C.—B

1944 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY DRAINAGE OPERATIONS IN HAURAKI PLAINS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 20 of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926

Department of* Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist May, 1944. I have the honour to present herewith the report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on operations carried out during the past year on the Hauraki Plains in accordance with the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorkan, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER I have the honour to submit the thirty-sixth annual report on the drainage and land-development works carried out on the Hauraki Plains. The report covers the year ended 31st March, 1944. . . . Farm production from the reclaimed swamp has been maintained at a high level. The production returns for the year under review are not yet available, but the figures for the previous four years are given below as they show the success of the efforts of the settlers to maintain production in spite of the difficulties imposed by the war. They also show readily the contribution to the prosperity of the community that has been derived from the reclamation of waste land. The Department is indebted to the trading firms who handle most of the farm produce from the Hauraki Plains for supplying the information from which the following annual production statistics have been compiled:—

Though 1940-41 was the peak production year it is well below the potential production for the district when normal farm-development can be continued. The 1943-44 season will compare favourably with the previous year. The low rainfall during the summer did not cause the drought experienced in surrounding districts.

J. ' ——— : 1939-40. 1940-41. 1941-42. 1942-43. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. •• !-{g }™. 795 1:1S } 873 ' 839 i:S I™- 601 !:»}»••»• pL " 20 882 52,500 19,961 50,624 14,503 35,395 6,338 22,074Bobby calves .. 19J14 8,894 20,954 10,442 9,847 4,294 14,764 7,678 Cattle .. 13,637 1 15,541 "1 9,710 12,273 1 Sheen .. 4 058 I 67,212 11,404 96,021 14,373 y 60,905 14,596 V 71,441 Horses .. 100 J 126 J 63 J 32 J