WANGANUI RIVER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 230, 11 September 1922, Page 7

WANGANUI RIVER.

RECLOTHING THE WATERSHED. Restoration of the bush on the watershed of the Wanganui River was advocated by Mr AV. A. Veitch (Wanganui) in the House, when the report of the Forestry Department was presented. The member said that the replanting of the hills was important on two accounts: it would make the river more useful as a waterway in the summer, and it would improve the scenery, which, in places had been somewhat spoiled. Mr IV. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) supported the request of the previous •peaker, and suggested that before nny replanting was done there should be n conference of all parties interested. The Minister of Forests (Sir Heaton Rhodes) had to reply briefly and hurriedly in order to prevent the report being “talked out.’’ He said that he realised the importance of securing the reafforestation of denuded watersheds in certain cases. The excessive destruction of forests in the valley of the Wanganui River had created a danger of floods and other troubles. The Forestry Department was gathering information and conducting experiments regarding the regeneration of forests. It was early yet to say whether the native forests could be relied upon to renew themselves by regeneration, but undoubtedly regeneration was successful in some cases. The The matter was receiving close attention.