SOIL DETERIORATION NO SERIOUS PROBLEM IN N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 January 1948, Page 4

SOIL DETERIORATION NO SERIOUS PROBLEM IN N.Z.

CANADIAN EXPERT’S VIEW Wellington, Jan. 28. After two months' travel through New Zealand, Mr. L. B. Thomson, 0.8. E., B.Sc., who is visiting this country as a representative ot the Canadian Government to study soil conservation and agricultural methods, offers the opinion that New Zealand has no serious problem of soil deterioration. What erosion problems there were, he said, should not prove difficult to combat, and he had nothing but praise for the manner in which they were being handled by agricultural researchers. These men were doing splendid work, vital to the future economy of the country, and he had no criticism to make o! the manner in which, under their direction, the sheep breeding and dairying programme was being carried out. Such institutions as the Massey Agricultural College and the Grasslands Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research were doing outstanding work, but in regard to the former he commented that the educational system in Canada, where the faculty of Agriculture was not divorced from other university faculties, benefited the country to a greater extent. It was because New Zealand was based on a grass economy that there were no major difficulties ahead of agriculturists as were being experienced in other countries, said Mr. Thomson. In Canada, for instance, there were vast areas in the west requiring grass foundation, but here there was no need to "get it down to grass," because the grass was already there. He would not contradict the opinion that New Zealand had the best grasslands in the world. DUTY OF THE STATE But the soil here, as in other countries, was still a national problem, he added. Conservation was something that was beyond individual control—it was intrinsically a State undertaking, if only for the fact that the State benefited more than any individual farmed from any particular work that was done. He therefore approved of the subsidy system being applied to farmers. The management of conservation through public elected catchment, drainage and other boards, was also the correct basis for land Improvement work because the first requisite for such work was to have the confidence of the people. Local backing for State undertakings could be secured through local bodies. The interchange of agricultural scientists between Canada and New Zealand was advocated by Mr. Thomson, and he hinted that he would be in a position when he returned to Canada to see that greater collaboration between the two countries in this direction would be forthcoming. Both countries would benefit greatly by such an arrangement. Canada and the United States were now collaborating to the utmost in soil conservation work, and the results were proving more than satisfactory, PURCHASE OF STUD SHEEP Before he leaves New Zealand, next month, Mr. Thomson will purchase on behalf of the Canadian Government stud Romney and Corriedale rams and ewes. These New Zealand breeds were proving very successful in his country, and were fitting into western Canadian conditions very well —particularly the Romney. These wer? being crossed with the Rambouillette, a breed rather like the merino, only bigger. Before returning ot Canada, however, he will visit Australia to stuijy soil conservation methods there. Mr. Thomson has lived in Canada for the last 2T years, concerning himself with agricultural research during this period as an officer of the Department of Agriculture. Prior to that he resided in New Zealand. This is the first visit he has made since.