EROSION AND DREDGING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 10

EROSION AND DREDGING.

WEST COAST LAND LOSSES,

(From Our Correspondent.)

GREYMOUTH, Friday

"Valuable agricultural and pastoral land in many parts of the West Coast is lteing destroyed without any possible chance of its being again used for farming because of sluicing operations and gold dredging," said the Mayor of Greymoutli, Mr. F. A. Kitcliingham, when welcoming delgates to the annual conference of the West Coast provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Until a few years ago, said Mr. Kitchingman, legislation provided that l>efore mining rights could be issued over farming lands the warden's duty was to see as far as practicable that the land was not destroyed. This operated fairly well, but did not suit the mining companies and some farmers, who, because of financial difficulties, wanted a quick return, sacrificed their land for all time in return for one crop of gold.

Another serious difficulty confronting \\est Coast farmers, said Mr. Kitchingliam, was erosion, .which was almost a national calamity. In the Grev Vallcv especialy the manner in which rivers were nibbling away good fertile land was really alarming. In the Aralmra \ alley many had been praetirally ruined and it was difficult to predict what would happen in the Grey Vallev.