CAUSE OF SEVERE FLOODS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 129, 2 June 1945, Page 8

CAUSE OF SEVERE FLOODS

The cause of the recent excessive flooding in the Kaitangata district/ says "Forest and Bird," the organ o£j the Forest and ' Bird Protection - So J ciety of New Zealand, was un-»] doubtedly the result of the repeated* burning of the high mountain coun^j try, and grazing by introduced mam* mals, both wild and domestic. The, great blanket of living and decaying! tussock and many other alpine' growths which checked a too rapid water run-off had been almost destroyed, and today are fighting a fast losing battle. Grave errors had been committed in past years by introducing wild mammals in the form - of deer, thar, and chamois, with a view to receiving revenue by providing1 sport for visiting tourists and others, but the greatest cardinal error of all was made in leasing the upland country for grazing purposes. The monetary credit to the taxpayer from that source was round about 2Jd an. acre, as about 8,000,000 acres were involved, returning about £78,000, "while on the community's debit side we have heavy expenses in futile attempts to curb rivers permanently, replace or repair bridges, fences, homes, and so on, coupled with grave losses of lowland stock and, worst of all, irretrievable damage to the soil,'* concluded the journal.