MARGINAL LAND DEVELOPMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 5

MARGINAL LAND DEVELOPMENT

SUBSIDIES TO OCCUPIERS

SUGGESTED

The provision of financial assistance by way of subsidies for the development of hill country and marginal land in New Zealand would have, perhaps, the greatest influence for increased production, said Mr E. Bruce Levy, director of the grasslands division, in an address to the Ruakura farmers’ conference. Mr Levy ‘suggested that an act be introduced similar to the Hill Farming Act in Britain whereby, under appropriate safeguards, financial assistance was given to owners and tenants of hill farming land who were willing to carry out comprehensive improvement schemes.

I “Ther®'is no question that subsidies and guaranteed prices for all manner of land development and agricultural set-ups in Britain have played an enormous part in British agriculture, and making it a profitable industry to which the industrial businessman today looks for a sound investment for his money,” said Mr Levy. Under the terms of the Hill Farming Act grants were made to the extent of 50 per cent, of the cost of carrying out approved works. These included I ploughing and cultivation, tile and mole drainage, seed mixtures, fertilisers, lime, fences, water reticulation, scrubcutting, provision of shelter, farm buildings, and so on. These marginal and hill country subsidies were making possible the development of land that normally would be well beyond the means of private enterprise. “It is my opinion that such development should proceed by the establishment of a primary agricultural production pool, under the direction of a Eermanent agricultural production card,” Mr Levy continued. “To this pool both producer and consumer should contribute, and I put it forward as a suggestion that Great Bri- ! tain might even contribute. On the | lowlands the animal most likely to pay the best dividend for money expended is the dairy cow, while on the hills ' the return from sheep would make that investment really sound.” With adequate finance and along approved technical lines such a move would make for the full utilisation of the Dominion’s land and climatic resources.

A gross return of £39,OQg was received this season for 190 bales of Merino wool from the Barunah Plains clip. New South Wales. The price gives an average of £205 5s a bale.