"BLUNDERERS!"

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19227, 6 February 1928, Page 3

"BLUNDERERS!"

♦ THE MAYOR CRITICISES PIONEERS. "So far as New Zealand timber is concerned tho country's pioneers, of whom we often speak with admiration, were mainly egregious blunderers, and unfortunately their vandalism is still being carried out to some extent. It is time the State interfered in tho interests of the people as a whole, instead of allowing individuals to act entirely on their own impulses," said the Mayor (Mr J. J. Archer) to a representative of The Press on Saturday. Mr Archer was away fiom Christcburch on holiday during the visit to the City of Dr. A. W. Hill, of Kew Gardens, England, and he expressed his disappointment at being unable to meet the doctor. His remarks on pioneer forestry arose from a reference to Dr. Hill's statement, which he had read in the newspapers, to the effect that we had in New Zealand destroyed forests growing on land that was fit for forestry alone. "During my visit to the Catlins district I was very much impressed with the accuracy of that statement," said the Mayor." "Th«-e are considerable ai-eas of land there that have been denuded of the most valuable timber, and they are now going back to absolutely waste spaces. Californian thistle wild fuchsia, foglove, blackberry, and other weeds are covering immense areas .and becoming a nuisance to the surrounding localities," he added.