South Westland

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 32

South Westland

Sir, —Mr McCarthy (March 23) seems unaware of several studies showing logging south of the Cook River to be totally unprofitable unless the public

gave these forests to logging interests. A Paynter’s spokesman (March 31) said that even in forests much further north sustained yield production was uneconomic. Only clearfelling is profitable. Conservationists never claimed that white herons breed at Okarito, but they breed nearby. Their chief feeding ground is the Okarito Lagoon (which might well be affected befogging the forest behind it) anil they are the familiar emblems of the place. Like Sue Hunt (April 7), I disapprove of submissions being encouraged from school children. I am sure, howver, that their childish origins were considered in weighing their influence. I am happy that Mrs Hunt disapproves of the extraction of pro-logging submissions from many West Coast schoolchildren in the past. I presume that when West Coast councillors recently bowed their heads in a minute s silence for South Westland, they hung them in shame for their council’s own irresponsible behaviour in the past. — Yours, etc.,

D. J. ROUND. April 8, 1989.