SMALL GRAZING RUNS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 436, 19 February 1909, Page 6

SMALL GRAZING RUNS.

A LIMIT TO CUTTINC THEM UP. ONE EFFECT OF .SEVERE WINTERS. . (by telegraph— special corbeseondent.) . , '■ .- Christchurch, February 18. y_have always jbeen an ardent advocate for close settlement; perhaps there is ■no/stronger/-', said; Mr. Williams, of Canterbury, to a "Times" representative. "But these;,runs are not. suitable-for subdivision into small grazing runs, for the reason that, when divided, into:lesser areas than those in which they are now held, they Would' not support a settler and his family. Run 4A, for instance, . contains 1 2142 acres, much of which .' is . -very rough country. The 'gullies-. 'are. • full -of scrub, and it is -en-tirely-unsuitable for cutting up.- There are .only'l24o' acres' in Run 48, and less than that area would not support anyone. No.'3 contains'27oo'.acres; ■• Instead' of"being; cutup that-run requires adding to. The Black Itorestrun contains 28,000 sheep, '-and that is not more than : a- man' requires if he is to make a living'in the Mackenzie' Country.' In his letter to Mr. T.'H. Taylor, Mr.:Guthrie, of the Mackenzie Country, stated that the Black Forest.'-'rtth- was absolutely free from snow, but/.that' was. not: the' experience last winter.-. While the.country was still under; snow the holder;of the adjoining run informed me..that he expected to'lose 50 per cent..of his stock, and'that the Black Forest station was^in. a similar plight '• "... ' : ; No," added Mr. Williams, "the time is' not yet rip 6; for the cutting up of land in the basm of; the Mackenzie. The front coun-. try should be settled'.first, and,' in - time tocoine, these back runs will be held- only for summer .feed.; -Mr.'- Guthrie's own experience: should show; him the unwisdom of letting 'the land.'in. small runs/for, when he held only a thousand acres, he was practically ruined by one severe winter, and: it is tfye Government- came to his rescue, and, on my recommendation, gave him three runs, that he ha.s got on;. "Again, the country is not safe for a small settler who would be compelled to remain on his ■ section throughout the year, ho matter how severe the winter, wheni in bad yean, the greater portion (if not the whole) of his flock' would be destroyed.' During last winter;the losses. on the Gray's Hills station totalled nearly 5000, and ion the Grampians about 10,000.. Where ; would the lessee pf the small grazing runs find himself if his losses were.on that scale? 'The Government would,.immediately be assailed with- claims for/compensation for. the losses. -It -was anticipated that the large lunholders would ask for-compensation for the'.loss-they fered .from.- the snowstorms of, July;,last, but.they said.that they had good years prior toi thatj and would now stand the racket themselves.":'■■'• ;-■•■ ■'-■': ■••■■•',•