Molesworth

Press, 5 December 1986, Page 20

Molesworth

Sir, —The contradiction that Mr Round sees in my letter (November 20) concerning funding of Molesworth arises from his assumption that the Department of Conservation will continue to farm Molesworth. There is no such guarantee. If the D.O.C. farmed Molesworth profitably where would the profits go, considering that the department will be funded by Government vote? When the cost of the D.O.C. is known, cost recoveries and cuts will be asked for (e.g., entry fees into Molesworth). Mr Round’s faith that New Zealanders are mature enough to pay to prevent environmental abuse is naive. New Zealand is becoming poorer. Some Government spending is being reduced. Spending on the D.O.C. would be reduced long before spending on health and welfare, which would be to Molesworth’s detriment. Molesworth is a high country run, and these runs are bought and sold without detriment to soil conservation. The rabbit, not productive farming, remains the real threat to high country soil conservation. —Yours, etc., B. K. MACFARLANE. Parnassus, November 30, 1986.