“NEW ZEALAND TRAGEDY"'

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 24 December 1945, Page 3

“NEW ZEALAND TRAGEDY"'

FILM ON SOIL EROSION MOLESWORTH STATION AS EXAMPLE A preview of a colour film entitled "A New Zealand Tragedy,” which has been produced by the film section of the Public Works Department under the direction of Mr Peter Whitchurch, who also supplies the commentary, was shown in Wellington recently. The film is being issued by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council and will shortly travel throughout the Dominion in the council’s mobile projection plant. The station Molesworth is used as an example of loss of production due to soil erosion which, in the case of Molesworth, it is claimed, was due to a large extent to bad farming practices. Molesworth, which is situated 85 miles up the Awatere River from Blenheim, had in 1888, the runs of Tarndale and Rainbow added, making a total of some 300.200 acres, the largest station in the DominiQn. Fifty years ago Molesworth was a flourishing, productive unit, and carried 50.000 sheep, whereas in recent years its production capacity, because of erosion, has deteriorated to such an extent that it became impossible to farm it profitably. In consequence it reverted to the control of the Lands Department, which is now conducting a policy of conservation. Stock has been reduced, tussock burning has ceased and the rabbits are being relentlessly destroyed. In 1939. 70.000 rabbits were killed, and 4400 declare reported to have been shot in six months. Graphic details of the erosion which has taken place are clearly shown in the film, as also is evidence of the gradual recovery which is now taking place under the present conservation policy. The film’s duration wa s 20 lriinutes.