MOLESWORTH STATION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 8

MOLESWORTH STATION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Having had a great deal of experience with snow country in the South Island during the last 50 years, I should like to point out that the abandonment of country like Molesworth is a matter that will have to be faced by the Government, as I know of several more runs *that are likely to follow suit. We have not since Sir John Mackenzie’s time had a Minister for Lands who understood the hill country of the South Island. He saved many a run by putting back into the run low winter country that had been cut off by previous Ministers for Lands. Sines his time the way the back country had been ruined by cutting up the runs is disastrous. The snow risk in the South Island hill country is much greater than most people realise. In years gone by, if a runholder got a knock with snsw, he could restock with merino sheep at from 2s 6d to 4s a head; now it will cost him to restock from 20s to 25s a head or more. In order to save much more country from being abandoned, ths Government will, I hope, set up a commission of three men who understand this class of country, with power to put into one several runs that have been ruined by cutting up, also with power to reduce rents where they think fit. It is everything to get tenants to stick to this class of country in order that the adjoining country should not also be ruined bv rabbits and deer. I always think, for the welfare of New Z'-a'hnd, there should ta -71 two Ministers for Lande, one for each island. The class of country is so different in the North Island from what it is in the South Island that it is impossible for one Minister to be an exnert on the land question in both islands.—Yours, etc.. BERNARD TRIPP. Timaru, June 1. 1937.

TO THE EDITOR Oil THE PRESS. Sir, —Having had a liberal experience of owning and working backcountry I should like to congratulate you on the vry sound articles which have been appearing in XThe Press” regarding this subject. They reflect much credit on your staff!— Yours, etc., A. R. TURNBULL. Balcairn, May 31. 1937. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS, Sir, —I see the Minister for Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, is being erfficised for not keeping the sheep on Molesworth. The lessee, Mr Lochhead, owns 10,500 of freehold in Molesworth. He al:o owns all the station buildings and about 100 miles o fences on the leasehold, together with the unexpired portion cf his lease, two years. The Minister would have to purchase all that property, together with stock, to keep the sheep there —rather a big order. There is seme good sheep country on the run down the Clarence, the Elliot, and Lake Mcßae. The rent is less than I'd an acre. Seven or eight acres will graze a sheep on an average, if the rabbits were kept down. I consider the Minister did right in not interfering with the sale. I know those parts as I was a member of the Marlborough Land Board for many years uo to the end of March. Tarndale and Rainbow are in the Nelson Land District. —Yours, etc., JAMES BOYD. Kaikoura, May 31, 1937.