Beautifying Harbour Approaches

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 183, 1 May 1936, Page 15

Beautifying Harbour Approaches

Sir, —The Wellington Beautifying Society is to be highly complimented on ita intention to beautify the foreshore of picturesque Scorching Bay, etc. May I call the Government’s attention to the fact that the Defence Department now owns about 400 acres of land at Point Halswell, Palmer Head, Fort Dorset and Haughton Bay, and if this land were planted it would provide immediate and ultimately profitable work for many men, and every penny expended, of course, would remain in New Zealand. Some of the benefits and advantages accruing from this work would be: — 1. It would beautify our at present barren harbour approaches. 2. It would definitely benefit our already salubrious and equable climate. 3. It would, from a military point of view, provide the finest cover for our defending troops, if ever the necessity arises. Aeoplane and other spotters cannot see what troop movements are taking place in the depths of a plantation. 4. Last, and not least, the matured timber would become a national asset. Even to-day a well-grown pine, within city limits, for firewood alone is worth 20 to 30 shillings. The Minister for Public Works please note —planting time is now on and the work should not be delayed.—l am, etc., PROGRESS. Wellington, April 30.