EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 23438, 1 December 1939, Page 2

EXPANSION LEAGUE

At the monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League Mr W. B. Taverner (vice-president) was chairman. Other members present were Messrs T. Scollay, A. Smith, R. T. Stewart, W. A. Scott, W. G. Baird, James Adam, J. L. Love, and George Newey. A letter was received from the Vincent County Council thanking the league for its donation to the proposed Haast road boundary memorial. CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL. A sketch plan of the proposed centennial memorial was examined and general approval given. Amongst the suggestions submitted was ono that a slab of the rock forming the base of Edinburgh Castle might be obtained from Scotland to form a part of the memorial. Members maintained, however, that Otago should conserve its resources for the celebration of the province’s centenary, now only a few years away. PORT CHALMERS ROAD. The question of the reconstruction of the Dunedin-Port Chalmers road, which was discussed at the annual meeting, was brought forward by Mr Scollay, who mentioned correspondence received from the Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple) and the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb). It was resolved that early in the New Year steps be taken to arrange a meeting of three local bodies interested—namely, the City Council, the West Harbour Borough Council, and the Port Chalmers Borough Council, together with the Highways Board representative. AFFORESTATION POLICY. Regret was expressed by a member at the failure of the Government and the Citv Council to extend the acreage of forest reserves. , The Chairman pointed out that sweeping allegations were nob quite in accordance with the facts, as the only two authorities who had done anything in connection with afforestation in Otago were the Government and the City Council. He reminded members that only a few meetings ago they had considered a most comprehensive plan of planting by Mr J. B Waters, which had been shelved for the moment because of lack of finance. He had been informed that no fewer than 65 sawmills were at work in Canterbury cutting down plantations of soft woods which were in keen demand These plantations had been planted years ago by landholders who saw the advantage of shelter belts of trees on the wind-swept plains. The trees were now being removed at a handsome profit. and fresh plantations would take their place. It did not pay the State to take up land for planting in less than blocks of 10,000 acres, Mr Taverner said. While ho held the portfolio of the department his officers had inspected several areas with a view to extending the amount of rapid-growth timber. Almost invariably the value put upon the land by tlie holders made action impracticable, and tbo land concerned remained sparsely grassed or covered with fern. If 'Otago desired to create for itself what it should have owned some years ago—stands of rough timber, to be renewed as they were brought into use—then the local bodies and land owners should ho planting trees. It was not ton late yet for this generation to put its house in order. The committee resolved to discuss the matter next year.