Replanting Policy Confirmed By Board

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31750, 6 August 1968, Page 8

Replanting Policy Confirmed By Board

Irrigation would do salJCr vern county member, when, at the annual meeting of the Selwyn Plantation Board, he opposed the policy of clearing wattle, and bluegum plantations, and replanting them with pintta. Ct Deans said that Aylesbury reserves that had been cleared of (um and wattle, if irritated, could ran three cattle beaita to the acre. The HU country was the place tb plant trees, for evidence had shown that plantations on the plains were too vulnerable to storm damage. In reviewing the board’s policy, the chairman (Mr A. S. Rutherford) referred to a suggestion by the Malvern County Council that the Aylesburn land should be sold for farming. If this were done, he said, it would only benefit the buyer, whose neighbours would have lost their shelter.

Aylesbury could be the driest part of the plains between Springfield and Christchurch, be said. High shelter conserved moisture, and farmers’ low shelter was Supplementary to that provided by the board. Mr Rutherford said that timber was as important, or more so, than any other industry, and was playing an increasing part in New Zealand's economy. More money might be made from growing wheat or . wool, but that did not create , as much employment as did the growing of trees. , He said that the board re- i presented an estate of about . 13,000 acres of forest and 2400 acres of land held in trust and leased to farmers. This estate belonged to the rate- ' payers in the boundaries of 1 the original Selwyn coitoty, 1 with the board as trustee. ; I The board's aim had been < to maintain and improve the i piantattons and to replant cutover onas, and to convert un- i profitable species to radiate . pine by clearing 1800 acres of gum and wattle over the i next seven years. < TbO board’s first aim must < be to make its operations i pay, said Mr Rutherford, but i the establishment of forests had a ftr wider benefit to the community than mere financial gain. He said that he did not think the board should go into

timber proceMing, as some members had suggested, and that the State wu the proper authority for planting the foothills and baek country.

> Although Cr Deans said that I a committee should be set up ■ to study the points raised, i the board agreed to continue With its present policy.