BACK COUNTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 4

BACK COUNTRY.

INQUIRY INTO DETERIORIATION. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATIONWELLINGTON, Nov. 8. The Minister of Lands, in : compliance with liis promise made during the session, has appointed a committee to inquire into the deterioration of lands lying between the Wanganui river and the southern portion of the Auckland province. This includes portions of Taranaki, the King Country and Waikato. Tlie order of reference, briefly set out, comprises an inquiry into the following matters: (1) Reasons for the deterioration of the lands and the most practicable means of bring tlienj back; (2) what grasses are most likely to be successfully established and the probable cost per acre in that connection; (3) what measure of deterioration, if any, is due to tlie disability the settlers are under in regard to access to their holdings; (4) whether the areas are generally too large or too small; (5) what form of relief it would be practicable to give the settlers. /; ■ Tlie personnel of the committee is as follows: Mr G. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury, who in tlie past lias had a long association with Taranaki land as Commissioner of Crown Lands at New Plymouth; Mr Frank Cameron, a well-known Hawke’s Bay (Hastings) farmer; Mr E. P. Fowler, district valuer ;n’t Masterton, who is also familiar with that class of country; Mr E. Bruce Levy, agrostologist, Department of Agriculture, who is well known to the farming community in connection with experimentation in grasses; Mr W. Robertson, a well-known Taranaki (Tahora) farmer; Mr P. Keller/district engineer at Taumarunui. Mr Clever den, of the Lands Department, will be secretary of the committee. The committee left for New Plymouth to-day. Their report is reutrnable by December 31.