High-Country Land

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 10

High-Country Land

Some clear indication of the intentions of the Government toward the areas of high-country Crown land which it controls in the South Island would be very welcome to v the farming community. The statement of the Minister for Lands, printed yesterday, does nothing to relieve the apprehension of the many graziers who operate Government leases along the Southern Alps that their leases may not be renewed. Though he produced little evidence in support of his assertions, the Minister outlined a case for which much might be said, although little really close investigation has been made into the question of the denudation of the high areas round the sources of the rivers of the South Island. An equally good case might be made out for the renewal of the leases of land which, though it might if left to itself indefinitely have some effect on flooding in the larger rivers, will certainly if unoccupied either be a breeding ground for various pests or a source of considerable expense to the country to keep clean. The run specifically mentionec by the Minister, who said that no productive land would be locked up, has been sufficiently attractive as a farming proposition to induce one family to stock it for more than 80. years. The stock population on the high country is admittedly not dense, but over all the land of this type, the total is considerable, and the withdrawal of its annual production of wool, cattle, and ewes would make an appreciable reduction in the total value of South Island production. The point which is most decidedly important is that high-country farming, even more than farming easier country, must be planned and organised over a period of years. A high-country run is not a shortterm investment, and some indication should be given to the men with capital invested in high country of the possibilities of their being allowed to continue to use it.; High costs have already reduced the chances of profits from the high runs, and the addition of uncertainty of tenure may compel many farmers to cease operations and allow large areas of land to go out of production altogether.