FLOODING OF RURAL LANDS

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 11

FLOODING OF RURAL LANDS

“That the Government be urged to carry out afforestation immediately, and also conserve existing forests,” was a resolution tabled again at the quarterly meeting of the North Auckland Associated Chambers of Commerce at Kaikohe on Thursday. This matter the. chamber has had in hand for some considerable time.

Mr H. F. Guy (Kaikohe) said thatf much flooding had been obviated in the Waikato by taking bends out of rivers. Two-thirds of the land in North Auckland which flooded could be rendered immune by this method. The question was what was going to happen at the lower reaches of rivers, where farm lands had to take the maximum flow of water. Afforestation appeared to be the only way of obviating this. Mr J. D. Mitchell, a member of the North Auckland Forestry Society, made an appeal for support by the chamber.

Outside assistance would strengthen the society’s hand, stated Mr E. L. Whimp. Mr W. C. Bell said the Government should be impressed that the reafforestation proposal was one which should be treated as a national concern. Relief labour could be utilised. He said that a farmer from the Kaikohe district had told him that last year his takings were down £4OO as the result of flooding. The meeting decided to add to the resolution that the Government and also local bodies, take steps to utilise the Forestry Societies in New Zealand for the re-establishment and conservation of bush.

Mr Whimp mentioned that the society had a very strong supporter in Mr J. G. Barclay, M.P,