SOIL EROSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 2

SOIL EROSION

FILM SCREENINGS BY CONSERVATOR OTAGO CATCHMENT AREA Co-operating with the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, the Otago Catchment Board, and Federated Farmers, Mr G. G. Calder, soil conservator attached to the Public Works Department, has just completed a tour of the Catchment Board territory with a mobile film unit. Throughout the territory he has shown films appertaining to soil erosion and conservation.

The meetings, which have been presided over in each instance by a mam-

ber of Federated Farmers in the district, and attended by the Catchment Board member concerned, have all been well attended, and considerable interest has been shown in the screening of the films by Mr Calder and in the subsequent discussions.

The tour commenced at Lawrence on April 4. There was a good discussion on the general policy of the Catchment Board by the 45 people present, and Mr R. S. Thompson, Wetherstones-iLawxence representative, was in attendance. The films were again shown at Miller’s Flat on April 5, Mr E. W. Hayman, representing Tuapeka Mouth on the board, being present to answer questions on rating. It was pointed out that the board could strike its rate for administrative expenses, but that any rate for working expenses could only be fixed with the approval of ratepayers. Some 75 resident landowners in the Arrowtown district attended the screening of the films in that town on April 6, while excellent gatherings followed the screenings at Luggate on April 7. and at Omakau on April 8.

On Monday last Mr Calder continued the showings at Ranfurly, Palmerston on Tuesday, and Oamaru on Wednesday. The tour has been valuable in that it has given residents throughout the various districts some indication of the gravity of the problem facing the country in the preservation of its soil and the reasons for the setting up of catchment boards.