Westland forests

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 12

Westland forests

Sir, —A majority on the South Westland Forests Working Party has, predictably, ignored ecological and economic disaster and more than 90 per cent of public submissions to recommend investigating logging 50,000 acres of South Westland forests. Some Working Party members went further. West Coast local and regional authorities and the Mahitahi Maori Committee were among those proposing clearfelling Saltwater and North Okarito forests. This Government proposes giving great responsibilities to local and regional government and Maori authorities. It is seriously considering stripping the Conservation Department of many of its functions and making them the responsibility — and expense — of local government. Yet, once again, we have clear evidence that much local government is in the hands of shortsighted, backward-looking vested interests. No amount of redrawing boundaries will alter this parochialism. For the Government to entrust national treasures to such ignorant and irresponsible authorities would be a declaration of contempt of conservation values and ecological principles. — Yours, etc., D. J. ROUND. September 22, 1988.