INCREASE IN DAIRYING.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18947, 17 May 1933, Page 6

INCREASE IN DAIRYING.

IN THE ROTORUA DISTRICT

COUNTRY LOOKS VERY WELL.

STATEMENT BY MR PARLANE

Interviewed by a Waikato Times representative to-day Mr G. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., said that there had been a very big increase in dairying .In the Rotorua district during the current season, dus to the large areas of hitherto unimproved country being brought into cultivation and now carrying dairy herds.

,He made particular reference to the Horo Horo Native Settlement, where what was a few years ago a block of unimproved country was brought into cultivation and comprised a large number of apparently wallappointed farms. He said the Native Affairs Department must be complimented on its enterprise in this regard, as it w r as undoubtedly in the best Interests both of the Dominion and the natives themselves that their energies should be directed along the lines that will tend to jnorease the national income. Mr Parlane said that the neat little cottages, sheds, etc., that had been provided for the natives, made a pretty setting, whilst the numerous haystacks gave definite evidence that grass had been in plentiful supply during the summer months, although at present, as far as feed was concerned, this settlement did not compare favourably with the Waikato, due, of course, to the fact that it was new country. He said lie did not have an opportunity to inspect the sheds, but he had been Informed by some of his officers that these were kept in a condition that compared more than favourably with many other dairyfarms.

Very Quickly Transformed.

The Ngakura settlement was another instance of land being very quickly transformed from ’ the unimproved state to attractive farmsteads. He understood the work In this Instance was undertaken by the Agricultural Department, who were employing sharemilkers, and the scheme was proving satisfactory. Mr Parlane said that he last visited the Guthrie settlement about three years ago, with members of his directors’ board, and they were then firmly of the opinion that this district offered great possibilities. The development that had taken place In the Interim provided definite evidence that their anticipations would be more than realised. As a matter of fact, the quantity of butterfat produced in this particular area compared favourably with many other districts, which indicated clearly that by the adoption of up-to-date farming methods and the use of fertilisers the stock-carrying oapaoity of the land in this area would equal the Waikato.

Looking Particularly Well. Mr Parlane said the Reporoa trict was also looking particularly well, and the butterfat production was increasing very fast. Only a comparatively short time since Reporoa was regarded as a wayback district, but owing to improved roadlng conditions, coupled with the energy displayed by the settlers in increasing their butterfat production, as far as costs were concerned, they were now in almost as favourable a position as many settlers In older districts. He said he attended meetings of the company’s suppliers at Ngongotaha and Reporoa. There was an excellent attendance at each meeting, and the suppliers displayed considerable interest in the operations of the company. The general feeling was definitely opposed to any restriction being imposed on exports of dairy produce, whilst there was evident disappointment at the failure of the Government to take definite action in the direction of removing the duties on goods imported from the United Kingdom.