Re-Afforestation

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 245, 29 September 1922, Page 2

Re-Afforestation

WHAT HAWKE’S BAY IS DOINC. A WORD OF PRAISE IN PARLIAMENT. HUNDREDS OF ACRES BEING PLANTED. (Special to “Tribune.”) Wellington, Sept. 29. Speaking on The subject of hardwood poles the Minister of Public Works paid tribute in the House last night to what the people of Hawke’s Bay were doing. The Hon. J. G. Coates saind he knew hundreds of acres were being planted by private people, ano a number of local bodies were doing likewise, the trees being eucalypti. These would supply local needs and possibly outside wants. This was not only creditable to the district, but would be undoubted benefit to the country as a whole. NEW ZEALAND TIMBERS. COMPETITION WITH AUSTRALIA. SUGGESTED AFFORESTATION SCHEME. That New Zealand timbers are at least equally as suitable as Australian hard words, for electric-line poles, was definitely affirmed by several delegates to the Power Boards' Conference, which assembled at Parliament House on Wednesday. Mr J. D. Johnston, chairman of the Te Awamatu Power Board, moved: “That provision be made in the Electric Power Boards Act, to allow boards to acquire land for the purpose of growing timber suitable for electric-line poles." The mover said that his board had sent £16,000 to Australia for hardwood poles. Mr E. S. Ranson (Danncvirke) seconded the resolution. Mr W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland) opposed the proposal, as likely to incur expenditure that would not show a return within the present generation. “Some of the New Zealand poles are showing more life than Australian hardwoods," said Air W. J. Waters, engineer of the Manawatu-Oroua Board. The imported poles had a life of not more than 25 years, he said. Air T. Armstrong (Banks Peninsula) said that, had it not been for locallygrown timbers, much of this work in his area could not have gone on. Many of the Australian poles were value less, and had to be rejected by the board. Inquiries made in other dis tricts showed that Australian poles did not last beyond 12 years; New Zealand blue-gum poles had a life of 20 years at least, in specific cases. “I don't want to throw cold water on the project," .-aid the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates), who presided at the conference, “but 1 think it would be advisable to let the project stand over for twelve months. It seems to me that your function is to carry out reticulation, at the cheapest possible cost to the consumer. lam in entire sympathy with the proposal, but we can only go a certain distance. Ratepayers arc apt to question the policy of appropriating your moneys to a treeplanting scheme, or using for that purpose the profits on the sale of electricity, which should go to them. You should prove that you can carry out the work of reticulation, tmd so gain the confidence of your consumers." Referring to the matter in his address to the conference, the Minister said:—“l am glad to note the interest that the boards are showing in the question of the plantations for growing trees suitable for their future requirements in poles and umber, and 1 understand that they will have the hearty co-operation of the Forestry Department in drawing up their plans in this direction. It is of course essential that the correct varieties of trees should be selected for planting, as experience in' the past with the wrong varieties has not been very successful for the purpose of poles. The Department has adopted the policy of planting the spare land obtained for hydro-electric purposes in timber and a corresponding policy will certainly be remunerative to the boards in the future and will result in otherwise waste lands being put to a useful purpose. 1 will be glad to consider the proposals that the boards may put forward for such planting under proper supervision." Air Armstrong suggested that local authorities be co-operated with in any scheme such as this. Air R. Afilligan (North Otago) moved an amendment, “That it ne a recommendation to the Forestry Department that they make provision for planting trees suitable for electricline poles, and that the question of amending the Electric Power Boards Act be considered in twelve months' time.' ’ The amendment was agreed to on the voices.