LAND PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1939, Page 2

LAND PROBLEMS

HIGH-COUNTRY DENUDATION. CONFERENCE IN CANTERBURY. A large number of high-country runholders drawn from all parts of Canterbury, but more especially from south of the Ashburton River, will gather at Lake Tekapo some time next month. The Minister for Lands (the Hon F. Langstone) will be present, and all the problems of tussock rehabilitation, erosion, and tree planting will be discussed from every aspect. The arrangements are being made by Mr T. D. Burnett. -I have received a promise from the Minister for Lands that he will come down in March to Tekapo to meet all the high-country men interested in the problems connected with erosion, denudation, and the dyingout of grasses,” said Mr Burnett, who has just returned from Wellington. "I am issuing an invitation to all highcountry men in the Mackenzie Country, up the Waitaki Valley, and in the Ashburton County to meet the Minister and to put all their problems before him. The heads of the Lands Department and other associated Government departments will also be present. It is to be hoped that all will have their problems ready to put before the Minister.” Mr Burnett indicated that his invitation was not restricted to the areas which he had named. He hoped that runholders in the Rakaia and Waimakairi rivers, and in the Amuri County, and further north, who were sufficiently interested in the problems, would make an effort to organise themselves and air their views at the conference. He was proposing that each regional community should think out its problems of high-country management, organise its personnel, and appoint selected speakers to put their case before the Minister. Mr Burnett said that he was particularly anxious that the Minister should make as many contacts as

possible with the men who were working the high-country runs. He had placed before the Minister his contention that the success of the national committee of investigation into erosion and its causes would depend very largely on its personnel. At least two practical high-country sheepmen should be included among its members.

-The urgency of extending the efforts at tree planting will also be emphasised before the Minister." Mr Burnett added. "I am greatly concerned at the way in which erosion problems have developed in the higher sheep country in recent years. In many areas the carrying capacity has decreased alarmingly. It is of the utmost importance that the lands administration of this country should get to know the ravages of erosion and tussock denudation first hand.”