FORESTS AND FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 31, 6 February 1936, Page 6

FORESTS AND FLOODS.

Now that North Auckland has had sixteen serious floods in twelve months is it not time that our municipalities, county boards and district boards and town boards, our mayors and university professors got busy to do something to stem the tide of forest destruction which is the cause of all these Hoods? Our greatest national assets, a vast reservoir of bottled sunlight and vitamins—a huge storehouse of health, wealth and prosperity, that is, our forests, are being steadily sacrificed to be the food for some 400 mills in New Zealand. I appeal to all who have a thought for the future of their children —who have a love for the land tliey live in—to raise their voices airainst the killing of forests —a national calamity whose full significance has not been realised 'bv the people. Not only does forest destruction cause droughts, floods, soil erosion, silting up rivers and the eventual reduction of a fertile land into a desert, but it also kills off the birds, animals, reptiles, insects and bacterial life —all essential for man's welfare. The climate, the regularity of the seasons, evenness of rainfall, the fertility of the soil and the health of man, bird, beast, plant and vegetable life —all are sacrificed for the insignificant revenue obtained from the sale of timber, XHOS. A. F. STONE, 8.E., A.M.I.M.E.