SOIL EROSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 15

SOIL EROSION.

DANGERS EMPHASISED

STATE PLANS SUPPORTED. ■ (By f Telegraph.—Press Association.) s . NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday. ' The dangers of soil erosion were emphasised at the conference of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, which,carried a remit giving its most vigorous support to I any campaign designed to check soil, erosion, especially that" caused by the removal' of forest and other'natural ground covering.

"It is one of tho most: important questions which facc New Zealand," said Mr. J. C.. Mc'Dowall, of New Plymouth. "New Zealand flora developed through the ages because it was almost completely. free-from the ravages of browsing animals, but now wild goats and other imported boasts' are doing enormous damage." He appealed to the conference to support the Government in its efforts, because unless something was done eoon, soil erosion would bo the ruination'of a, large part of the land in the North Island. Information concerning large areas of land devastated around Napier through the recent : severe flooding was given by Mr. C. W. Corner, of Hawke's Bay. Between Napier and Wairoa more than a third,of.the .country had been ruined by slips* he' said, and the Esk Valley was in almost a similar stntc. The conference decided to adviso the Government that the institute thoroughly approved of the steps it was taking.