LAND PROBLEMS.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 19 (Supplement)

LAND PROBLEMS.

SECOND CLASS COUNTRY

QUESTION OF DEVELOPMENT.

EFFECT ON PRODUCTION,

(By 11. Woodycar-Smit'h, Technical ■Fields’ Advisor).

There are many thousands of acres of second class land in the North Island which have received little or no attention as far as economic exploitation is concerned, and this must necessarily have a very marked effect upon the Dominion’s production as a whole } The better class lands are well occupied and the marked decline in value for our primary produce on the overseas market, places an increasingly heavy burden on land of that type which is advantageously worked and developed. ■ln spite of this marked decline in prices, running costs, in which are included all forms of expenditure, have not dropped in proportion. It is impossible to Imagine that the better class portions of the country could carry on this Dominion’s production level, the poorer types of land must all help to build up the country’s output. If production fails on any particular ty.pe of country it must naturally reflect upon the community as a whole and in order to preserve their independence, ns it were, it Is just as necessary for the owners of back-country properties to realise the importance of any form of advancement which could be economically applied to the farming methods employed on their holdings.

Re-orcjanlsatlon Necessary.

If production could be increased by sound methods, it must eventually mean Increased prosperity and correspondingly better conditions. To do this, it is necessary to more or less reorganise the whole fabrio of production, supply and management which has been built up during the past years. 'By such means additional scope will be given to the individual and'greater numbers of workers will be absorbed for the oarrying out of the necessary essential practices. This rebuilding must be gradual, though not necessarily slow and the construction based upon the best accepted principles of true husbandry. For eoonomlo reasons it is virtually Impossible to embark upon any ambitious scheme of reconstruction, but it is possible that by sound commonisence practices carried out over a period of years to bring hack to a payable level some of the land which at present is below that standard. ■Possibly the reduction in size of areas on the -poorer types of country will eventually be brought about, but although duo regard should be given to the future, the present demands that a stable foundation should he laid. In some parts of New Zealand this reconstruction has already begun and it Is evident that the opportunist has not suffered to such an extent as those who did not realise the possibilities of the adoption of practices in keeping with -the altering economic situation. These hack country areas possess possibilities which may be -said to be as yet undiscovered. A very excellent example is provided by the formerly despised gum lands of the North. It Is hoped that by vigorously tackling ■the problems with which farmers are being faced to-day, a scheme resulting in the Improvement of the poorer types -of country will be brought about to the benefit of all concerned.

Growing of Stook Foods.

■People who have been bred in the

back country, will probably prove Hhemselves well able to work hand In hand with the various advantages that any branch of agricultural science may give them, for being of an Independent nature, they can accept these advanced practices and apply them with good effect to their holdings.

One of the greatest problems on this class of country Is the provision of adequate supplies of the night type of stock foods necessary for increased production. In many oases, relatively short growing seasons are extant over these areas which Emits pasture production to safe grazing only during months of growth. Although in some cases it may be possible to obtain the bulk of production from the pastures, yet ft may. not be economically sound, as good grasses are particularly hard to successfully establish and hold, in such soil types, the result being that it is necessary to go in for the establishment of additional crops for stock foods. In order to obtain these the adoption of different principles to those existing on the fertile soli types are regarded, and as there are such extreme differences- to be found in the various back country districts, it is impossible to suggest definite measures to be followed 'by all concerned. First of all, the question of pastures must naturally be considered. In order to keep this crop up to a relatively good producing level, the claims of the manure bag cannot be disregarded, ’ln fact It Is now essential that additional manures should be given to pastures on the poorer soil types In ■order to maintain the growth and production of the higher-producing forms of pasture plants, than it is- ‘to bring about increased production on the better soil types, whioh by virtue of their higher standard of fertility provide a more natural habitat for the establishment 'Of the best types of pasture plants. It would be unsound for any occupier on the poorer country to be encouraged to develop on an extensive ■scale. The process must be gradual and every acre brought in to production must be consolidated. The process appears slow, but it is the only ■successful way In keeping with the principles of true husbandry. Provided that sound practices are the order of the day, with true application, the boundless possibilities which the second class soil types this country have to offer may he safelv and properly exploited. This will materially affect the production of the country and greatly assist In establishing a brighter, more prosperous and contented state of affairs which will reflect, not only on the Individual but on Ihe nation as a whole..