SOIL EROSION BY RIVERS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 16

SOIL EROSION BY RIVERS

POSITION REGARDED AS SERIOUS URGENT ACTION CONSIDERED TO BE NECESSARY The effects erosion may have in New Zealand in future years, if steps are not taken to plant and preserve areas of bush, are discussed in the May issue of “Forest and Bird,” the official organ of Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand (incorporated). The article claims that the geographical features of New Zealand, tend to make it subject to erosion, per-' haps more than most other countries! of the world, and it is claimed that; unless remedial measures are taken’ soon a large percentage of the fertility of New Zealand soil will be lost. “When the depression first made its appearance we in New Zealand were prone to refer to Australia as being in a bad way,” states the article. “At first, the public of this country did not realise that they were in the same boat, and that Australia, having much greater economical recuperative powers, would be the first ‘to get out of the bog.’ “Now we are prone to hold up our, hands in horror when we hear about! the terrible floods and dust storms which 'are occurring in America because of the depletion of the forests in her watersheds. We are failing to notice, however, that we here in New Zealand are, if anything, in a worse plight, simply because we have less forest-covered land in proportion to our area than America has, and because we are a mountainous island country. America is a vast continent, mainly flat; but New Zealand is a long, narrow country rising steeply from very deep seas. The alluvial soil is therefore quickly carried out by swift rivers and streams into and under the sea; and the sea does not give it back. In countries where the rivers flow into shallow seas some giving back of soil in the form of sand does take place, and reclamation results. But our soil, washed into deep water, does not return. Its fertility is lost; its reclaiming value is nil. “It is sincerely hoped that the Bush Conference held recently will be the forerunner of a great awakening on the part of the public of New Zealand, and that they will quickly realise the situation. "The Governor-General, Viscount Galway, the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister for Lands, the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister for Internal Affairs, and the Hon. R. Semple, Minister for Public Works, have given the public a vigorous lead by drawing its attention to the matter of forest depletion, and they have made some very candid remarks on the subject. Nothing can succeed, however, without public sympathy. It is now up to the general public to back ueir leaders up not only by insisting upon adequate legislation and action on the part of the authorities, but also by showing that it, realises the gravity of the position.”