M.P.’s AGREE ON NEED TO AID HIGH COUNTRY LAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23021, 11 August 1949, Page 3

M.P.’s AGREE ON NEED TO AID HIGH COUNTRY LAND

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The discussion of the Royal Commission's report on the sheep farming industry had not been completed when the House of Representatives adjourned last night and, although the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, did not indicate that a third day would be given to the subject, the continuation of the debate is expected. It was formally set down for the next sitting day, though the order of business is subject to the Government's decision. The opinion that the commission had not gone deeply enough into the economic position of the farmer was expressed by Mr. R. G. Gerard (Oppos,. Ashburton). What the farmer wanted was to see the economy of the country so directed that he could feel that he had stability and security in return for his labours. Knowledge of Research Wanted Mr. G. H. O. Wilson (Govt., Palmerston North) thought that the commission had not got down to the basis of better information, research and experiment. What was wanted was better knowledge and research rather than machinery changes. He did not agree with the suggested method of electing the proposed sheep industry board on the basis of one sheep one vote. “It would be helpful if the Government would tell us what part of the report they will adopt and what they will reject,” said Mr. D. C. Kidd (Oppos., Waimatc), who criticised the stultifying effect upon production of the continued shortages of materials, equipment and labour on farms, and added that what the sheepfarmer should have been spending on maintenance and expansion had been going into income tax. The catchment boards were doing a grand job and it was entirely wrong to say that there was no serious erosion problem. Aerial Top-dressing the Solution The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. W. E. Parry, said it would be a thousand pities to see high-country land go out of production and become a harbour for weeds and pests which would be a standing menace to low-country farms. To his mind, the coming solution to high-country farming would be fertilising from the air. The Government, he said, realised the necessity for assisting in the establishment of recreational facilities in rural areas in order to _ encourage young people from the cities to go to the country and to keep in the country young people living on the farms. All taxpayers were paying for the State houses which were being built, said Mr. J. K. McAlpine (Oppos., Selwyn), and very nearly all of them were being constructed in the cities. He considered it only right that the Government should spend the money it drew from the whole of the community upon the wohle of the community upon the whole of the comGovernment take action immediately regarding marginal high-country lands.