AFFORESTATION.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 5

AFFORESTATION.

EDUCATION BOARD'S SCHEME. CHILDREN PLANT TREES. Tree-planting in furtherance of the Canterbury Education Board's educs. tional afforestation scheme commenced on Friday, when the fifth and sixth standard pupils of the Belfast School planted 300 trees on their blocks at the board's afforestation area at North Mew Brighton. Although some of the pupils were conveyed to the area by motor-car, the majority travelled on bicycles a distance of six miles. Upon arrival at the reserve they were shown the blocks they wore to plant. All unnecessary scrub had been cleared and the holes for the young trees dug by unemployed labour under the No. a scheme.

Before the children were allowed to plant the trees they were given a brief lecture on. and a demonstration of, the proper methods of planting by Mr W. P. Spencer, chairman of the Belfast School Committe. The planting of the trees was then proceeded with, the boy 5 being divided into squads and the work of the several squads supervised by Mr Spencer. Mr J, Don, Mr R. A. C. Blick, Mr H. A. Scott, and Mr A. D. Boyle, supervisor of manual and technical instruction for the board. Extension of Activities.

Belfast is the first school to commence tree planting under the board's scheme. Originally this scheme was intended for city and suburban schools only, but as there is ample space available for other schools which are within easy reach of the area, the ■joard has decided to afford such schools an opportunity of participating in the scheme also.

The pnncip.d purpose of the scheme is to inculcate in children a love of trees and a proper appreciation of their significance in this country. The second purpose is to ensure for future school committees an income 'to be used for school purposes by the committees), which will be derived from the milling of trees when they attain maturity.