EXHAUSTED LANDS

Evening Star, Issue 18729, 3 September 1924, Page 4

EXHAUSTED LANDS

WARNING TO GRAIN GROWERS. [From Ora Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 2. Two important aspects of grain growing in Otago are mentioned by Mr Galbraith, the Otago Commissioner of Lands, j First, the tendency in the past has been to crop the land year after year without returning to the soil the essential ingredients. The consequence is that too much land is now nearing the point of exhaustion, this remark applies to a considerable area in North Otago, and raises the question whether the Stato should permit even freehold owners to misuse their land. The second aspect is that certain light land which has been cultivated and cropped should never have been turned over at all, after producing perhaps two average crops. Much of this class of land has gone back into a barren, weedproducing state, and has become almost worthless. Had it not been disturbed at all, it would have remained useful and profitable grazing country. Discussing land selection, Mr Galbraith states .that the number of new selectors, including purchasers for cash, was 159 and the area 242,748 acres. Included in these figures are six pastoral runs, with an aggregate area of 53,984 acres, which represent the Otago University endowment at Benmoro, held on pastoral tenure for some years at very high rentals, and reoffered by public auction at the upset rentals, upon which purchasers would have a reasonable chance of success. The annual rental under . previous licenses amounted to £3,555. That realised at the auction hold in January last came to £2,115.

Two large and important blocks of country were opened for selection—Tcviot and Mount Pisa. The former was selected partly by returned soldiers and partly by civilians; the latter by returned soldiers only. The total number of straight-ofat purchasers for cash was thirty, and the area 191 acres; cash received, £3,178. Conversions to freehold from other tenures numbered twentyseven, 'of which twenty-five were c,f Crown land and two of laiyj for settlement holdings. The area of Crown land thus converted was 3,056 acres, and the cash received £2,617. The number of, now. selectors, exclusive of the purchasers, was. 129, and the area selected 242,557 acres. Of these, fifty-one were selected on temporary tenure, area 14,831 acres.' Despite the unfavorable season, the gross revenue for the year shows an increase of £11,840 over that of the previous year. Arrears, however, also show an increase. The number of tenants in arrears with their payments is only five more than that ol the previous year, but the amount outstanding is considerably more.