Commission’s Report on Sheep Industry

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 77, 8 July 1949, Page 1

Commission’s Report on Sheep Industry

Full and Comprehensive Findings

Just announced are the recommendations for the improvement of the sheep industry, made by the Koval Commission which was chaired by Mr. R. H. White, and which took evidence in Kaitaia in October of 1948 after having been set up in August 1947.

This was presented in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night last, and shows a meticulous and thorough inquiry into all things relevant to sheep farming. The Commission recommend the setting up of a Marginal Lands Boaid to assist in the improvement of marginal lands, a matter which concerned the body when in this locality, the setting up of a Sheep Industry Boaid in place of the existing Wool Board, and which will cover the whole sheep industry, including the beef cattle industry, alterations in tenure, including Maori Lands reduction in the price of fertilisers, the abolition of land tax and a measure of relief from Income Tax. The report generalised has been covered by daily newspapers, but there are factors which are of local concern, which it is considered will be of interest if given in more detailed report. The AGE will b# pleased to publish in fuller detail any section of the Report that any of our readers might desire. When it is realised that the Report covers 195 pages of print exclusive of maps and indices, it will be seen that only a condensed report can be given. Marginal Lands The Commission has rejected as unsound and ineffective any scheme to help these marginal lands by means of a subsidy on fertiliser . . To out

with a Sheep Industry Board as tne equivalent of the Dairy Board, the exisiing Meat Board as the equivalent of the Dairy Products Marketing Commission and a Sheep Division the equivalent of the Dairy Division in the Department of Agriculture, The present Wool Board is to be replaced by the new Sheep Industry Board. In place of the existing election system, the country is to be divided into eight wards each containing approximately four million sheep. The Commission has set out in detail these proposed wards. Each ward is to elect one member of the Sheep Board and o ne of these ward members is to be Chairman. In addition to the eight ward members, there are to be three other members, che Chairman of the Meat Board (ex of-

uciu; axiu one of whom is to have a specialised knowledge of working conditions. The Sheep Industry Board is to have wide advisory powers and is to be accepted by the Government as speak ; ng authoritatively for the sheep industy. In each ward, every sheep farmer is to have a vote for every sheep he possesses as shown in the return of sheep-owners. This provision is inserted in order to gain a proper proportional balance between the various groups and interests within the industry. There is to be an electoral college for each ward, so that farmers will vote for electoral college members whom they know personally r their own local area .and these ■lectoral college members will elect he ward member. The edectoral colege is to represent an annual ward :oiference or veritable district coun:il advising the Sheep Industry Hoard. Elections are .i be held in two vards each year, and Board members ire to serve for a term of four years. Provision is recommended that some if the members of the Wool Board mtomaticallv become members of the

mind the obstacles to improving marginal land are fencing, scrub-cutting, grassing manuring, access (including bull-dozed tracks to give access for topdressing), houses for farm workers, and many other factors, including, of course, the existing position of the mortgages over the land. We cannot see then how any subsidy on fertiliser could remedy the position to an effective degree. It appears to us that the correct approach is to draw up a complete plan for each farm in question and to base the assistance given on the whole plan. Only in this way will it be possible to know that the assistance given will result in the ultimate establishment of that land as economic land.” The setting up of a marginal lands board under the administration of the Minister of Lands is recommended to control the development of this “fifty year” plan. The suggested board comprises the Minister of Lands as Chairman, the Directors-General of Land and of Agriculture, and the General Manager of the State Advances Corporation as state members, together with five other members, of whom two are to be hill country farmers, one a farm workers’ representative, one a mortgage interests representative and one a grasslands expert. The Board is to have as its executive officer a Marginal Lands Director, who is to be an officer of the Lands and Survey Department. The suggested method of development is that any marginal lands farmer may apply for assistance. His farm will be inspected by a Committee comprising officers of the Lands and Survey and Agriculture Departments, and local farmers. In discussion with this Committee a plan of development is to be drawn up for the farm and this plan will be submitted to the Marginal Lands Board. If it approves, the Board will advance the money required free of interest or repayment for a period up to fi\e years as it may decide. Power is u be given to the Board . . . “to write off all or any portion of any advance if it considers such course desirable, having regard to our recommendations that the State should, pay the difference between total cost and economic cost to the individual.” The execution of the Board’s directions should be in the hands of a new Marginal Lands Division in the Lands Department, the staff of such division being . . . “fully acquainted with the whole problem of marginal lands, and also that they have a sympathetic understanding 0 f the psychology of the farmer on such lands, in order to approach the problem in a realistic manner which will earn co-operation from the farmers concerned.” Sheep Industry Organisation Considerable reorganisation of the administrative representation of the sheep industry is recommended by the commission which has praised the organisation of the dairy industry. A parallel form of organisation is recommended for the sheep industry

ne.v Sheep Industry Board for a short term in order to give continuity which the Commission has considered essential. The Board is to have its own secretariat and funds levied in the same manner as those of the Wool Board. Maori Land The Commission has recommended a special enquiry into the whole subject of Maori land to apply the following general principles : (a) That all land in New Zealand, whether it is pakeha land or whether it is Maori land, must be farmed for the maximum production in the national interest. There should be no exceptions to this rule, either pakeha exceptions or Maori exceptions. Wo are suggesting measures to deal with the pakeha who does not farm his land. We think it is only just that measures should be introduced to deal with the Maori whose land is not farmed. (b) If a Maori owner does not wish to, or is not in a position to, farm the land himself, we consider the land should be handed over to the Maori Affairs Department for development under its development schemes, because in this case the land would be developed on behalf of the owning Maori ,whose interests would be not only protected, but enhanced. (c) The evidence before us suggests that the terms of some Maori leases are such that they do not encourage the best maintenance of the land. We have stated that maintenance of the land is the prime consideration for the nation, and we think that leases of Maori Land should conform to a type which provide reasonable security and welfare for both tenant and owner and which definitely encourage and secure the maintenance and improvement of the condition of the land.”

Land Development “Under present conditions,” say* ihe Commission, “the amount of vir gin land which can be brought in foi sheepfarming is necessarily restrict ed, and no great programme of expansive development should be under taken until such time as the existin; sheep-farming country is put int good condition.” Rehabilitation Where they so desire it and are cap able, retunted servicemen should b put on partially developed land i i order that they may develop it an • I thus earn a greater equity in thei

property than if settled on a fully developed holding. Availability of Land The vailability of land for the settlement of returned servicemen would be greatly increased if suitable conditions encouraging older fai'mers to sell land were created. These are stated, the principal items being treatment of livestock as capital stock and not as trading stock and the provision of alternative housing when a farmer gives up his home on the land on retirement. The “Long Paddock” One of the unusual, but interesting, recommendations of the Commission is consideration of the future of the areas of land which flank roads and railways. The Commission is of the opinion that New Zealand needs the production from such of these lands as will produce, and these amount to thousands of acres. “It is a matter which the Government should hold in view.” Fertiliser The Commission has endorsed its interim recommendation for a standard price for fertiliser —a price of i‘S/iO/- per ton delivered on the farm anywhere in New Zealand. The Commission has also set out the quantities of fertiliser which will be required, amounting finally to 1,500,000 tons ;n 50 years time. To fill part of this supply, the Commission has recommended that all Local Authorities compost organic wastes on the pattern of the scheme of the Dannevirke Borough Council. Weeds

Strong measures for the control of weeds are recommendec by the Commission. After endorsing proposals for the revision of the Noxious Weeds Act, the Commission says : ‘We are very gravely concerned at what we have seen on the tour—t might be considered a shameful effect of 100 years’ occupation that so many weeds should appear on the landscape. Unfortunately, little can be done quickly about eradication, but the work must be steadily pursued from established perimeters of clear ground gradually working toward the final objective of total elimination This will involve close supervision and keen administration.’ ’ Proposals ,al‘e made to provide for this.