SAND DUNE AFFORESTATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4410, 27 October 1934, Page 3

SAND DUNE AFFORESTATION.

INITIAL STEPS TAKEN TO PLANT THIS COAST. GOVERNMENT SURVEY MADE. Reporting to Thursday evening’s meeting of the Foxton 'Chamber of Commerce, the President (Mr F. C. Raikes) stated that since last meeting he had been in close touch with Mr M. A. Elliott, of Palmerston North on the matter of sand dune afforestation. Mr Elliott was keenly-interested in this woi'k and on learning that he bad formed a committee in Palmerston North and taken the initial steps in, having the coastal area between the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers planted, he had decided to postpone indefinitely the conference arranged at the last meeting* of the Chamber between district Chambers of Commerce. When the Unemployment Board recently circularised all local bodies asking for suggestions for the employment of those out of work, said Mr Raikes, Mr Elliott had taken a deputation to the Manawatu County Council for the purpose of urging* the planting’-of the coastal area between the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers, and at the same time placed the suggestion before the Unemployment Board. That it met with the approval of the Board was evidenced by a proposal advanced bv it that the work should be put in hand as soon as suitable supervision could be arranged. The Board proposed that the Manawatu County Council should attend to this side of the activities and as a recompense agreed that the trees should become the property of the Council. The Manawatu County Council, however, had found obstacles in the way in’ the form of ownership of the land involved, fencing; and supervision. The latter, was a most important point as the Foxton Harbour Board had discovered. However, Mr Elliott that evening had been in touch with the speaker and had expressed the opinion that things would gradually unravel themselves. He had reported that a further conference had been held in Palmerston N. which had been attended hy representatives of the Manawatu County Council and the Public Works Department. The outcome had been that the Public Works Department had agreed to investigate what areas between the Manawatu and Rangitikei Rivers were suitable for afforestation purposes and the Palmerston N. committee was expecting that- report very shortly. On receipt a further meeting would he held in Palmerston North when the Chamber would have an opportunity of being represented. Excellent work has been carried out along these lines in the north, around Wanganui, said Mr Raikes, and in the Horowhenun County n similar scheme is also now in operation, the Council undertaking the supervision work. It is to he sincerely hoped that the Manawatu proposal will eventuate. Mr Christie asked whether arrangements had been made for the supply of suitable trees for the worfc.

Mr Raikes said that the scheme would he of such magnititude that in all probability trees would ho raised in nurseries as part of the pi’oposal. The Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau) endorsed Mr Raikes’ remarks and said he fully realised the good work Mr Elliott was doing. It was decided to express the Chamber’s' appreciation of the excellent work done by., Mr M. A. Elliott and committee and to offer the Chamber’s wholehearted support ot the project.