SERIOUS PLIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19915, 18 April 1939, Page 12

SERIOUS PLIGHT

HIGH COUNTRY SHEEPMEN

HIGHER COSTS BURDEN

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

REQUESTS FOR RELIEF

(Pur Press Association.)

TIMAiRU, this day

Over 200 high country sheepmen .from all parts of live ’South Island ■between Marlborough and Southland assembled at Tckapo yesterday to meet the acting-Minister of Lands, the 'Hon. W. Lee Martin, to discuss with him the plight of high country sheepmen.

The conference lasted for five hours, during which representative speakers placed before the Minister numerous facts dealing with the position. They contended that the sheep industry was the key industry of the Dominion, tout they would not toe able to carry on unless immediate relief from overhead costs was afforded. If this were not done, more sheepmen would go out in the next three months than was the case during the depression.

Figures showing the income and expenditure of numerous high country runs in different parts of the island were quoted to .show the marked increase in costs over a period of years, and as a result ol the decline in revenue runholders were unable to make ends meet.

The speakers urged the Government to free the exchange, reduce rents and make available sufficient and efficient labour to keep up production. They also urged research into land deterioration. Seriousness Realised The Minister spoke early in the conference .and referred to the fact that departmental officers had been investigating. The Government realised the seriousness of the position, and the report of the officers would form a basis for a commission.

•Many speakers had referred to the' new security of tenure, and the Minister of Lands was now drafting a bill which aimed at a uniform tenure of 33 years, with the perpetual right of renewal.

Replying later to the addresses, the Minister reviewed a number of questions affecting the high country runs and contended that the present position of the runholders was due to the fall 'in the price Of wool. Many countries, owing to the economic position, were forced to go in for substitutes, and though he was not a pessimist, it might be a long time before wool was -again in as great a demand as a few years ago.

He felt that the Government would face up to the problem as it had many other problems, and he would certainly place before the Cabinet all the facts given him toy the conference.

He would not commit the Government to any course of action, he said, when fie was asked what .steps could be taken to stop men from going off their farms, tout he .said the Government policy always had been to stabilise the man on the land, and the last thing they desired was to sec even one man go off.