Royal Commission On The Sheep Industry Concludes Its Sitting In Wanganui

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1948, Page 6

Royal Commission On The Sheep Industry Concludes Its Sitting In Wanganui

The Royal Commission on the Sheep Industry, which has been hearing' evidence from Wanganui district farmers and farming interests, concluded its sitting in Wanganui yesterday and will now devote three days to inspecting areas which were the subject of evidence. Their programme includes a sitting in Taihape and an aerial inspection of areas of abandoned farm lands.

The chairman of the Commission is Mr. R. A. White, and with him are the Hon. R. Eddy, M.L.C., and Messrs. L. (J. Gardiner, W. F. Metcalf, W. A. Scaife. H. W. Youren and L. W. Woods (economist secretary).

I When the hearing opened yesterday morning evidence was given by Mr. W. C. McNab, who farms at Raorikia, Mr. H. S. Montgomerie and Mr. R. J. McLelland The afternoon session was opened with submissions on behalf of the Patea County Council and the New Zealand Counties’ Association presented by the clerk to the county, Mr. J Vjlker. Mr. F. J. Schist, a farmhand, employed on a farm on the Wanganui River, gave evidence that he was prepared to farm an area of abandoned land up the Wanganui River.

The last witness heard was Mr. R. O- Montgomerie, of Kakatahi. His first submissions comprised 162 pages of double-spaced typed foolscap dealing with the economic examination of the New Zealand farming industry. His second submissions, consisting of 49 pages, dealt with some of the technical questions concerning the production side of farming. The matters dealt with were: Restoring the fertility of the soil; stock licks; antilerosion provisions on the farm; the lull utilisation of water resources; a provision for the winter feeding of cattle; some suggested alternative fencing materials; and wastefulness in timber prepared for use for fencing.

Mr. Montgomerie’s evidence was taken as read and he was given the opportunity of explaining various points. He was then subjected to cross-examination by members of the Commission.