THE NOTICE OF MOTION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 97, 26 April 1928, Page 8

THE NOTICE OF MOTION

.COUNCIL TO SAY OPOSSUM BEVENUE Statements were made to a "Post" reporter to-day by the three councillors who have given notice of intention to move at the next meeting of the City Council that a resolution authorising the calling of tenders for timber milling rights over an area of a hundred od (lucres of land in the City and Suburban Water Supply area should bo rescinded. Councillor Semple, in a statement made as from himself and Councillor M'Keen, deals particularly with the milling question. Councillor Aston deals with a new angle of the opossum question. "When the proposal was first before the board," said Councillor'Semple, "I protested vigorously against timber rights being granted to any company or individual, and after the board members had made ,1 seconjl visit to the catchment areas I was convinced more than ever that milling would seriously detract from the areas as future water supply lands by interfering with the regulation of the water run-off, resulting in high floods in wet weather, and. dry, or almost dry, stream beds in spells of drought. Timbering operations, I know from experience, greatly increase the fire risk, and falling and logging out must play havoc with young trcos corning on. Anyone who has had bush experience knows well enough that u.uig tree smashes through dozens of smaller trees, and smashes scores more in crashing downhill and in being logged out. The undergrowth is destroyed and the forest surface generally disturbed, with the result that the next rainfall washes down quantities of soil and leaf mould to pollute the stream from which the supply is drawn. I am sure of my ground when I say that the people of Wellington ami the- adjoining boroughs are with us in our demand that the timber should be left intact. Councillor iJ'Kcen and I have opposed the granting of any milling rights from the first, and will continue to do so. RETURNS NOT COMPENSATION. "We hold that it would be an absurd policy to permit beautiful native forest to be destroyed oil the plea that a certain amount of revenue could be derived. The destruction to the watersheds as a whole would not bo compensated by tho return -which could be received. If milling rights had been granted in the Wainui area would that beautiful area, ono of the most beautiful in the whole country, bo what it is to-day?-. Would tho water supply bo as it is to-day? Is any councillor, going to suggest that a certain amount of milling would be goodjor the Wainui or Orongorongo busli, as has been said a certain amount would bo good for these new catchment areas, something like th'o certain amount of fleas that is good for tho hound dog, because they keep him from thinking on being a. hound dog, but in this case- these lands, and tho board that controls them, want to keep on thinking that they are water supply lands, first and foremost and all tho time. PLANTATION OPERATIONS NO PARALLEL. 'JTn support of this theory that some felling would benefit the bush," continued Councillor Semple, "plantation operations have been put forward, but thero is not the slightest parallel between native forest, growing in junglo fashion, and the regular rows of a plantation. I hold, because I know, 'iShat though trees may be felled without damage to others in a plantation, it' dofinitely cannot bo done in thick New

Zealand forest. There is no comparison at all. The- plantation has not undergrowth, but the bush is full of it; it is net bush without it. Among those who are supporting this, to our minds ridiculous, proposal, are men who have never used an axe on anything bigger and more difficult than kindling wood. If they still maintain that they are right and that we are wrong when we say that the falling of one big tree will smash down a dozen more, then it is up to them to prove it by inviting the board and council members to a practical demonstration. Not a member would miss it. "We intend to fight this milling rights proposal in every way possible, |if necessary to call indignation meetings, to circulate petitions, or take any | other steps that are necessary to put a stop to a policy which aims at descrecrating these bush areas and putting them to purposes for which they, were never intended."