West Coast beech forests

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 8

West Coast beech forests

I Sir, —Coasters who have •just survived a month of 300 [to 400 mm. rainfall and your [correspondent. M. C. Steel, I will be sad to learn that there lis no evidence that the proposed method of logging West Coast beech forests in coupes will create a drier climate. —Yours, etc., P. ALLAN I Hokitika, April 8, 1975.

Sir, —Your correspondent; !M. C. Steele, comments on apathy on the West Coast I towards various projects. For years a succession of various governments has trotted out the tired promises that something will be done about the Coast. Now the promises have come home and the nut is going to be cracked by the sledgehammer of outside investment into very obvious: finite resources. There are many towns and businesses; that could do with some help from outside the region but as their contributions to the Coast and the country have vanished in the past, these interests will be either by-! passed or stamped on as economic whims dictate. Coasters can help themselves, e.g. proposed abattoirs and profit-sharing in gold dredging, but when outside interests for the umpteenth time set out to pillage resources and with Government support then it is obvious that the individual has absolutely no control over his own destinv. —Yours, etc., BLACKBALLER April 8, 1975.