COASTAL AFFORESTATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 284, 29 October 1934, Page 8

COASTAL AFFORESTATION.

GOVERNMENT SURVEY MADE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

FOXTON, Oct. 26. Reporting- to a meeting of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, the president (Mr F. C. Raikcs) stated that since the last meeting he had been in close touch with Mr M. A. Eliott, of Palmerston North, relative to having the coastal area between the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers planted with suitable trees under an unemployment afforestation scheme. A committee set up by Mr Eliott had waited on the Manawatu County Council with a request that that body carry out the supervision in return for the trees when of saleable value. The council, however, had found obstacles in the way in the matter of supervision, fencing and ownership. However, the Palmerston North committee was not to be daunted, and it had convened a conference in Palmerston North of Manawatun County Council and Public 'Works Department representatives. As a result the department had agreed to make a. survey of the area with a view to ascertaining what areas would bo available for the work, and a report in this connection would be to hand shortly. On receipt a further conference of local bodies concerned would be held in Palmerston North. In the north around Wanganui the scheme was operating quite successfully, said Mr Raikcs, and nearer at hand, excellent work was being' carried out in the Horowhenua district under the supervision of Mr Sharp. If the scheme could be got going between the Manawatu and Rangikei rivers—and there was no reason why it should not—the work on this coast would .be complete. The proposal would be on a fairly large scale and trees would in all probability be raised in nurseries on the areas. It was decided to offer the wholehearted support of the chamber in the scheme and to send delegates to the next meeting in Palmerston North.