HIGH-COUNTRY FARMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 121, 20 April 1940, Page 12

HIGH-COUNTRY FARMS.

HOLDERS IN CONFERENCE. REQUESTS TO MINISTERS. Per Press Association. . TIMARU, April 19. South Island high-country run-hold-ers from as far afield as Blenheim and Southland assembled at Lake Tekapo yesterday to discuss problems affecting the ’high country generally. The conference was convened by Air T. D. Burnett, M.P., and was attended by officers of the Departments of Lands and Agriculture, and specialists on erosion and other agricultural problems. To-dav the findings were placed before the Minister of Lands (Hon. F. Langstone). The Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) attended for a short period. The findings of the conference were put forward by Air A. D. McLeod, of Waimakariri, chief being the necessity to set up an advisory board to deal with high-country administrative problems in the South Island. The conference urged on the Government the extreme urgency of high-country runholdcrs taking an active part in the administration of the Lands Department. A suggestion was that the Government should appoint four representatives, and that two high-country men in each land district should represent runholdcrs. The board would have full responsibility in all policy matters affecting leases, basis of rentals, and administrative problems generally. 'flic conference sought a stabilised price for rabbitskins to eliminate the influence ot commercialism in extermination, and also asked that sweet briar bo eradicated on tho same lines as ragwort. The conference protested against the price paid for wool, declaring the high-country was not getting the margin over coarser wool previously received. Afr Langstone drew attention to the difficulty of a separate . hoard, as all surveys and titles were held by the present hoards. The cost of dividing lands districts would defeat the benefits of the proposal. There was no reason why a body should not be set up to confer ’and co-operate with the department. So far as wool was concerned, the Minister said that, if any adjustment were made, he would do his best to see that the alteration was in favour of high-country, men. Other matters would be taken up with the departments concerned.