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Subsequenting these 4ofceresigned from the State Servileged were apported
Administrative Manager and Assistant Administrative Manager of the Corporation respectively.
Mr. W. J. Young, A.M.I.E.(Aust.), Commissioner, State Housing Commission, was seconded shortly after for duty, and he also subsequently resigned from the State Service, and is now General Field Manager of the Corporation.
Mr. C. J. McKeon, Q.D.A., State Director of Agriculture, was appointed Food Production Manager, being still on secondment from the State Public Service. Mr. J. A. B. Saxelby, Q.D.S., a prominent pig breeder, was secured as the Corporation's Chief Pig Officer.
Mr. V. H. Wettenhall, one of the best-known sheep and cattle men in Queens- land, will shortly take up duties as Stock Manager. In the meantime he is acting in certain directions for the Corporation, by kind permission of his principals, Messrs. Taylor Bros. At March 31 there were 27 employees on the staff of the Corporation in Brisbane and in the field. This figure does not include wages employees.
Acquisition of property for grain production
The freehold pastoral property known as Peak Downs, adjoining the Emerald- Blair Athol Railway and the Inland Defence Road, near Capella, in the Central Western District, was the first area resumed by the Government for the use of the Corporation. The property, which comprises 92,596 acres, fenced and improved for pastoral purposes, was secured for £86,000, including fixed assets and plant. The price was negotiated with the owners prior to actual resumption.
Shortly afterwards two further properties were resumed: Cullin-la-Ringo, an aggregation of 118,089 acres, largely freehold, immediately to the west of the railway from Emerald to Springsure, and the Inderi section of Meteor Downs, an area of 51,372 acres, also largely freehold, located just off the Springsure-Rolleston Road. Terms of acquisition have been settled for a further property, Wolfang, an area of 52,208 acres, near Clermont, and resumption will take place shortly.
All of the above properties have been obtained, by negotiation prior to resump- tion, at prices, including plant and improvements, well below £1 an acre.
It is estimated that they contain altogether some 180,000 acres of arable land- the balance (plus stubbles from grain crops) will be available for grazing.
To fulfil the target of 250,000 acres under crop each year substantial further areas are required, and active negotiations are now proceeding aimed at the acquisition of several other large holdings situated in the Central Western area.
Agricultural operations
A preliminary target of 20,000 acres under crop at Peak Downs was set for the 1948-49 season. The Corporation's own tractor requirements were not immediately in sight, but a number of ploughs were available, and a contract was made with Messrs. Thiess Bros. (Q'land) Pty. Ltd., large earth-moving and road contractors, for ploughing on the basis of the Corporation supplying the ploughs and the firm tractors and men. Thiess Bros. quickly moved three heavy diesel tractors to the site, and prepared hitching gear to enable each tractor to pull several ploughs.
The contract was on the basis of 7s. 6d. per acre for a preliminary area of 5,000 acres, the price to be adjusted in the light of experience gained during operations. Ploughing commenced on May 22, 1948, and after the first 5,000 acres had been done two further contracts were awarded, the area finally com- pleted by the firm amounting to 30,498 acres.
The work was finished on October 29, 1948, the average contract price per acre working out at 8s. 6d.
During the progress of operations the. Corporation's own tractors arrived and were employed in cultivating to remove weed growth. In addition the Cor- poration itself ploughed a further area of 907 acres with its own machinery, making a total area ploughed of 31,405 acres.