DISTRICT AFFAIRS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1944, Page 3

DISTRICT AFFAIRS.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, —Portions of your leading article on Friday on the above prompts me to point out a few matters that should be ventilated in support ol the action of those ultra-pessimists to whom you have referred. I am one who has stated that our West Coast industries are deteriorating, and urging quick remedial measures. Our main industries are coal, timber and gold, with farming, unfortunately, only a minor one. We have been warned by Cabinet Ministers that coal dobs not exist in the quantities we would like. Gold is a one crop industry, and cannot last indefinitely. In the 21 years ended March, 1943, no less than 1,339,805,000 ft. of timber had been produced in Westland, an average of 64 millions annually. What has been done by the authorities during these ■2l years to replace the fast diminishing native forests? On many occasions the Mayor, Cr. Herring and myself have moved in the Council to have some of the thousands of pounds /collected in royalties applied in re-afforesting suitable areas, but received no encouragement from the Department. Since the Post-War Industry Executive was set up by the Mayor some 18 months ago we have pressed continuously for re-affores-tation, and in February last Mr. C. M. Smith, Chief Inspector of Forests, met our executive; since then the Commissioner of Forests. Hon. C. F. Skinner, advised the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association of his deintention to commence the re-afforestation of beech timbers in the Grey district as a rehabilitation measure. Some thousands of pounds will be expended annually on this project. But lor the constant pressure' applied, and the emphasis stressed on its urgency, it is probable' this work would have been further delayed. Linked up with the timber industry is the utilisation of the enormous quantities of wood waste in the production of oils, resins, acids, charcoal, etc., some of which can be used in the plastics industry—which also should be established on the Coast. I cannot claim a knowledge of farming but it is obvious to all that many farms have almost ceased to exist or have gone back to second growth. Clearing and draining' is necessary, so here is an idea that could be exploited when the war us- over. Could not the Government bring to the Coast many of the bulldozers at present engaged in war work and clear and level the thousands of acres that could be made into suitable farming areas: intro-; duce mechanical means of drain digging, open up our lime deposits and distribute this precious commodity to the farmers, and in the not too distant our West Coast could be the TSiimtiki of the South. The wood waste obtained in the clearing process could be used as indicated earlier. These are some of the “pessimistic” arguments that have been used —don’t you think there is merit in them? Yours, etc.. J. SAUNDERS