SHEEP COMMISSION’S REPORT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25878, 10 August 1949, Page 8

SHEEP COMMISSION’S REPORT

PARLIAMENT

Discussion In House

SUPPORT FOR CATCHMENT BOARDS

(New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON. August 9. "If it is possible we will improve them; to destroy them would be madness,” interjected the Minister of Works (Mr Semple) when the criticism of catchment boards by the Royal Commission on the Sheep Industry was being discussed in the House of Representatives this evening. The DeputxLeader of the Opposition (Mr K. J. Holyoake) disagreed with the commission’s recommendation to abolish catchment boards. The discussion was opened by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L. Cullen). Mr Holyoake. who followed, complained that the Minister nad given no indication of the Government’s attitude to the commission’s recommendations. Mr Holyoake said the commission had overlooked the real problem: that costs were outstripping prices. The best way to raise the standard of living was to raise production. One of the best speeches of the nigh’ was made by Mr R. G. Gerard (Opposition. Ashburton), who said that suggestions by Mr F. P. Walsh about increasing primary production were, on the figures, impossible and, for one thing, would mean reversing the whole policy of the Government. Conditions had been made so attractive outside rural areas that it was hard to imagine how anyone could talk of putting 29.000 more on the land. Mr Cullen thanked Federated Farmers and other farmers’ organisations for the assistance they hsd given the commission and he thanked the commission itself for its important work. The commission had regarded marginal lands as its greatest problem, contihcigd. Mr Cullen, and the next important factor was the importation of more fertiliser to stop- land deterioration: The commission’s third point for consideration was the rabbit menace and how it could best be checked, and it then proposed better organisation of the industry with the establishment of a Sheep Industry Board to replace the Wool- Board. The commission made suggestions to bring about better farming practices, and to improve rural farming conditions. Some Recommendations Agreed With It was doubtful - whether everyone would agree to some of the cdministrative proposals the commission recommended, said Mr Cullen, but it was felt that their proposals were indeed for the benefit of the industry. Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn): Do you agree with them? Mr Cullen: Some of them, but not all.

The Minister said some of the commission’s recommendations would not, he thought, be in the best interests of the industry and others would require a great deal of consultation before they could be put into operation. As far as fertiliser wss concerned, he hoped that in the near future a phosphate works would be established in Hawke’s Bay and this would enable better distribution to the East Coast areas than at present, said Mr Cullen. While the commission recommended that the activities of catchment boards should be taken over by the Department of Lands his own opinion was that river work should be aMfc&tter-fo* the Works Department, .said Jen. Soil erosion and tree-planting operations were matters the Minister of Lands.

Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui)? Does the Minister believe that ca + chment boards are necessary? Mr Cullen said there had been some river boards which had done very good work, and there was still a place for some catchment boards in New Zealand.

Mr C. M. Bowden 'Opposition. Ka torn: * yes-no answer.

An Oppositon voice: Damned with faint Draise.

Mr M H Oram (Opposition, Manawatu): Does the Government support the commission’s recommendation to abobsh catchment boards? Mi Cullen: The Government will consider the matter in due course. I think that’s a fair answer. Proposed New Board

The M’nister said there was some difference of oninion on the establishment of the Sheep Industry Board, which really was only an extension of the Wool Board. Many wool-growers had had a choice of where they wanted to sell thei- wool, and they would still want to sell on their own account. He would not recommend that a practice which had been operating for many years should be taken away. Opposition members: Hear, hear

Mr Cullen said that the proposal to establish a Marg nal Lands Board to assist the Minister of Lands was a matter for that Minister to consider. Discussing the commission’s comments on the carrying capacity of certain districts. th? Ministef said Southland was one of the areas which could show the greatest advance in capacity to carry more cattle and sheep. Mr T L. Macdonald (Opposition. Wallace): It could go a long way yet. Mr Cullen endorsed the commission’s tribute to the Rabbit Destruction Council ?nd agreed on the necessity for mere control- of noxious weeds. He said 1 he hoped that more suitable aircraft would be obtained soon for wider aerial top-dressing operations. No Positive Statement Mr Holyoake expressed disappointment that the Minister had given little if any indication of the Government’s att-tiide to the commission’s recommendations on the Sheep Industry Beard and other matters. The Minister had not made one positive statement.

The report had failed to point out the basic -problem of the whole farming industry—that even in this period of record prices costs had outstripped prices. Costs had piled up to such an extent that the primary industries which were acknowledged to be the most efficient primary industries in the world were unable to hold their manpower, to increase output, or to maintain soil fertility.

Most sheepfarmers enjoyed good incomes to-day. but they were largely fictitious incomes, because farmers could not spend money on the land as they ought, said Mr Holyoake. Farmers had difficulty in providing fencing, shelter, farm buildings, and houses, even on present incomes, because of excessively high costs. There could be no real solution of farmers’ problems until the unbalance between costs and prices was remedied and the commission had not faced that problem.

Mr Holyoake said he fully supported the proposed replacement of the Wool Board bv a Sheep Industry Board, but its functions should not duplicate those of the Meat Board. Catchment Boards Supported

Mr Holyoake disagreed with the commission on catchment boards. Some authority must deal with soil conservation and rivers control. Steps could, however, be taken to ensure that the boards did not become too cumbersome

Mr Holyoake favoured giving a trial to the Marginal Lands B?ard proposed by the commission. He said farmers as trustees of the land should have adequate means to husband and build up the greatest heritage the nation had. That was what most farmers desired to do, but at present they received little encouragement.

New, Zealand could improve living standards more rapidly by increasing

primary production than by any other means, but the Government appeared blind to that. Mr Holyoake said production could be improved by helping farmers to increase the output of existing farms and by a vigorous land settlement policy. Roads, houses, electricity, telephones, and better schools were, as the commission said, the chief needs of the backblocks. There were still too many clay roads while speedways were being built between urban centres. Of 31.000 State houses, few. if any, housed farm workers, said Mr Holyoake. This was cruel discrimination against farm workers, for moneys raised nationally for State housing should be fairly applied to the benefit of all sections of the community. If the Government felt it was impracticable to build State houses on farms it should at least lend money to farmers for housing at such a rate of interest as would keep the annual outgoings on a house down to the level of State house rentals. Fertiliser Subsidies

Discussing fertilisers, Mr Holyoake supported the proposal for freight subsidies that would enable farmers, whatever their transport difficulties, to buy fertiliser at a uniform price at the farm gate If the Government could not persuade the Meat Board and the Dairy Board to share the cost of that subsidy, it should meet the full cost itself.

Mr Holyoake said he hoped something would be done along the lines recommended by the commission that all local authorities be encouraged and assisted by the Government to reclaim all organic wastes. He urged the extension of aerial topdressing. With to-day’s costs it was impossible to expand production as it should be expanded, said Mr Holyoake. He welcomed many of the commission’s recommendations and urged the Government to implement them immediately. It was not enough for the Minister of Agriculture to say when asked for his opinion on some of the recommendations that the Government would consider those matters at a later date.

Mr Cullen: It’s sufficient for you. Mr Holyoake: It is not sufficient for me, it is not sufficient for farmers, and it is not sufficient for the country. Would Cost Money

Mr A. C. Baxter (Government, Raglan) said it was obvious that the things the member for Pahiatua wanted the Government to do would cost money. The Opposition was hopeful of becoming the Government, but it was pledged to a reduction of taxation, the maintenance of wage rates, and social services. The Government

might well ask where the money was to come from. It looked as though the National Party’s policy would be a fleabite compared with Sir Joseph Ward’s, and they would seek an external loan of £100,0004)00 or more. Mr Baxter said it was a serious matter that at a time of high prices hillcountry farmers should be in difficulties. Other countries had been giving those farmers help. There was one thing certain about stabilisation funds —there was no show of the farmers

who contributed toward them getting back the amount they put in. Some who contributed might set nothing and others who gave nothing might get ■<Sbroething. Utilisation of those funds was.ia most—important matter. The sooner farmers woke up to the fact that individual ownership of the land carried responsibilities as well as privileges the better for all concerned, said Mr Baxter. Any person who occupied land did not have the right to abuse the land. He agreed with the commission that there should be a reward for good farming and a penalty for bad farming. Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition. Remuera): Why not apply that to the waterfront? Housing Subsidy Suggested Mr Baxter said he thought a subsidy on country housing was essential Mr Gerard said that instead of deciding to dispense with the catchment boards some thought should be given to the work they were doing and the difficulties, not of their making, with which they had to contend. It was not merely a matter of river erosion He had ;een at the headwaters of one river the change from snow tussock country to shingle .through the depredations of pests such as deer. One authority was needed to deal with any river area and to do away v’ith catchment boards meant that the authority would be divided, said Mr Gerard. He naid a tribute to the work of the North' and South Canterbury Catchment Boards and said that, given time, thev would more than prove' their worth.

The discussion was interrupted by the adjournment at 10.30 p.m. '