TREE PLANTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 195, 17 July 1935, Page 6

TREE PLANTING.

IN MANAWATU COUNTY. CO-OPERATION OF COUNCIL. Considerable discussion took place at the Manawatu County Council meeting, yesterday', regarding the planting of trees, the matter arising out ot a letter received from the Minister of Internal Affairs drawing the council’s attention to the fixing of Wednesday, August 7, as Arbor Day in the Dominion and asking tlie council to co-operate in its observance. In this connection, a letter was received also from the Oroua Down# School Committee, referring to the project to plant the main Auckland\Vellington highway and offering to look after tho trees on part of the highway as part of the school’s contribution towards the work.

The chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) said he viewed the planting of trees on the highway With some doubts. Trees were apt to be a menace on highways to-dav, and in any case the trees would have to be protected from travelling stock. A good deal of stock used tho road in question, and the trees would soon be ruined unless they were protected. The chairman went on to refer to the destruction of the plantations along the HimatangiFoxton Road, last summer, by fires arising out of embers dropped by the Foxtou train. This provided another danger which had to be contended with when trees were planted along main routes used in conjunction by the railway. Cr. D. W. Reid suggested that the Sandon School Committee be asked to co-operate in the planting of trees, but the engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) stated that the school was already working on a programme which em- < bodied the planting of native trees each year. It was finally decided that the council provide an area of ground adjacent to the Oroua Downs School for ( tree planting contingent upon the School Committee planting and caring for the trees.

Tlie chairman said he would like to see a plantation of trees made along the road at Oroua Downs to serve as a breakwind for the westerly, gales. Further reference was made to tree planting when a letter was received from the Unemployment Board advising that trees were available for local bodies for planting with relief labour. The chairman urged the obtaining by the council of a supply of trees for planting in various parts of the county. There were several suitable places which would l>e improved by tiees and provide useful work as well in the planting of them. The engineer stated that Tangimoana was the only place where unemployed labour was available. In other parts of the county the men were all engaged under the No. 4b scheme. Cr. W. E. Pearce suggested that, as well as planting new trees, there were many gaps caused by the drought in. the summer that could be replanted. After further discussion the council decided to purchase up to 1000 trees to replace gaps in the present plantations as well as to increase them; and also to obtain trees from the board for planting in the reserve at Tangimoana.