Iliam, who was known as the Potato King of England, grew some of the finest crops the speaker had seen in the world. The carrots were yielding from 30 to 35 tons per acre. Sir Frederick had declared emphatically that it was impossible to have good farming without good drainage. In conclusion, Mr Gribble declared that he honestly believed Lhat the Waikato possessed swamp land fully equal to anything he had seen in his travels, while New Zealand had a distinct advantage in its climate. What had been accomplished in the districts abroad which he had visited could, Mr Gribble felt convinced, be accomplished here. Never Had Fair Show. On his arrival back in New Zealand he found that traffic was everywhere held up because the land was Hooded. It did seem a positive disgrace that such a condition of affairs should be allowed to exist. He appealed to the Government to take an interest in this great question, for the subject was one which, if tackled in the right way, should mean millions of pounds to the Dominion. The peat swamps had, he declared, never had a fair show in New Zealand. The chief drainage engineer in California had said that but for its peat lands the Slate of California would have been bankrupt, while ho was told at the University of California that peat soil was the most valuable asset any country could have. Mr Cribble placed before the meeting numerous photographs which he had collected on his tour, bearing out his statements, together with samples of soil from the various swamps he had been over.

In December, 1925, the League arranged the first tour of inspection, which was attended by local business men and the public. The gatheringwas most successful, many old residents being greatly surprised at the wealth of production obtained from the swamp lands. In order to meet misunderstanding as to the League's policy, various meetings were hell, that at Puketaha on February 19 of this year being the most important. With the fuller information which they were able to give, a previous adverse vote was turned into one asking for a commission by a majority of two to one. On March 18 they held a big inspection, there being present four Ministers of the Crown and about 12 M's.P. This was probably the most important function of its kind ever held in the Waikato. . Representatives from harbour boards, chambers of commerce, other public bodies and interested private citizens turned out in large numbers. At this gathering the Minister of Lands stated that he would refer the matter to Cabinet, which statement he confirmed in a letter to the League dated April 12. Negotiations with minister. In April Mr Gribble left for America and England for the purpose of making private investigations relative to similar propositions in other parts of the world. As nothing further was heard from the Minister with reference to his promise, it was decided, in July, to send a delegation to Wellington to interview him. The delegates were supported in making their representation by the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, and the following members of the House of Representatives: Messrs A. E. Samuels, SLewart Reid and F. F. Hockley, all of whom spoke in favour of the Government assisting with the project. The Hon. Minister of Lands then stated: "That when he had some reasonable assurance that it was the desir of the district to proceed with the proposed drainage scheme, even if they only secured a minority of settlers interested, it would probably pay the Government to proceed on the lines of the report. It might ho in the interests of the Dominion for the Government to pay a portion or even the whole of the cost of the work." At this stage one of the delegates asked if a petition was taken round the district would it influence the Government. The Minister replied, "undoubtedly it would." A petition was then taken round by members of the League at their own expense, and nearly 200 signatures were obtained. The petition was duly presented by the members for the district, but the Minister, in reply, wrote in a somewhat disappointing manner. Mr Bisley added that the Minister had told the deputation that he had largely to depend on the advice of the officers of his department. The speaker then quoted a letter to the board written by Mr Campbell, Government Chief Drainage Engineer, which accompanied the Government's report on the swamp. In this the chief engineer stated: "The possibilities of early development in this area are much brighter than I anticipated, and considering the large areas the cost will not be excessive. With an. efficient scheme in operation the whole area, with the exception of, say 12,000 acres, could be brought into pasture without further delay and within a few years the areas should be in a condition' to carry possibly 10,000 cows. And in order that suitable lands might be prepared for our increasing population and in order to keep up and increase the production of primary products, I arn of the opinion that every effort should be made to encourage the construction of these recommended works. If satisfactory financial arrangements could be made I would have no hesitation in undertaking the works wilii our own staff, and I feci sure that results would well warrant the undertaking."—(Signed) O. N. Campbell, Chief Drainage Engineer. Profitable Asparagus Crops. Mr N. G. GribbTe, who probably has taken a more active interest in the development of swamps than any man in the district, gave the meeting an interesting review of his recent tour abroad. He stated that in the great San Joaquin Valley there was half a million acres of mostly pure peat and the amount involved in the development work was 100,000,000 dollars. There was i'i milloin acres subject to inundation, necessitating the construclion of hundreds of miles of stophanks, mostly concrete. Along one side ran the river, while on Ihe other -i'Je. below the river level, were

On the conclusion of his address the speaker was roundly applauded. Various speakers referred to the woeful lack of Government assistance towards bringing in the swamps of the country and they deprecated the large amount of money being wasted by different drainage boards tinkering with the work and operating on schemes which were in conflict instead of co-ordinaling their efforts for the good of the whole. In answer to a question by Hon. J. A. Young, Mr Cattlcy said lhat the flooding of the Waikato River did not affect in any way the water in the Mangawara basin. On behalf of the League, Mr Bisley extended to Mr Gribble their sincere thanks for what he had done for the League and the district. lie had toured the world at his own expense, without any help,from the Government or any private enterprise, for the purpose of gaining knowledge and experience to benefit Waikato and New Zealand. Mr Gribble had travelled the hard road in order lo gain (his knowledge, and the speaker moved that the League's greatest gratitude he extended lo Mr.

Gribble and that its thanks to him be recorded on the minutes.

The motion was carried amid applause. • Government Help Wanted. Mr Bisley appealed to the Hon. Mr Young and Mr Stewart Reid for their assistance in getting the farm schools and the Board of Agriculture to experiment with swamp lands and the new- Council of Research to go into the study of peat soils. Hon. J. A. Young congratulated Mr Gribble on the thoroughness with which he had conducted his investigations. The speaker said he could see difficulties in many quarters in the development of these swamp lands, and the only way he could see of overcoming these "was to get a commission to make a thorough enquiry into the position.*. Mr Young said that if he remembered rightly Mr J. B. Thompson, Government Chief Drainage Engineer, visited the Sacramento Valley some years ago, and brought back valuable data in reference to the unwatcring of lands. The Minister said he must take exception to certain attacks that had been made upon the Minister of Lands. The whole prbolem was that of cost. The Minister was faced with considerable difficullies in finding money to meet all the demands made ui in hm. Mr Young asked if it were n-' * possible for the different drainage oards operating in the district to unify their efforts and to concentrate on one comprehensive scheme? It was explained that there hadbesn several futile conferences in an effort to bring such a result about. The Minister promised to do what he could to assist in getting a commission set up to investigate the position. Mr A. W. Chapman said that while it might appear discreditable to him, as chairman of the Woodlands Drainage Board for 12 years, he would yet admit that a considerable amount of money had- been wasted by the board owing to want of knowledge. Value of Investigations. Mr Stewart Reid said he realised lhat the salvation of the country depended on the producer. He also realised that land without drainage was of little use. While Hie settlers on the swamps were divided amongst tmemsclves, however, there would bo difficulties in the way of solution. Personally he thought, a commission was desirable and that it would be fair for the Government to pay the expenses of the commission, or a good portion of it at any rate. Even if it were found that the unwatering of these swamp lands was impracticable, the commission would be still • well worth the Government's while, for the acquisition of the knowledge. If by any means the thousands of acres of swamp land in Waikato could be brought into profitable occupation, it would be desirable to undertake a comprehensive scheme of drainage, even if it cost several millions. Personally he \xou\a lend the League any assistance he could. The following committee was elected for the ensuing 12 months: —President, Mr A. M. Bisley; vice-president, Mr F. Seifert; treasurer and secretary, Mr N. G. Gribble; executive, Messrs A. W. Chapman, W. A. Speedy, F. R. Cattley, E. M. Masters, J. Hoist, J. B. Maunder, E. 11. Hammond. Mr Chapman moved that the thanks of the meeting be tendered Hon. J. A. Young and Mr Stewart Reid for attending the meeting and their promise of assistance. The mo lion was carried with applause. A hearty vote of thanks was also accorded Mr Bisley for the work he had done as president.