Arbor Day Competition

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7007, 17 November 1932, Page 6

Arbor Day Competition

DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING N.Z. TREES. Special to Times. .WANGANUI, Nov. IG. The New Zealand Foresty League’s Arbor Day competition was well received by the various schools in the Wanganui Education Board district, some 40 or so desiring to enter on the conditions outlined by the league. The chief agricultural instructor, how'cvcr, points out various reasons why such a competition was not entirely satisfactory for this board:— (1) Most of the schools jiave done tho bulk of their planting, and the school committees do not favour planting other areas. (2) No native trees or shrubs are available from council nurseries except at ruling prices. No free issue is available. (3) The New Zealand State Forest Servico has only for free issue, exotics of a shelter type, and limits its free issue to 100 for each school.

“I must state, therefore,” added the instructor, "that it is not likely that 7- will be able to report any but one or two schools as qualifying for the prize.”

“Trees supplied by the Forestry Department were most disappointing. They were far too young,” said Col. Whyte. “Lytton street school has planted for tho future, for under Mr. Wilson, native trees correctly named are a feature of the :vhool grounds,” said Mr. Tingey. “Those trees will make a fine grove and be a great asset in the future. Too few New Zealand children know anything of our beautiful trees, and Mr. Wilson is doing a great work among the Lytton street children.”