Hill Country Farmers Should Avoid Catchment Board Controversy

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 July 1949, Page 6

Hill Country Farmers Should Avoid Catchment Board Controversy

Masterton, (PA). — At a meeting in Masterton today of the Wairarapa Provincial Hill Country Committee of Federated Farmers, Mr James Andrew, chairman of the North Island Hill Country Committee, said he did not see that the hill country men had anything to gain by becoming involved in the welter of controversy that must follow the commission's recommendations concerning catchment boards. They had to thank the Soil Conservation Council for financing the recent successful aerial top-dressing experiments and the Wairarapa Catchment Board for producing and tinancing the blower for hill top-dressing. The hill country farmers had no wish to quarrel with these boards, which were just getting on thrtr feet and beginning to show results. Mr Andrew said the cost of fertiliser recommended by the Royal Commission was too high at £B/10/- a ton. It should be £6/10/- as the hill country men had recommended. On marginal lands, the board suggested there should be more practical farmers than the two out of nine recommended, Mr Andrew said. He regarded with concern the proposal to reconstruct the Wool Board so as to become a Sheep Industry Board. Administration and marketing functions should be kept separate.