Whirinaki hearings begin

Press, 12 October 1979, Page 26

Whirinaki hearings begin

| Wellington reporter ; | The fate of dense native 1 i forests at ‘Whirinaki in i the central North Island. I | is expected to be decided i j in the next few weeks. I The Forest Service will ! then have considered 11.400 submissions and will recommend a course of action to the Minister of Forests (Mr V. S. Young). The Government is going to considerable lengths to ensure that all parties are heard and all points of view considered. Two different committees of the Government caucus are hearing separate submissions on Whirinaki; both will make recommendations to the caucus. The caucus forestry committee did not at first intend to hear organisations w'hich have been criticising logging at Whirinaki, but its chairman Mr R. L. Bell. Gisborne) has since relented and the committee will hear a cross-section of opinion. The caucus environment committee also has been seeking opinion and its chairman Dr I. J. Shearer. (Hamilton East) is known to favour conservation. Wha’ever recommendation Mr Young makes | over Whirinaki, his colI leagues will have every j opportunity to be well I briefed.