Forest protection

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 16

Forest protection

Sir, —The Fletcher Timber I Company, on behalf of an

Australian sugar refining' company, has begun to log a very pretty and unique block of bush near Lake Kaniere. The company cannot claim to have the welfare of local sawmillers at heart as it was prepared to sell the 300 hectares in 1974 for $56,000. The Lands and Survey Department unfortunately has not been able to provide the money. We have all heard the platitudes which emanate at regular intervals from the Forestry Department and the forestry bureaucracy about preserving tile remnants of the once vast West Coast forests. In the light of the situation, will the Minister of Forests appropriate the funds necessary to preserve this block of bush? When will the Minister, on behalf of his party, initiate legislation to protect in perpetuity the remnants of this country’s forests?—Yours, etc., MARK C. CADOGAN. June 21, 1977.

[The Minister of Forests (Mr Venn Young) replies: “Your correspondent claims that the Fletcher Timber Company has begun to log an area of bush near Lake Kaniere oil behalf of an Australian sugar refining company. The area is a freehold block owned by the Fletcher Timber Company and logs will be milled at their Ruatapu mill. There is no question of timber being cut on behalf of any Australian company. Attempts have been made to arrange for an exchange of cutting rights to preserve this area intact, but because of the' tight log supply position on’ the West Coast this has not been possible. The company has agreed to log the area with care so that there will be a minimum of disturbance to stream banks and other vegetation. When logging is completed all haul tracks and loading sites will be cleaned up to provide walking access and picnic sites. The area will then be offered to the Crown, but if this is not acceptable the company will consider administering the area as a reserve. The question of how the West Coast indigenous forests should be managed is being examined in detail.”]