EROSION INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 20

EROSION INQUIRY

FAIiMEIiS' VIEWPOINT ACCESS TO POOR LAND MONEY WRONGLY DIRECTED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday Asked to-day to comment on the Government's setting up of a. committee to inquire into land deterioration and erosion problems, the Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers Union, Mr. A. P. O'Shea, said this move would be welcomed by the farming community. He considered, however, that tlie committee would bo very much strengthened by the inclusion of two practical farmers who had had experience of grazing problems, particularly on North Island country. The Government should seo that the committee was given full power to report publicly on the position as it saw it, Mr. O'Shea said. Ho added that ho had just returned from a visit to an area in the North Island where the question of deterioration of the country was becoming a burning one. Danthonia and ratstail were gradually creeping into large areas, as was manuka and gorse, mainly because farmers had not the money, to deal with this land, and if they had it it was not profitable to do so at present, was ironical that large sums of money were being spent on improving access into this country. The being spent on public works would be better expended on the lands, they served. . . , , Another matter requiring urgent attention was the graduated land tax, said Mr. O'Shea. Land tax was killiurr this country. New Zealand must realise that if the production of the sheep industry was to be kept up land tax must go.