Proposals For Steep County

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 8

Proposals For Steep County

One of the problems in the high country at the present time was the question of the steep class VIII country, Mr J. Fitzharris, fields director of the Lands and Survey Department, told runholders at Lake Tekapo last week. He said that the department had had very frank discussions with a committee of high country people and it was hoped to have proposals before the Land Settlement Board at its next meeting.

It was true that in the past class VIII country had been permanently alienated and this, in effect, gave the runholder the right to graze these areas. As he had mentioned to the High Country Committee in Timaru last year in theory and at a fantastic cost it would be possible to fence around all of this country and keep stock ■ off it. But this was not at al! practical. How could stock be kept off this country? Over the years runholders had bred and trained sheep to clinib. If there was a block with steep class VIII country adjoining a safe (from erosion point of view) area, which it was impossible to fence, what were they to do? Would the flocks graze the steep eroding country even if the safe land was made attractive from a grazing point of view? If this was not the answer should a practical fence line be found, even if it involved fencing off class VH or better land? What then should be done with class VHI land and this was a question that a lot of thought had been given to recently. There were two problems with class VHI country, he said. Where this country backed on to really rough, unusable country the thoughts were that this should be ex-

eluded from the lease and be a Crown responsibility. Where the problem country was in the lease and could not be practically fenced off it might be better to give a pastoral occupation licence for this area with, if necessary, stringent stocking limitations. There might, perhaps be a nominal rental and a total destocking, or perhaps at appropriate times and for very limited periods a stocking with specified numbers of cattle only. This would give the runholder control of the area but he would have to accept the responsibility for rates and weed control.

All of this destocking was of course bound up with subsidies for what had become known as “off site” grazing. These were, of course available through the Soil Conservation Council and this was usually done through a run plan. The department favoured run plans and- would like to see them extended. Indeed he would like to see the department’s pastoral lands officers sponsor, encourage and initiate these plans. The thing to be watched, of course was that financial involvement was not too great and that they were practical and workable. The department had and would, under the Marginal Lands Act, finance suitable jropositions.