ARBOR DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 9

ARBOR DAY

VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TREES MINISTER’S MESSAGE “As time goes on, those Now Zealanders who' give intelligent thought to their country’s welfare are being impressed increasingly with the vital Importance of tree-planting and the safeguarding of plantations,” states the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry), in a message on Arbor Day, which will be observed on August 7, wherever the conditions are favourable. “That feeling was intensified during prolonged droughts last summer when fires destroyed large areas of native forests, and plantations of exotic trees. Those disasters emphasised the truth that the people must be fire-minded as well as treeminded for the benefit of themselves and posterity. “There is pleasant evidence that some of the plantings on Arbor Day will be living memorials to New Zealanders who gave their lives tor their country in the world’s greatest war. I am heartily in agreement with many people that memorials ol this kind should be increased. “The war and the difficult tasks, of post-war reconstruction have hindered the development of programmes fully worthy ol the spirit of Arbor Day, but I feel confident that within the next year there will be developments which will make the celebration distinctly impressive for the public. . . “Arbor Day can serve well in arousing interest in the beautifying of unsightly waste places and in improving others, but its best purpose will be in lessons for young folk and adults that tree-planting and treesaving are linked with soil-saving. The instinct of self-preservation should induce all New Zealanders to be keenly interested in trees which are nature’s protective policy against devastating erosion. Action against nature brings disaster. ’