UNPRODUCTIVE LAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 668, 21 May 1929, Page 7

UNPRODUCTIVE LAND

Fern Growth and Sand Drift FARMERS TACKLE OWN PROBLEMS PROBLEMS common to many districts in Xew Zealand—unproductive anti pest-ridden land, sand-drift, fern growth and idle Crown lands—were brought before the conference which, in a series of remits, went completely into these phases of production and advanced the cause for closer "and more remunerative settlement. The discussion showed that many settlers had courageously tackled their own difficulties without waiting for the State to undertake the work.

On behalf of the Bay of Islands, Mr. Wright moved that the Government he urged to make a thorough investigation of all idle Crown lands in the North with a view to opening the land for settlement, and thereby increasing production. He said this would go far toward solving one of the greatest problems with which the North was faced. Mr. Giles seconded and said if the remit were carried out some of the Crown lands might he settled by the Government—or at least concentrated upon with settlement In view. Mr. Allen suggested that it would be better to ask the Government to consider all Crown lands, instead of those in the North Island only. Thus support would be gained from all farmers. The mover agreed to this, and the remit was carried. FARMERS’ EFFORTS Mr. Masters said that the idle lands

were a menace to other lands, with the gorse and blackberrs’ tending to spread. Mr. Clarke suggested that conferences he held so that the various districts could help the solution of their own problems. A similar remit from Opotiki was bracketed with the Bay of Islands one Mr. Walker (Bay of Islands) said that the success of the remit was bound up with what the farmers were asking. “It is all we are fighting for,’ he said.

Mr. Hatrick made it clear that the i settlers in the North were doing their best to help the Government Not only that, but they were to a great extent helping themselves by carrying out extensive experiments. A branch of the Land Settlement League in the Bay of Islands was taking an active part in fightijig the difficulties of the iron sand country by circularising settlers in a series of questions, asking specific things which would determine the pi’oducing capacity, upon which the Government officers and the settlers | were at variance. Later it was intended that there be a day appointed when all interested could visit the farms circularised and inspect the results. EXAMPLE TO OTHERS “Even if we find out that the land cannot be worked in its present state,” Mr. Hatrick continued, “we will have done some good to the Farmers’ Union. We will have decided where we stand, and we can then take steps to have legislation effected whereby the land can be brought in.” (Hear, hear.) | “I believe that other districts j where there are large areas of land I possibly suitable for group settlej ment could emulate the example of the j Bay of Islands.” Mr. Harding endorsed Mr. Hatrick’s | speech. The remits, united, would | serve admirably. Mr. Hatrick had | brought out necessary facts, j The two remits were carired unauij mously. SAND DRIFT MENACE On behalf of the Bay of Islands, Mr. Masters requested that the Government be asked to make a thorough investigation into the sand drift problem, with a v-iew to checking the encroachment of sand on good farming I land. The problem was a serious one in the North, and was in danger of spoiling the big £300,000 drainage scheme. Most of the sand was on Government, land. The sand should be treated as a noxious weed. If the farmers would j not combat it, they should be made to do so. Some farmers had evolved a cheap method of stopping it. Mr. Coulter seconded, saying that there were two drifts from the Ninety Mile Beach, a wet and dry one. The Government should step in at once, and nip the trouble in the hud. Already good results were being achieved by the planting of marram-grass and lupins. FORCING STATE’S HAND Captain Rushworth thought that the remit would bring the required pressure on the Government. Mr. Mellsop, Coromandel, thought that investigation had been carried out fully enough. He suggested the remit should be altered to compel settlers to plant marram grass—and other protection plants. Mr. Harding said that the question was not simple when high hills -vei-e concei’ned. Something more than marram grass was needed. On his property, he had hills not less than 500 feet high. Wire fences, corrugated iron and tea-tree were fairly effective, and similar systems of protection had saved hundreds of thousands of acres in France, for instance. Mr. Wright said that the planting of marram grass, if carried out systematically, could be effective. It was useless, of course, to plant lupins and marram in a haphazard fashion. He knew one settler who had gone to the expense of doing the work properly, and he had succeeded in hardening the ridges. The remit was carried unanimously. NATIVE LAND A suggestion came from the executive that all leases of Crown, privatelyowned or native-owned land should contain a clause allowing for compensation for improvements, or for renewel at a rent assessed on the value at the date of the original lease, such rent to be settled by a competent I court. j Opposition was raised by Mr. Hard 1 ing and Captain Colbeck. Mr. Harding gave it as his opinion that a lease, after all, was an arrangement between two people, who, it was reasonable to assume, were satisfied i with their deal. Captain Colbeck said it was highly inadvisable to make hard and fast rules. Mr. A. E. Rohinson reminded delegates that the remit had already been parsed by four conferences. How many peppercorn rents were given in j the country? he asked. His experience was that a man, far from giving anything away, took all he could out of the land before letting it go back to the natives, or the Crown, as the ease might be. If compensation were paid for improvements, a man would improve to the limit. Mr. Harkness supported the remit, saying that it was the honest worker

| toward improving farm areas in New | Zealand who should receive full supi port to get a return from his efforts. The remit was carried, opposition : coming from a small section. MAORIS AS SETTLERS I The second remit, from the Bay of ! Islands was: That the union urge on j the Government the granting of titles ! to land owned by natives in accordj ance with Land Board titles, and i that the cost of issue of these be on the lowest possible scale. Moving its adoption, Mr. A. W. Masi ters, Bay of Islands, said that every- ! one knew that the natives were not j as good settlers as they could be. A : lot of the natives did not have titles to their lands, and the survey and other costs would be prohibitive to them. Still, the natives should be allowed to get their titles as reasonably as possible. The natives in the Bay of Islands had a consolidation scheme, but it would be better for them to get their titles cheaply and carry on. Mr. Hawker seconded the adoption of the remit, which was carried unanimously.