Soil Conservation

Press, Volume C, Issue 29657, 30 October 1961, Page 3

Soil Conservation

Sir,—The assertion of “Scientific Fact” that I do not know much about soil conservation amuses me, because my job is closely related to it. There is no room for catch phrases as long as New Zealand has the world record for erosion quantities. I agree with “Scientific Fact” that aerial topdressing and rabbit control have made major contributions to soil conservation, but soil erosion is certainly not on the wane yet. More money will have to be spent on it. There, would not be the same heed for river control if more attention were paid to the high country, because that is where most of the troubles come from, as is stressed in the latest report of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council I repeat that “Scientific Fact” should have a close look at the high country. Soil conservation is a long-term investment and the benefits are not felt immediately. After years of bad land management it will take years to re-establish or strengthen the protective vegetation.—Yours, etc, N.C.L. October 29, 1961. Sir,—River control, of course! That’s the answer! Cathedral square is, I believe, 22 feet above sea level. Look at a map, and the Waimakariri near Harewood, say. must surely be higher. But if we keep on building up the stop-banks, we may get them high enough to shelter the city from the northwesters. Of course “Scientific Fact" would be well aware how erosion in the hills built up the plains for us to live on—by piling up the shingle in the river beds until they were higher than the surrounding land, then the river changing course to build up the lower parts in turn. So eventually we might wonder whether it would not be easier to move the city of Christchurch to a higher spot. (What interesting opportunities this opens up for a change of Scenery and climate.) It would certainly solve the town hall controversy.— Yours, etc, UPWARD. ANYWAY. October 28, 1961.