SOUTHERN PASTORAL LANDS COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17923, 30 April 1920, Page 2

SOUTHERN PASTORAL LANDS COMMISSION.

Wheat the commissksi resumed its flitting an Tuesday John i'kiward M'Manua (organr iser of the Now Zealand Workers' union) attended to give evidence. lla said that an order to pjrevont a ramrrcuco of pastoral or gra&iug leasee being renewed to Uie original holders when tticro waa a demand lor thorn lor closer settlement purpoeva, lie suggv.-sted that pastoral, grazing, or (Jrown looses ot any kind should Dot unde-r liny oireii instances t» renewed to the previous holder unless and until ho should have been in scouring them under such. _ competition an porautted the landless public iui opportunity to compete. 'i u avoid pastoral mils oeing leaded lor less than the- rental valuo to privileged parsons, li» Mjggunod that all Crown lands hem under any lonu of lease lor g'raziug purpoaeu should at tho expiration of fcho lease bo open to public competition. If any pastoral lease, grazing lease, or leaso ol down lands were lound Buitablo for closer settlement, it should bo thrown open under conditions tliat would, assist settlors over initial dilliculuies. To do this ho suggested (a) that thoro be no rent for the liißt throe years on unimproved land; (b) equalisation of pastoral and selectors' rente; (c) a remission ot a fair proportion of rents and rates for land brougiit under cultivation or lor any improvements approved by tb-> Land Board that would increase tho productive or carrying capacity of tho land; (d) lixity of tenure with periodic appraisement ot rent; (e) to prevent land being held by persons who did not use it, tenures should include personal and bonaiide residence ; (1) tomans to be on the most productive basis —tliat is to say, where it is practicable to cultivate provision must compel cultivation, and whore impracticable to cultivate provisions must compel the conversion of tussock land into grass land below tho snow line; (g) State advances to settlers to be liberalised by insisting that for the first seven years tho settlor could bo compelled to pay only interest on tiie principal advanced, repayment of the principal not to commenco until tho eighth year. To prevent the destruction by burning of a national asset, he suggested that no bush land be thrown open until the Government, either by State sawmills or some other scheme put to commercial use all timber ol value to the community. To encourage production on freehold lands, there should bo an increase of the land tax, with a corresponding exemption of taxation for cultivation. He suggested that agriculture should* bo encouraged by a provision for a proportionate remission of rents and rates for improvements which increased the carrying capacity; a scheme of light railways and proper roads to precede settlement; a State line of steamers; State freezing works and cold stores; State flourmills; State manufacture of agricultural implements: State assistance or partnership in co-operative enterprises; State works for tho manufacture of lime, potash, arsenic, and phosphate fertiliser; State experimental farms; tenant's absolute right to all improvements; the establishment of training farms on the Queensland principle. The witness further advocated a resurvey of soldier settlements, to avoid what he called such a blunder ag the Benmore Settlement; also that where tho Government resumes land any woolshed, yards, or dips be retained for the collective use of the settlers; also that no absentee who scorns to live on tho land which he drains of its wealth be permitted, to acquire pastoral or agricultural land; also that mining reserves be thrown open for settlement. Roderick D. Poison, North-East Valley, said the wholi of the pastoral country in Otago 40 years ago was all well grassed and in good order. The country produced good feed except in sucli cases where it had been burnt. Rabbits took to the burnt areas, and were largely to blame for tho continued deterioration of tho land. He attributed the deterioration of the country more to the rabbit than to burning. The deterioration started with firing at the wrong season. He did not agree with the suggestion that at the expiration of a man's lease the land should be put up to public auction. It would have the effect of inflating the value of land and thus encourage overstocking, which would do more to injure this land than anything else. It seemed to him that the only way to make a success of irrigation would be for the Government ■ to take over tile whole of the water supply in Central Otago and to control the whole system of irrigation. Bach district would have a board, but these should be all under one head. In reply to Mr Buckhurst, he said that by spelling the land for two or three years it would soon return to its original normal condition. To Mr M'lnnos: Speaking generally 2000 sheep would bo adequate to enable a man to make a good living. In the high country 3000 sheop might be necessary, but on the lower country a man should do vory well with 1000 sheep. He certainly favoured the suggestion that tho Government should assist the settlers by giving them wire netting at cost price, or the Government might go in for wire netting before ttie runs were subdivided. Duncan Maodonald (retired farmer, xtoslyn) said he had been 44 years in Otago and was acquainted with the land in Otago Central. The present tenure was the best m tho interest of the State. It was to the lessees' advantage to take the greatest care of the laud. The areas of some of the pastoral runs at Hindon were on th>9 small side, but generally the areas were satisfactory. The best way to bring the country back to its original state would be to keep down tho rabbits. Professor Park stated that he had explored the Tula Tula Valley right to its source. This was in 1880. The country was then in its original state. There were no rabbite there. The land was occupied for pastoral purposes at tliat time, and nractically no burning had been done. The fiats w<?re covered with high flowing tussock. In 1886 he had seen all the country from the head of Lake Wakatipu and Martin's Bay. It had been burnt and was not looking at its best. He had made an extensile examination of the dry country in Central Otaga and there was no scab weed there then. He had inspected it mora recently, and the scab weed was very iantiful. In 1887 the country was a picture, with flowing grass everywhere. Now it was practically a wilderness. A lot of the soil was of the mica-schist formation, andthere was sufficient lime m this soil for the J growing of lucerne * The clothing of the mountains with vegetation would act as a preventative so far as the silting up ol our rivers went. Stephen Boreham, secretar- of the Otago branch of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union, said he had been in Otago for 40 years. The land 40 years ago was much better than it waa now. There were no rabbits on it then. Burning had been carried out indiscriminately, and this had impoverished the land. The grass disappeared after a fire had been over the country. He said tliat the experience of the organisation to which he belonged was that tho best possible use was not being made of the land from a productive point of view, and consequently the workers suffered. He was an out-and-out leaseholder, as he believed the whole of the people had an interest in all the land, and the representatives of the people should have control of the land. Each holding should be revalued overy 10 years. Ho oid not agree that the leases should be submitted to public auction. Rdberfc Gibxison (solicitor]) gave evidence rgarding the urgency of having an up-to-date irrigation scheme for Central Otago. Ho went to Clyde in 1886, and was there till 1902, £nd it was of what ho had tried to do there that he desired to tell the commission. He pointed out tliat his experience had been that, while a man had difficulty in securiivr land, he could get any quantity of water. At the present time there was a strong movement in Central Otago to get something done to further an irrigation scheme, but he foresaw tremendous trouble unless this Act was altered. The question was complicated, and. very few people knew anything about it, and Parliament preferred to leave it alone. James Bogg said ho had had a good knowledge of the present tenures of the pastoral lands. They were very good for tho tenant, but vorv bad for the State. The tenant's interest was to all he could out of the holding. To!'make an occupier do his best for his country, the fruits of his skill should be secured to him. Under the leasehold system the fruits of a man's skill were not secured to him. It would bo greatly to tho advantage of tho State and the individual if the freehold were granted all over. Mixed stocking of cattle nn<l sheep would greatly improve tho grazine on much of the pastoral country. R was not possible to value the effect of judicious management and invisible improvements. Ho had knowledge of aggregation. In fact, ho had aggregated himself, in those periods when people came alone; and implored others to take their land l off. their hands. He had no knowledgo of aggregation durin- recent years, so far as pastoral country was concerned The depreciation of the country _ was due to over-stocking. It wis ovor-eating which deteriorated the country. He did not agree that the burning was responsible for deterioration. It was over-stocking by rabbits and sheep. Burnt places recovered so long as they ■were not stocked

In reply to Mr Todd, ho said that it would bo a groat adivuntage to the State if tho Government provided wiro-netting at cost price for settlors, oven, if it were supplied on tho deferred payment eyetom- Netting and poieotririg properly would materially assist in the eradication of the rabbit post. The commission loft for Roxburgh on Wednesday morning.