DETERIORATED LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 13

DETERIORATED LANDS.

KING COUNTRY PROBLEM. OVERCOMING THE TROUBLE. --■J MORE MANURES AND' STOCK. [li* TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

Sonic comments on the land deterioration problem were offered by the member for Waitomo, Mr. J. C. Rolleston, during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives this evening. Mr. Rolleston, in whose electorate there is a large area of such land, said that the committee which visited the district and reported recently had done its work very carefully indeed. However, he feared the report might lead to the unfair condemnation of much highly productive land which was interspersed among that which had deteriorated or, rather, reverted to its original vegetation.

The remedies, as the committee had said, were the application of suitable artificial manures, subdivision of over-large properties, more fencing, and more stock to crush out the fern. It was unfortunate that many settlers had sold much of their stock during tho slump. One of the Dominion's greatest needs to-day' was that cattle farming should be made more profitable. If it were farmers in the back country would carry more stock and their properties would improve. He agreed witn the committee's recommendation that the properties be revalued and the rent bo remitted. However, he was convinced that the Government should have expert advict upon each property, especially before advances were made for manures and fencing. It would be useless, as the committee said, to make advances on any property until tho mortgagor and mortgagee bad agreed to bring the value down to a proper level. One unfortunate feature of the trouble in the Waitcmo district was that many of the properties were mortgaged up to or beyond their value and it would not be helping the farmers if their burden of debt were further increased. With regard to manures he believed that on an average property an expenditure of £1 an acre yearly for three years would put th 9 land into such a condition that its earnings thereafter would meet all charges for further manuring. The committee had reported only upon Crown lands, but the same troubles affected freehold landt and native leaseholds. Many of the former were converted O.R.P. lands. Tho holders, no less .than the Crown tenants, deserved the very best consideration from tho Government.

PREVALENCE OF GOITRE. FISH DIET A REMEDY. NEED FOR lODISED SALT* [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL RXPORTEB.] WELLINGTON, Friday. The prevalence of goitre in New Zealand was spoken of by the Hon. G. M. Thomson in the Legislative Council. He said that a considerable amount of goitre prevailed in New Zealand, especially among growing girls. It was a dire disease which disfigured those attacked. A medical authority had stated that 31 Eer cent, of the school girls in Canterury and Otago were suffering from it, although it did not prevail to that extent in the North Island. It was recommended that iodised table salt, two parts of iodine in 1000, should bo used. He thought the Government should make it compulsory that those who sold salt should only dispose of iodised salt as in Switzerland, where at one time. goitre was prevalent. But the greater use of fish, lobster, shrimps, etc., would prove as effective.