SHEEP MEN ON HIGH COUNTRY

Southland Times, Issue 23795, 18 April 1939, Page 8

SHEEP MEN ON HIGH COUNTRY

Government Asked For Relief

OVERHEAD COSTS Departmental Officers Investigate Position (United Press Association) TIMARU, April 17. More than 200 high country sheep men from all parts of the South Island between Marlborough and Southland assembled at Tekapo today to meet the acting Minister of Lands (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) to discuss with him the position of the high country sheep men. The conference lasted five hours, during which representative speakers placed before the Minister numerous facts dealing with the position. They contended that the sheep country was the key industry of the Dominion, but they were not able to carry on unless immediate relief from overhead costs was afforded. If this was not done, more sheep men would leave their farms in the next three months than during the depression.

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

Speakers urged the Government to have a free exchange, reduce rents and make available sufficient and efficient labour to keep up production. They also urged research into land deterioration.

The Minister spoke early in the conference' and referred to the fact that departmental officers had been investigating the position. The Government realized 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 perpetual right of renewal. Replying later to the addresses, the Minister reviewed a number of questions affecting high-country runs and contended that the present position of the runholders was due to the fall in the price of wool. Many countries, because of the economic position, were forced to go for substitutes and though he was not a pessimist, it might be a long time before wool was again in as great demand as a few years ago. He felt that the Government would face the problem, as it had faced many other problems, and he would certainly place before the Cabinet all the facts given him by the conference. He would not commit the Government to any course of action when asked what steps would be taken to stop men from going off farms, but he said that the Government policy had always been to stabilize the man on the land and the last thing it desired was to see even one man go off.