Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1939, Page 6

Readers Write

C Readers are invited to send letters for publication in this Column. A letter should be written in ink on one side of the paper, and must bear the name of the writer , not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.]

I was surprised to read in the “Ad- f vocate" of May 22, that the giant i kauri trees in the forest reserves are | to be cut for timber.?

A PLEA FOR THE KAURIS.

The whole of* the? “Advocate” could bei

filled with reasons' why these trees should not be cut. 1 I intend giving just one reason 'and« hope readers will follow. Most of our settlers say that when •they first arrived they missed the old ' buildings, trees, etc., of England. New Zealand is too new; it has no background; no history. We want to keep try’s short p'ast as possible. Most of ‘ and remember as much of our coun- > the eai’ly buildings were of wood and; have fallen into decay. We have lit-, tie enough to keep that will remind us of early New Zealand. The giant kauri trees were giants when our grandparents arrived in this coujntry, and are links between the past and the present. I can imagine what they will mean to those that come after us and to the many sightseers who come from overseas. The money' that will be lost now will be gained' a hundred fold in years to come. It ■ is the big kauri trees that people! want to see, the magnificent sped-; mens that belong to the North alone, j This particular variety, “Agathis Australis” occurs nowhere else in the world. Just imagine how few trees we have left. Accidents will happen and with every care taken a whole forest may still be burnt out. When we consider this fact we have far too few forest reserves, far too few kauri trees. The forests will be replanted, but we cannot bring back the original giant trees. We should do all in our power to protect these for 'all to see. I am sure the people of the North are too proud of the beauty of their country to allow the future of their country to allow the giant kauri trees to be cut down on the eve of the New Zealand’s Centennial, or in the future.—H. GIVEN.