IMPORTANT ISSUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 7

IMPORTANT ISSUE

MOLESWORTH AND TARNDALE RUNS Tin The Editor; • v n\ It wa.s wit 1 1 inileli inlrir.-t Hint I irad in your i.-.sin: of l' i iilay lasi, tlml an invcsl igatioll of 1 In- Mutability for xlllidiwsioii ul I lie above ami oilier liiglij country riuiK was al present being 1111j drunken. , DoubtlrsK (he inv eslignl ion will be made as thorough as possible, and L is to be imped that lliose making il will have a liist hand knowledge of surli i eoinilry. ot!ir i wise their iiivest.ig.nlion ol ' tlie piobleins of loading. Jiomeslend .sites, and fencing u ill be of little avail. That slab country ran lie profitably worked nuclei' eei lai 11 conditions lias been pl ow'd in l.lie pa.-l, bill whether it can lie stiei'e.-si 11 lly worked under the conditions lliat at piescnt prevail is quite another mallei'. Even in tlie past tlie ox- ! peases of running such properties have I been enormous, and could only be uiidcrInkcn by very lew, and, even so, leiL just la moderate income tor the owner. Even if file properties are not subdivided, I lie whole question ol wilder feeding Would have to be gone into, and in rase ol subdivision into smaller runs tins question would beioim- even more iin port ant. It 1- llicreiuu.' very evident lliul those making the invest igal ion should be conversant with the conditions ruling ul any tune ol the year, and they will never obtain this knowledge bv visiting the properties at Ibe best time ui the year. Doubtless some ul the Lauds Department's oliicials will have Dial knowledge, but l lie question is, will they lie able lo convince the oilier members of tlie party, lor unless I hey do it will only lie inviting bankruptcy and hardship lo place .-eltleis oil such land who have never had experience ol such conditions. riieic is another aspect ul the case [hat will have lo he taken into consideration in making the report-, and on lliat aspect will depend the whole Inline of the principal part of our export Hade, and probably the future wcit'aio ol this lair Dominion. I lie question is; How will the cull mg' up of the lew remaining large sheep runs alleel the export ol wool and meat’.' Lew people seem to realise that uiir export of 'tool and frozen million largely depends on these large sheep runs, where the conditions are not suitable foi lattening oil stock, and must thetefoie coniine themselves to tin- rearing of store stock and wool, 'i lie farmers on the rich laud ha\e uuL sufficient pasture to carry large numbers ul stock throughout the winter, and must therefore confine themselves to buying stores when the feed is le.aily lor lattelling oil. and lo rearing and finishing oil the lambs. If, lliei elute, the large sheep runs aie either abandoned or subdivided where aie we to gel our stoles Hum lor fattening oil'! There is yet anulhci consideration lo Ila taken into account. il such high country is to be cut into smaller blocks, tbe amount ol stock to come oil it will certainly be smaller, tor the reason that, the stock will have to be kept under cover and ham! led. this will certainly n-quiie a high degree of knowledge from those undertaking the task, and will be vetv different, from the conditions undel which farming is at present carried out. and it would eo: la inly inquire more labour. Under tbe present conditions ol employment, howeU'i, I am ahaid the cost wuuid be piohibitive, especially with the limited hours of work, and the present compulsory wages that have to be paid. .Moieover, 1 am a I raid there would not lie suHicient. labour olleting considering the conditions under which they would have to wink, being possibly cut off for mouths at a time from civilisa-

If the present trade in wool and dozen meat is to he kept at its present latio conditions will have to be made considerably easier for the large runholders. 1 doubt if many of them are wholly dependent on the income Iron) I heir stations, for few of them are likely to have a huge enough reserve to stand the racket, What with ibe graduated laud tax, periodical losses ol stock, anil high wages, there cannot be so very much left over for high living, and their runs are tiicrcfoie merely a gamble ou the chance of a few good seasons in succession. It is to such men in the [last that ne owe a debt for developing the connny, and if the Government fails to assist such men the sooner this country turns to manufacturing the better, in which ease primary products will have to be imported instead ol exported, as at present. This letter is not written in any carping spirit of criticism ol the Government, very few of whom are likely to understand the conditions which such highcountry owners have to contend with. Nearly all countries are at present concentrating on their manulacltires, and in some eases depending on synthetic products for part ol their sustenance. It is only a question of time when primary products, the real necessaries of life, will find a market in practically every country under the sun, and we will then come into into our own. On the other hand, if we enter into manufacturing, our chance of competing ou equal terms with other countries is not too bright. 1 rusting some more able pen will take up this question. —I am, etc., “ALPHA” .Motueka, 12th November.