FORESTRY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1935, Page 9

FORESTRY LEAGUE

PIRONGIA FOREST

SPARKS FROM ENGINES

Endeavours by the New. Zealand Forestry League to have all forested land on the eastern side of Pirongia Mountain secured and set aside as a protection forest are likely to prove successful. ■ At the monthly meeting of the council-of the league, presided over by Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, a letter from the Minister of Lands (Mr. E. A. Ransom), in reply to one from the league, stated that the matter was under consideration and it was hoped that some effective action would., be taken

The fire menace from railway engines was referred to by the General Manager Of Railways' in the course of a lengthy reply to a letter from the league. He pointed out that the Railway Department was doing all it possibly could to prevent fires from engines. Whilst the reply was considered satisfactoy to an extent, the council thought that the practice of discharging hot ashes from engines on the side of the railway track, 'especially vi hot weather, should be stopped.

Considerable concern and disappointment was expressed on information received that contracts for felling trees on Maymonv Estate had been let. . It was felt that the Water Board was oblivious to the seriousness of the position which might result in the destruction of the ■ forest on the watersheds of the Akatarawa arid/ Hutt Rivers. The company had been forced to realise its interest in order to meet rates and taxes, and though the area had been under offer for many years at a comparatively low figure, no effort had been made by the Water Board to secure the land. In the opinion-of the league, the future of Wellington's reserve water supply was being placed in jeopardy.

The question of the correct policy to be pursued in the management of native forests such as Waipoua Forest and Trounson Park has for some time been under discussion, and it was decided, to ask the president of the league (Mr. E. Phillips-Turner), to deal with the question at the annual meeting, of the league in July.

A committee was set up to make inquiries with regard to other means, than shooting to exterminate the browsing animals in the protection forests.