Future Of Molesworth

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31582, 20 January 1968, Page 9

Future Of Molesworth

Two correspondents have commented on the views on the future of Molesworth station expressed on these pages last week by Mr L. W. McCaskill, the foundation director of the Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute. Mr McCaskill said he was convinced that there were so many lessons still to be learned about the production of beef cattle in a mountain climate in conjunction with conservation. of denuded soils that the experiment should run for another 25 years. Mr J. McNair, of Renwick, Blenheim,' who says he knows the station well having worked there 20 years ago when it was in a pitifully run down condition, fully agrees with Mr McCaskill, except for the suggestion that the property might some day carry 20,000 cattle.

“Molesworth is at present carrying 10,000 cattle and I think it would be unwise to exceed that number as a great portion of the run is under snow during the winter.

“The carrying capacity of all high country is what it can winter well ... I have spent nearly all my life on the high country of the South island and realise the danger of snow.

"Should the committee (which is to look into the future use of this country) decide on subdivision and restocking it again with sheep, they would make a very grave mistake as sheep were largely responsible for the state of Molesworth in 1940, when the lease was surrendered. “None of the present generation realise the danger of snow as there have not been any heavy snowfalls for many years. I can remember the 1895 snow which lay for weeks. Three privately-owned sheep stations in North Otago were compelled to surrender their leases and the stations lay idle for years as no mercantile firm would risk restocking them. The larger sta-

tions owned by Dalgety and Company and Compbell and Son were able to hang on and rebuild their flocks.

“Again in 1903 all stations lost fully half of their sheep and in 1918 the losses were nearly as heavy. There has been no disastrous fall of snow for a good many years but it could occur during any winter ...

“The greatest problem at Molesworth is the briar which is growing unchecked since the rabbit was exterminated. When the rabbits were in thousands they nipped off any seedlings and prevented any spread of briar, which could become as great a problem as the rabbit. The committee should concentrate on the briar and leave Molesworth alone.”

Mr A. Brown, of Sydenham, is not so sure of the idea of an all cattle policy. This means having all of the eggs in one basket, and with a little more cattle sickness the basket could be empty, he says.