AFFORESTATION

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1934, Page 18

AFFORESTATION

PETONE PROPOSAL

The Petone Boiough Council pio poses dmmg the coming wintei to em baik on a scheme of affoiestatiou on its waterwoiks rcseivcs.

In mtioducing the- question at Mon da\ s meeting of tho council, Coun eillqi__ G-. London said he considcied that the council was losing a, golden oppoitunity of piovidiug a valuable future asset foi tho boiough Insuf-ficient-attention had been focused in tho past on the watciwoiks leseives, and fiie had been allowed to damage the'present forest. Ho recommended tho planting of at least 100 acics with pinus msignis, this to bo done m the aiea which did not diain into the stieam feeding tho reservon, as pine needles might taint tlio watei. The aiea which, drained into the lescivon could be planted with othei tiees. At leastTlOOj'OOO trees should bo planted immediately. An effort should also bo made to. combat the gorse nuisance, as the- gorse was in places 10ft high, and a, gicat danger in tho event of nic. Advantage should be taken of any Government scheme to provide a subsidy.

Tho Mayor (Mi. D. MeKen/:ic) heaitily ehdoised the pioposal, and said that now was tho time /to apply to theGovernment for the trees. Tho scheme would bo a pi ofitable-undei taking and would beautify ,the countryside Councillor Campbell said that i\i 25 yeais the tiees would bo valued at £1 each. It was a profitable undei taking, which "would help to conseivo tho watei supply and keep down the gorse. Councilloi \V. H. Edwaids also en doised tho sclicme, but cutieised tho mannoi in which the ticcs planted in the past wero being neglected, 111 stancmg trees" at Koiokoio, on the beach, and at McEwan Paik. He moved the adoption of the pioposed scheme-and that tho reserves committee bo given powei to act.

Councillors A. Scholeficld and J. Cummmgs, while endoisiug tho scheme, suggested that erpeit opinion was fust necessary, and it ;was finally decided that tho reserves committee should consult expeits and obtain a lepoit. For the purpose of the. scheme, Councillor G. London was added to the roserves committee.