Farmers’ Comments On Plan For Hill Country

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 10

Farmers’ Comments On Plan For Hill Country

“We pruned the report fairly heavily” said Mr A.C. Wright at a meeting of the provincial executive of North Canterbury Federated Farmers yesterday. He was giving the findings of a subcommittee appointed to consider the suggestions for Government assistance to the farming industry contained in recommendations Mr L. T. Daniell presented to the committee of inquiry into the aerial topdressing industry. Mr Wright read the following clauses from Mr Daniell's report, but with alterations, additions or deletions by the executive's sub-committee, which the executive supported:— “That the rehabilitation of deteriorated fiat as well as hill country is of the greatest importance to the national economy.

“That this council considers that every effort should be made to right the economic factors affecting the production of these deteriorated properties. “We consider the Marginal Lands Board has already all the powers necessary to administer a largescale project to counter land deterioration.

"Sheepfarming is the biggest national industry, and 75 per cent, of our pasture is hill country. The 25 per cent is equally worthy of some assistance.

“It is suggested that the role of the Government lies in providing adequate finance for the Marginal Lands Board.”

Mr Wright said the subcommittee did not support clauses in Mr Daniell's report recommending that powers be given to the Marginal Lands Board to strike a special rate, to erect storage sheds and staff quarters to call tenders from transport, aviation, and allied interests, to insist ori action regarding manuka blight, and to assist and approve amalgamations in establishing economic hill-eountry units.

“The sub-committee was very insistent that the Marginal Lands Board nor anyone else should not have the power to strike a rate.” said Mr Wright. These findings by the subcommittee will go to the

Dominion council of Federated Farmers, which had asked provincial executives to comment on Mr Daniell's plan. Riding On Trucks

The president (Mr J. F. G. Blakely) said a traffic officer had stopped men from riding on a lorry load of wheat. The traffic officer had told the men that they should get into the cab if they wanted to travel on the lorry. It was going only a short distance to be unloaded.

Mr Blakely said he made inquiries at Dominion headquarters in Wellington and the following reply had been received from Mr J. G. Adams, transport officer of Federated Farmers:

“The necessary authority would be given by Regulation 23 of the Traffic Regulations 1956 which says: 'No person shall ride and the driver shall not permit any person to ride on any vehicle in a manner or position which may be liable to cause injury to that person.’ “1 should think that if the person is perched precariously on a truck loaded above the side-boards there would be some justification for a traffic officer invoking this regulation.” said the letter Mr Blakely said he thought it could be dangerous to crowd the cab of a truck and not give, the driver sufficient room.

The matter was referred to the next meeting. Personals

Mr Blakely referred to the death of Mr A. C. Cameron, general manager of Farmers' Mutual Insurance, and to the death of Mr E. C. Powell, of the reporting staff of “The Press.” Motions of sympathy with the relatives were carried.