SERIOUS EROSION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21946, 14 February 1946, Page 2

SERIOUS EROSION

SOIL BLOWN AWAY AREA NEAR WAIOURU Serious erosion at the back of the Waiouru Military Camp was referred to by a Government member of the Rangitikei Catchment Board, Dr L L. Grange, during a tour of the board’s district Dr. Grange who is in the soil survey division of the Scientific and industrial Research Department, said the area, which was about four miles along the desert road from Waiouru, required immediate attention About 2ft of soil and subsoil, mainly white pumice had blown away, exposing bedrock A tremendous area in the locality sad been run off. and he considered that burning and grazing had been the cause of the trouble. The commandant of the Waiouru Camp, Major Holmes, had also noted the condition of the area, and had written to his headquarters in an -attempt to get the authorities interested. The area needs immediate action, and I think we should get reports from the Agriculture and Forestry Departments and any others Interested In what they consider should be done," said Dr. Grange "The first action should be to shut oil the area for grazing and stop the lighting of fires.” Dr. Grange said the trouble had not been caused by military vehicles, ns most of the country was very steep.