TREE PLANTING ON FARMS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22767, 20 July 1939, Page 8

TREE PLANTING ON FARMS

♦* j COMMITTEE’S NEW PROPOSALS SUBSIDY OF 100 PER CENT. SOUGHT FIRST OF 2000 CIRCULARS 5V ISSUED A 100 per cent, labour subsidy, payable by county councils and to be refunded by the Government, will be sought by the North Canterbury Advisory Committee On Tree-planting for the farm tree-planting sfcheme. and it will, glso be suggested that the Government give the councils power by legislation to pay this and the cost of transport involved In undertskinir the planting. This was decided st the committee’s meeting at Rangibutt night, when suggestions were also adopted that the establishment of a nursery at the Ashley State Forest be sought and that proposals be discussed with the councils. * D was reported that In the meanwhile the first batch of 2000 circulars ca ftnn planting to be sent to farmers

of five Oxford, Kowai, Ashley, and Eyre—had been sent to Oxford for distribution by- the county officers to farmer ratepayers. The circulars emphasise the danger possible from an excess of cutting over planting, outline the nature of Government aid offered through scheme 48, and state further 'that the committee will try to evolve a scheme of assistance more generally available and less elaborate, it is also stated that an effort will be made to obtain a plentiful supply of trees from the State nurseries for farm requirements next year. The circulars appeal to County councillors for co-operation in promoting planting and cite the example of the Education Department in encouraging memorial planting for schools. The suggested forms of plantations are shelter belts, shade blocks, and homestead blocks, shelter-belts being described as the main requirement for the plains. "It is in the making of a complete shelter-belt system that a three-year plan will best apply,” the circular states, “and the committee hopes that landowners will favour its view that farm centennial planting should occupy the years 1939. 1940, and 1941.”' Sugge-ting that the circulars might “tw h* amended, the chairman (Mr J. R. Wilkinson) said that the Rangiora County Clerk (Mr S, G. Dailey) had expressed doubt about the ability of counties to co-operate as desired. Mr A. Buckingham, whose opinion was supported by Mr N. Goldsbury, paid that it would take months to complete arrangements with the Government. The committee. Should do its best to "et a scheme while the Govern-, r n fPt Paid for the whole of the labour. Whatever the scheme it would reouire legislation and that would take time.