DESTRUCTION OF OUR FORESTS AND GRASSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 80

DESTRUCTION OF OUR FORESTS AND GRASSES.

The time has quite arrived Tor the Government to take up a much stronger attitude on the~ question of fires. Eighteen years ago my earnest desire was to have some comprehensive method adopted, but my suggestions wore utterly unheeded. Since then we ha\e seen much of our finest forest 1 destroyed, a.nd even tho^e who do their best to preserve bush, whether for beauty or for u=e, very often sec the whole of it destroyed by the thoughtlessness of others. On coming down the Greenstone Valley the disastrous effects of recent fires were "seen. Ihe forest for two miles on each *ide of the n\er was destrojocl, and that a\>out Lake Rere greatly injured. For all that, we. saw firr-s being lighted in tho Caple^ Valli/y No doubt the runholders f»^l they must make tho best of things. Fires can have but one lesult finally, and we already reali«e the disastrous effect", not only in what it has done in much of the pastoral country of Ota^o, but a!«o in other provinces. If firing is to be permitted, it must be done subject to certain regulations. Tho finest grasses are gradually becoming exterminated, and in many ca-cs where formerly there was good feed we spc nothing but baro aii'l clay and rocks. This indiscriminate burning of native grasres ts now beginning to be most seriously felt. Wo all kiiou- the evil influence of tho rabbit. But where the rabbit has penetrated but little, and also where, the pest is held in check, tho country shows a depreciation in value, even aJMiough the \alue of sheep and wool has been steady for some years,. Recently a. statement wa-j irado by Mr Humphrey, thon thief sur\eyor of Canterbury, to the effect that Uie grazing capacity of runs was gradually diminishing, and that whereas in 1891 174 runs were let at the average rental of 3 l-sd, the same land in 1905 averaged only 2 2-sd. There are 12,000,000 acres of leaded 'pastoral country situated from 1000 to 5000 feet abo\e sea le\el. Otaa;o is more concerned than any other province in seeing her pa>toral runs improved. Hor pastoral volfaro means not only increased trade to Dunedin and shipping for our port, but also tho^ general prosperity of the province. [ I feel so keenly about this question of our pastoral country, ito neglect and ! deterioration, that I trust I may be par- ! doned if I write very plainly and strongly lon the subject. We see the North Inland transforming her scrub and bush lands into farms and homesteads, attracting our 1 population and our trade in their wake, whilst we here, who take an interest in the subject, witness our pastoral lands gradually producing lee-. These mountain grasses, wherever possible, must be restored. These pastures are the great breeding grounds of merino and hardy crossbred

sheep from which settlers on the lower country draw their supply of^ ewes for replenishing their flocks. Various causes have operated in bringing about the lessened carrying capacity of the country, among which may be mentioned the indiscriminate turning of our fine grasses, the rabbits, insecurity of tenure, and overstocking. The question might here be asked, Can anything be done io check this state of affairs and improve matters? My reply is, Yes ; when you can get a Government to act instead of talk. For years you have had your politicians* preaching land reform and your land nationalises lauding the blessings of leaseholds. Bills have been introduced to Parliaments only to be dropped like hot potatoes. Royal Commissions have been set up taking evidence — evidence that covered as much paper when printed as would make a fairly large grazing run — commissions costing £10,000, and all for staving off — not for promoting — legislation. And now we have Mr M'Nab, who promises to stand or fall by the bill. For 15 years and" over this Government has permitted our leasehold tenures — tenures so dear to the hearts of their city supporters — regarding pastoral country to operate against the good of the State. Is that not a reflection? I ask the leaseholder politicians to show by their actions rather than by their words what they moan even with their favourite tenure. Our present leasehold conditions hold out a premium to the runholder to abstain from improving his run or increasing the carrying capacity of his country. As one runholder puts it, " It reduces your chances of getting your run again. It means cutting your own throat if you regrass your land when it runs out, tho reason for that statement being that regrassing or grassing is not considered an improvement, and if his run looks well at the close of his lease competition may outbid him and take it away from him. That is often done, and then, p.fter a time, the new holders apply to tho board for a reduction of rent, and often get it. Insecurity of tenure is another cause of neglect. Under the act of 1892 pastoral runs can be taken away on 12 months' notice, and with the exception of rabbit fences the leaseholder has no claim on the Government for improvements. And if the run goes to another man at the expiration of the lease all he can claim for improvements is three times his annual rental, or if the rental be under £50 a year tho value of five yeara' rental. Let us suppose that a man's rental is £60. He would get £180 compensation, plus rabbit-proof fences, at the end of his lease. We see many runholders who are practical men subdividing their country. That js one great means for restoring the carrying capacity of the land — resting portions. These improvements run into money, and on some of these extensive poor lands £500 or £1000 may bo so spent, whereas they can claim only £200 or £250. We therefore see a leaseholding Government in pow^r that gives no compensation for improvements, no fixity of tenure, and no encouragement to improve. Just one other point on the subject of re grassing. It is well known that many ' of our fast disappearing native glasses stand the cold and drought better than any introduced gra?sc3 We have an Agricultural Department which is costing the country over £100,000 a year. What practical steps has it taken in experimenting with native and introduced grasses? It should have experimental plots in many districts of the colony, and at different elevations, to learn what really is be>-t. If the department desires object lessons it can easily obtain them on some of the richest soils about Wakatipu. We see tutu and fern fully 10 foet high. I was told that if this were burnt off in November and sown with turnip and grasses, and well stocked, a great improvement would follow, and that that had been done on freehold lands with success. Judicious irrigation also brings wonderful returns. Already I have said sufficient for one raper on the necessity of the people of Otago urging th*» prompt attention of the Government to reform the leasehold conditions for pastoral country.