NATIONAL PROBLEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL PROBLEM

NEED .OF GIVING ATTENTION TO SOIL EROSION. / OBSERVATIONS BY FARMERS’ SECRETARY. ✓ (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Commenting on the problem of soil erosion dealt with by Dr Grange in an address to the Wellington Rotary Club on Tuesday, Mr A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said it was tune that erosion received the attention that it deserved both by the Government and the general public. There was no doubt, said Mr O'Shea, that a large amount of the hill country, particularly on the east coast, would be much better left in scrub or standing bush. Few people realised the influence of the graduated land tax, which forced farmers to make the last possible penny out of their farms, and which was to a great extent responsible for their clearing patches of scrub which otherwise would be left. It also had the effect of accelerating the cutting up of this second and third-class country which could be farmed much better in areas of a fair size. This closer subdivision meant also that cattle could not be used as they might be, and the consequence was a deterioration of the pasture.

It should be realised, added Mr O’Shea, that instead of being discouraged, the people on second and thirdclass country should be given every possible encouragement. It should also be realised that the present land tax was not .only unfair, but was also stupid. The Farmers’ Union had on several occasions made representations to the Government, but so far nothing had been done. Dr Grange’s address should bring home the necessity forsome action.