UREWERA BUSH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 259, 3 November 1933, Page 6

UREWERA BUSH.

The opinion of those whom your corres- if pondent M. Ruahine labels—quite rightly-—as "forest enthusiasts" is not so much that bush preservation in the Urewera is "their concern" as that it is very definitely the national concern. ' It is very much the national concern if, through the clearing of these steep ridges, ragwort gains a stranglehold in the Urewera and its seeds are spread in millions over sur- . rounding farming land by every wind. Like-' wise it is the national concern if, through unwise clearing, enormous sums .have later to be spent by the Government in reafforestatiwto prevent large-scale erosion and flood damage, as has actually been the case in njanJ' countries overseas. No one desires to sea the Maori suffer. The point is, however, that even if payment of compensation to the owners of the land is involved, it is far better that the problem should be faced and settled now than that, by present inaction, irreplaceable native bush should be sacrificed, and the expenditure of infinitely greater sums, than those involved as present compensation be rendered almost inevitable in the future. Let us face facta. J. W. IvEALY, Hon. Secretary, Auckland District Council, New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.