CONSERVATION OF SOIL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25276, 30 August 1947, Page 2

CONSERVATION OF SOIL

DISTRICT AT WAITAKI PROPOSED FIRST IN NEW ZEALAND The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council is at present formulating a proposal for the establishment of a Waitaki soil conservation district to embrace the whole of the country draining into the Waitaki river. If formed, and the Loca] Government Commission has to approve the proposal, this district will be the first of its kind in New Zealand. Before the, proposal is proceeded with full details will be given to representatives of all settlers concerned at a meeting to be convened at Waimate next month by the chairman of the Waitaki County Council (Mr J. Rodman)., The boundaries of the proposed district will be: (a) on the north, the southern boundary of the South Canterbury Catchment Board; (b) on the north-west, the main divide of the Southern Alps; (c) on the south-west, the watershed of the Waitaki river along the barrier, and the Hawkdun range to Mount Pisgah; (d) from the watershed to the mouth of the river, excluding the Kakanui river catchment. The approximate rateable capital values for the respective counties are as follows, with rateable unimproved values in parenthesis:—Waimate, £1,169,025 (£808,435); Mackenzie, £434.850 (£261,940); Waitaki, £1,463,977 (£976,623). A committee comprising the district soil conservator as chairman, one representative each of the Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki County Councils, and two members appointed by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council will administer the proposed district. Summarised, the duties of the committee will be: (a) to obtain the best opinion available for sound farming practice in the district to conserve the soil; (b) to encourage farming on these lines; (c) to control burning as far as practically possible; and (d) to prevent overgrazing by stock and rabbits. The committee will not have the power to levy rates, but will have powers of control only. Administration costs of running and organisation will be met by the Soil Conservation Council.