AN IMPORTANT DEPUTATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 7

AN IMPORTANT DEPUTATION

LAND TENURES AND AFFORESTA TION.

FLOODS AT THE TAIERI

A deputation fully representative of the Dunedin Chamber of (Jommcrco and the Otago Expansion League waited on the Right Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) at the Grand Hotel on Saturday night. The deputation was introduced by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., who explained that the matter to be brought before the Prime Minister principally concerned land tenures in Otago. Mr A. Bathgate (president of the Otago Expansion League) said that, as the Prime Minister was probably aware, a petition had been presented to Parliainept last session asking for the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the question of land tenure in Otago, and the committee to which the matter was referred reported in favour of a commission, From what had appeared in the press the league gathered that the Prime Minister was not altogether favourable to the setting up of a Royal Commission for tho purpose stated. Tho object of tho deputation was to urge that no time bo lost in the setting up of tho commission.

Mr Massey: Well, now, what do you expect from the commission? Mr Bathgato explained .that tho commission could take evidence and probably recommend a practical means of rcgrassing eomo of the runs. Ho understood that legislation would not be necessary, or, if necessary, only to a very limited extent. Tho commission would take evidence in Dunedin and throughout ' the districts affected, and would probably bring down a very valuable report; and if this could bo done without delay it would enable legislation, if found necessary, to be brought down during tho next session of Parliament. If only one half what had been stated regarding regraesing was correct, the carrying capacity of the runs affected would be doubled. The other matter which he wished to bring under the Minister's notico was tho acquisition of the Tcviot Estate by tho Government, but he now understood that the Land Purchase Board was to visit the property on Monday. The Teviot district was noted for fruit-growing, and it would therefore bo of groat advantage to returned soldiers if the estate were purchased and subdivided into fruit farms for returned soldiers. So far as he knew there was no other land suitable for fruitgrowing available in that district.. The deputation was sanguine enough to believe that 'the railway to Roxburgh would bo continued, and this would add pound 3 to the value of the estate. He pointed out that the deputation represented not only tho Otago Expansion League and the Chamber of Commerce, but other leagues as well. Thev had received letters from other leagues urging_them to press on the Government the necessity of improving land tenures, and ha had that day received a telegram from Mr A. W. Rodger (president of the Southland League) on that subject. Mr Bathgate said there was another matter which he wished to bring before the Minister, but it was not a league matter He referred to the flooding of the Paieri Plain. He maintained that while it might be necessary to do something in the way of improving tho drainage, these matters were only palliative. He considered that the loss of vegetation on the watershed of the Taiori and Waipori streams was largely responsible for the trouble. He thought it was probable, too, that if a reservoir were constructed at Serpentine Valley it would serve a dual purpose: that of minimising flooding on the plain and irrigating the Maniototo Plain. The league had frequently urged the planting of trees on the slopes of the Lammerlaw ranges, and if this were done the effect would be great in checking floods. Mr Walter Gow (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) said the deputation felt that it was entitled to have the land tenures of Otago reconsidered. A great deal of the land in Otago was national endowment land, and the tenures were not as satisfactory as they were in other parts of the dominion. The Prime Minister, in reply, said he thought the object of the deputation was a perfectly good one. He explained that ho was not referring to the appointment of a Royal Commission. He understood that what tho deputation desired was to see the carrying capacity of the runs in Central Otago increased. He said he had given a certain amount of attentidn to the question of land tenures, and to matters affecting the pastoral lands of Central Otago, and he had come to the conclusion that what had brought about a decreased carrying capacity was (1) rabbits, which were increasing owing to the difficulty of securing labour to cope with their destruction; (2) burning-off at tho wrong time of year; and (3) insufficient protection of the tenants' improvements —a matter he had endeavoured to remedy. —("Hear, hear," and applause.) He pointed out that the tenure of the runs was very much better than it was some live years ago. He then quoted from "The Lands Amendment Act, 1913," to show that matters had been improved. There was provision in the Act to prevent reckless burning, but he was not in a position to say how that part of tho Act was being administered, as the was having an effect on that. Ho did not know what was going to bo done about tho rabbit question, but he was very much afraid this pest was going to cause additional trouble Ho feared that the rabbits were getting ahead of the landowners. lie did not know whether this was so in Otago, but he knew they were increasing in numbers in other parts of the dominion. Whilst recognising that it was war time, and that labour was becoming increasingly difficult to procure, ho believed that very drastic steps would have to be taken to cope with the pest. He was satisfied that it could not bo done by trapping. He did not know whether he was treading on the toes of any of his hearers when he made that statement, as he understood that some of them were interested in tho rabbit export business. —(Cries of "No."). He stated that he was out to give the best tenure possible to the man on tho land, and he felt satisfied that even with the national endowment, a satisfactory tenure could bo arranged. On the question of a royal commission on land tenures ho was quito prepared to refer tho matter to Cabinet, but he would suggest that the bodies interested should petition tho Lands Committeo of the House. That was in the event of a royal commission not being set up during the recess. As Minister of Lands ho would promise that they would

be heard before tho Lands Committee, provided they presented their petition efuly in the session. He recognised that there was plenty of room for improvment as far as tho man on the land was concerned. He wanted to see the tenants' improvements protected, and he wanted to see the rabbits kept in check. Every timo he went through Central Otago the better ho liked it, and his visit that day j convinced him that it was better country than it was generally thought to bo. He recognised that climatic conditions had favoured it during the present season, and as a result things wore looking their very best, and ho was satisfied that new settlers in Central Otago would do well. Tho Land Board would have to see that suitable men were put on tho land, but he had a good deal of confidence in tho Otago Land Board, and he knew that in Mr Sadd they had a very excellent officer. The Government had not been neglecting tho question of Teviot. but there were diflicultiqs and some technicalities to bo got over. Ho did not know whether the Public Trustee had power to treat with tho Government for the land before it was submitted to public auction. He could assure tho deputation that the in terests of Otago would not bo neglected in the matter of land settlement. He had seen the damage done to tho Taieri Plains as the result of the floods, and he recognised that it was a very serious matter, and it had to bo remedied. He knew that the Minister of Public Works had the matter in hand, and was awaiting the reports of exports. There was no danger of the question beino; overlooked. He suggested thr.t the people of Dunedin should keep a very watchful eye on the Taieri drainage question. Regarding the extension of the railway from Beaumont to Teviot, it had been decided Government could not go in for extensions during war time, but the Government intended going in ior a development policy when, the war was at an end. It would bo necessary very greatly to increase the production of this country. Increased exports would result, and tho flow of money would be increased, and when it came to the public expenditure of money he could assure them, that Otago would get its share. With reference to treo planting, ho understood that large portions of Central Otago were unsuitable, as it was at too high an altitude, and the trees consequently were prejudicially affected by frost. The Government had done a very great deal in the matter of afforestation, but sinoo the outbreak of war operations had been hampered. He expected that there would be 3000 men employed in tree planting when the war came to an end. _ Mr George Fenwick pointed out that this part of New Zealand had been entirely neglected as far as treo planting was concerned. Mr Bathgato said that it had been found that trees grown in tho Taparrui_ Nursery had been failures when planted in Otago 'Central. The Prime Minister said he was surprised to hear that. The Government purposed setting up a department of forestry, and another Minister would bo put in charge of it, and ho undertook to say that the Minister referred to would be found to be enthusiastic.