AFFORESTATION PLAN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 5

AFFORESTATION PLAN

Large-Scale Planting Proposed WORK FOR RETURNED MEN Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS. June 18. Large-scale afforestation as a means of meeting the timber shortage anti of affording work for returned soldiers was advocated at a meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce by the president, .Mr. F. E. Smith. "When we look round this district we find that the country is almost bare of timber.” be said, "and I feel it is time we went iu for some big afforestation scheme in Hawke’s Bay so trs to supply our future needs.” The Commissioner of Crown Lands in Napier hail said there was at least 37.000 acres at the back of Tutira which was uneconomical for farming and which at present was not in use, said Mr. Smith. It was an ideal area for afforestation, and there were at least four types of timber that could well be grown on it. Mr. H. G. Harvey said the major problem at the moment, would be finding labour for such work. Mr. Smith suggested that when the war was over and men returned to New Zealand the Government should have available suitable areas so that fit single men could be put on to them planting forests. “The Government should have ready thousands of acres before Hie war ends so there will be no disastrous inflation of land and chaos such as we had after the last war,” he said. It was decided that representations be made through the M.P. for Hawke’s Bay, Mr. Cullen, for consideration to be given to a proposal for afforestation schemes in Hawke's Bay and elsewhere in New Zealand.