PASTORAL LANDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2514, 15 July 1915, Page 9

PASTORAL LANDS

REQUEST FOR FREEHOLD TENURE.

The problem of the pastoral lands of New Zealand was a subject of discussion at the conference of tho Council of Ag--riciilture yesterday. Mr. Hunt (Southland) moved: "That whereas a very large proportion of the pastoral lands of tho bouth Island, including much, of. the National Eudowment lands let for pasoral purposes under Part VI of the Land Act,' 1908, and amendments thereof have deteriorated very much indeed in stockcarrying capacity since -.they were first occupied, and whereas practically none of these lands hayo improved in stock-carry-ing capacity since tneir first occupation, this ' conference is of opinion: . (a) That under proper and judicious management these . pastoral lands- could not only be brought back to their' original carrying capacity, but they can be made much more productive than ever;- (b) Tlrat the. bringing about of this improvement will require the expenditure of a largo amount-of capital and time; (c) That the' occupiers of these lands cannot be induced to make the necessary outlay of time and money unless they can see a reasonable assurance of being rewarded for their efforts and outlay; (d) That tho only tenure that will give this assurance is the freehold; (e) That the Government be urged to introduco legislation enabling the land to be disposed of at freehold under suitable conditions and restrictions." Mr. Hunt said that the problem was almost entirely a South Island one. Of the 10,877,000 acres of pastoral leases in New Zealand about ten and a half millions wero in the South Island the total area of Which was 37,000,000 acres, and the productive area 28,000,000' acres. So, pastoral lands really formed about twofifths of the South Island. Theso pastoral lands were not, a success froin any point of view, because the tenure was unsatisfactory. Under the existing tenure men were penalised for making improvements, and the result was that every holder aimed at getting tho most possible out of his holding and putting the least possible into it. If a freehold tenure was given, tho direct revenue in taxation and rating would I>s greater than tho ■present revenue (lykich included rent, also), and the -prosperity of tho South Island would be greatly increased. The land had deteriorated, but judicious management would bring it back to its former - standard, and even improve upon that. . .

Sir Walter Buchanan said that the land was handled in such a way as to give a minimum of employment and productiv-. lty. Ihe points raised by Mr. Hunt were unanswerable. He seconded the motion, which was carried. j