DETERIORATED LAND

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1947, Page 3

DETERIORATED LAND

MASSEY COLLEGE ASKED TO MAKE EXPEPvIMENTS A recommendation that Massey Agricultural College should be provided with facilities for taking over a nucleus area of deteriorated land for develop ment and research work was unanimously approved at a gathering of about 400 sheepfarmers at the College yesterday afternoon. The intention behind the recommendation was that extensive trials should be conducted with Cheviot-Komney blood on some deteriorated marginal hill-country on the College property. The mover and seconder of the motion were both prominent Romney hreeders who maintained that the College was doing a great service to the 'country hy the sheep trials it had so far undertaken. The matter was broaclied by Mr. L. T. Daniell (Wairarapa), who said tliut use of the Cheviot miglit be part of the solution to the problem -of over 1,000,000 acres of deteriorated land in the Wanganui-liuapehu district. Such country needed an expert group of investigators into its improvement, and the College had such. rnen available. "The figures produeed this afternoon are a shoek to Komney breeders," stated Mr. J. E. Hewitt (Mangamaire), ' ' but we have to learn to think nationally and not individually. If the use Of Cheviot sheep means that settlers can stay on the deteriorated lands," it is all to the good of the nation. I would like to see Romneys run alongside the Cheviots in competition. " In tlianking the gathering for the conlidenee plaeed in the College, the principal (Professor G-. S. Peren) said that the trials so far had been coneerned with only one type of country with a rainfall of from '40 to 45 inches. It was not known how Cheviots would fare on other country, and extra capital would be needed to undertake such a venture. The College could "undoubtedly do very valuable invostigational work on second and third class country (cries of "hear, hear").