HIGH COUNTRY RUNHOLDERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 18 April 1939, Page 3

HIGH COUNTRY RUNHOLDERS

RELIEF ASKED FOR CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER United Press Association TIMARU, 17th April. More than 200 high-country sheepmen from all parts of the South Island between Marlborough and Southland assembled in Tekapo to-day t > meet the Acting-Minister of Lands, Mr Lee • Martin, and discuss with him the plight 1 of the high-country sheepmen. The conference lasted five hours, during i which representative speakers placed before the Minister numerous facts : dealing with the position. They contended that the sheep industry was a key industry of the Dominion, but they would not be able to carry on unless immediate relief from overhead costs was afforded. If this were not done more sheepmen would go out in the next three months than was the case during the depresFigures showing the income and expenditure of numerous high country runs in different parts of the island were quoted to show tthe marked increase of costs over a period of years and as a result of the decline in revenue the runholders were unable to make ends meet. Speakers urged the Government to free the exchange, reduce rents, and make available sufficient and efficient labour to keep up production. They also urged the necessity for research into land deterioration. The Minister, speaking early in the conference, referred to the fact that departmental officers had been investigating the position. The Government realised its seriousness, and. the report of the officers would form the basis for a commission. Many speakers had referred to the need for security of tenure, and the Minister of Lands was not drafting a Bill which aimed at a uniform tenure of 33 years with the perpetual right of renewal. Replying later to the addresses, the Minister reviewed a number of the questions affecting high country runs, and contended that the present position of the runholders was caused by the fall in the price oi wool. Many countries, because of the economic position, had been forced to use substitutes, and, though he was not a pessimist, it might be a long time before wool was again in as great demand as it was a few years ago. He said he felt the Government would face up to the problem as it had to many other problems, and he would certainly place before Cabinet all the facts given him by the conference. He could not commit the Government to any course of action. When asked what steps would be taken to stop men going off the farms, the Minister said the Government’s policy had always been to stabilise the man on the land, and the last thing it desired was to see even one man go off.