INQUIRY WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1939, Page 10

INQUIRY WANTED

DETERIORATED LANDS

REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT

URGENT PROBLEM

A request that the Government should investigate the amount of deteriorated land in New Zealand— particularly sheep country—was made to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and members of Cabinet yesterday afternoon by a deputation from the New Zealand Farmers' Union and the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation. The Ministers expressed their sympathy with the request, and Mr. Savage undertook to take action. Mr. W. W. Mulholland, president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, presented the following resolution which was carried at a joint meeting of the union and the federation earlier in the day:— . That this meeting of representatives of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and the New Zealand Sheepowners* Federation, in view of the deterioration of second and third class country which is steadily going out of production, asks for a complete, impartial, and authoritative inquiry into the factors affecting the farmers' ability to maintain this land in a productive state. We are of the opinion that neglect of this problem must result in a serious drop in production which will eventually react against the country as a whole. Mr. Mulholland said that they had not come' before the Government out of any political motive or from any desire to criticise the Government and make political capital out of any difficulties. Their desire was the good will of ..New Zealand. "We are here to ask you to look into this matter and endeavour to see what can be done about it," he said. "We are concerned, as farmers, with the position, particularly with what is known as second and third class sheep country." A great deal of that country was difficult to operate and it required a large amount of expenditure in maintenance. Lack of expenditure on maintenance was ultimately reflected in low returns and in: a much more serious matter—the power of the land to make a return. A? national asset was gradually being wiped out. He would like some of the Ministers to view the country. H« asked that a competent tribunal inquire into these lands with a view to ascertaining what the position was. Jn some cases, it was possibly exaggerated^ but there was a real and grave prqbr lem affecting the whoie of the produc-; tion of the country. The union was being pressed by its own members foraction in the matter. "We are not in a position at the moment to suggest;.a remedy," said Mr. MulhoHand, "because we aon't know the full extent of the facts. We agree that production must be kept up, and on this type of land it is a serious matter to know how io prevent production from slumping.'*.-. INCREASED COSTS. Mr. H. D. Acland (representing th« sheepowners) endorsed Mr. Mulholland's remarks. He said they were particularly concerned with the working of the high, country in the ' South Island, most of which 'was the freehold of the Government. The cost of work--ing that country had increased considerably in the last 30 years, and he did not think that the price of wool was as good as it was 30 years; ago. Mr. A. B. Moore said that no attempt had ever been made to measure the depletion of the fertility of the hill lands. MINISTERS' REPLIES. Replying, the Minister of Lands (th« Hon. F. Langstone) referred to the adverse effect of the denudation of the bush, and the bleaching of the soil. He spoke of the advisability of replanting the high areas, and said that he did not know whether sufficient investigation had been made of plants suitable for New Zealand's high altitudes. What was desired was a classification of the Dominion's lands and the uses to whicli they could be put. He was in sympathy with the resolution. - The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. L. Martin) said the problem was national in character. The appointment of a committee of practical men would be a wise step. The problem had to be faced in the interests of the Dominion. His Department would be willing to co-operate to see if anything could be done about the deteriorated lands which today threatened the existence of many farmers. The Minister of Labour (the-Hon. P., C. Webb) said that if the land was: producing year after year, some deterioration must take place irrespective of erosion. He referred to the recent "increased subsidy the Government was giving for developmental work, and said that he would be glad to co-operate in the matter of the deteriorated lands. Mr. Savage said he realised the position, and thought they must see whether new growth could be introduced into the high altitudes. The Government must be sure, if help were given, that the conditions were such that production could be carried oh; "We have to do something," remarked Mr. Savage, who said the matter would go before Cabinet. ' In the course of further remarks it was stated that though an inquiry into deteriorated lands was made some years ago, those findings would not be wholly applicable today in view of the changed economic position. The problem was two-fold— physical and econoMr Savage remarked that the question of taxation in general was one that the Government would have to face up to in the very near future. —;