SHEEP INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1939, Page 5

SHEEP INDUSTRY

; ( THE ROYAL COMMISSION ‘ INVESTIGATION V v WIDE ORDER OF REFERENCE, e ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER. o -, (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. ; i The order of reference of the Royal L , Commission which has been appointed by the Government to investigate the sheep farming industry in New Zealand. particularly in the high country, was announced yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Lee Martin. The commission is asked to advise the Government concerning the action it considers necessary tn improve and stabilise the industry. The text of the order of reference is as follows: — Whereas it is reported that a seri- ! cits econotnic position lias arisen detrimentally affecting the sheep-raising in- ., dustry in the Dominion, and the wel- ” fare of those engaged in the industry, it is deemed advisable to appoint a I commission with authority to inquire , into and report concerning any and J every factor which in the judgment of , the commission has an influence upon ’ the economic condition of the industry. I> and in particular, without limiting the order of reference, the commission will report upon such matters as:— ’ (a) Deterioration of land of all t types, whether by erosion, second growth, depletion, or any other causes. (b) Influence of facilities of obtaining finance and of administration or organisation of lending institutions, including availability, convenience, and cost of finance for purchase of stock and chattels. to) Price of land, land tenure, rates and taxes. (d) Efficiency of management in regard to land and stock. (e) Availability, efficiency and. utilisation of labour. (f) Any other factor deemed relevant. And to advise in regard to any action, adjustment or reorganisation which might reasonably’ be adopted to improve and to stabilise the sheep industry. WAIRARAPA CRITICISM FARMERS’ UNION EXECUTIVE STATOIENT. The Royal Commission set up by'the Government to investigate the sheepfarming industry was the subject of criticism at yesterday's meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of. the Farmers’ Union. The president, Mr H. Morrison, presided. At the conclusion of the meeting the following statement was made available to the Press: — “It is a long way short of an ideal commission and the neglect to fix a date before which the report must be made enables the commissioners to spin it out to the detriment of the sufferers. The basic truth remains, that the relative costs of sheep-farm production must be brought back to a tolerable basis, and the sooner the better. But the constitution of the Royal Commission of which so much was. expected, has occasioned some surprise. "It was hoped that its central recommendations would reach into questions of public finance and public works, of land survey and land recuperation, of anima) research, of *ie reorganisation of holdings and management, and, of course, taxation. "But to weigh up all the ramifications of these matters and their effect cn the sheep-farmers’ problems, will require the ear of understanding and the eye of appreciation which appears beyond the selected personnel. Sympathetic consideration is necessary in fitting together any jig-saw puzzle, and a little experience is' worth tons of bulky’ theory. "There is one farmer on the commission from the South Island, and another might well be added, with two farmers from the North Island, plus a couple of accountants with business or economic experience. Otherwise the findings of the commission may be treated with derision by the farming community.”