POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume L, Issue 15015, 9 July 1914, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

THE WAIPOUA FOBEST,

(srrC-Ai. to "the rßEss.*') WELLINGTON, July S. The subject of tho Waipoua fores, was referred to this afternoon by Mr G. M. Thomson. Ho protest ed against tho proposal made by tie Commission that an area, of only 200 acres should bo reserved, although ho admitted that such roscrves wer t > liable to damage through fire. Mr J. Trounson, in giving evidence beforo the Commission, deprecated the locking-up of this grea. forest for the sako of a bit of kauri bush which nobody could tee. The question, hou over, was not whether anyone would see the hush now, but whether those \-Ih> came after us, fifty honce. would havo any kauri bush left to see. If they did not. they would probably blame the present generation for not conserving the trees. It might bo protested that sentiment should not enter into theso matters, but sciuimeut entered into most largo problems. Mr Thornton protested against the Stato parting with uny of the existing forests until it had fully considered the best means of utilising the timber, and had aUo instituted a satisfnetorv svstom or reafforestation. He would "not opposo the ultimate use forest land* but tho yresent wholesale method of destroying tho bus!*, was not satisfac tory.