County Favours Waipoua Reserve

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1946, Page 5

County Favours Waipoua Reserve

| Following' the lead of several North--1 land organisations, the Whangarei j County Council today passed a resolution seeking the complete preserva- | tion of the whole of the Waipoua kauri I lorest. I The question of appointing a dele- ! gate to the preservation committee set i up in Auckland was deferred. Varied opinions were expressed on the advisability of the council making j a formal expression on this topic. Some councillors considered that more complete information was necessary before the various aspects of the question could be investigated fully. The council had before it a copy of correspondence received by the Waipoua Forest Preservation Committee from the Commissioner of State Forests (Mr Skinner). Cr W. C. B. Powell was critical of the commissioner’s advice. Judging from the remarks contained in the letter, the commissioner was only paving the way to providing an excuse to justify the cutting of the forest. he said. “We should not delay—if the forest can be saved, we should act now,'' said Cr Powell. “HANDS OFF." POLICY The chairman (Cr J. Morrison) observed that the lorest was under the complete control of the Slate Forest Service, and the commissioner’s letter indicated that it was intended ,to mill the timber in the forest. In Cr Morrison’s opinion, the kauris should be left untouched. The forest was unique in the world and was a valuable asset. He could see no reason for milling the timber. “The State Forest Service is a commercial enterprise and we should get down to business and protest straight away," said Cr M, W, Wilson. Culling odd Irers in tne forest only increased the fire risk, interposed Cr L. W. Smith Cr R. Reaver then moved that the council favour the transfer of an adequate area c£ the forest as a national reserve.

“If it is to be preserved, Ihen the whole forest must be prose: ved. Our policy should be one of ‘Hands off the whole forest.”’ said Cr Ser i!-Davidson.

"It is up to the State Forest Service to give reasons why this should not be done. They have giver, some reasons, but these are net adeouate," he said. j UOVNSON EXAMPLE "If \ve allow the commercial aspect to creep :n, it will never stop,” he said, moving that the council should press tor the complete preservation oi die forest. Cr P. S. Carter seconded “If a portion cf the forest is cesiroyed. we will lose the whole lot,” he saia. “Trounson Park provides an example. The Trounson kauris will ire dead in 40 years—nothing but the vast volume of trees will rave the Waipoua Forest."

As lie understood the motion, it was the opinion of the council that 'he forest should be preset ved. but the council was not voicing an opinion as to how this preservation should be effected. said the chan man. When Cr Scott-Davidson’s motion urging that felling should cease, was put to the meeting it was. carried, ’he chairman and Cr Flavor voting against it. as they were cf the opinion that proof was needed to substantiate 'bo claims that the State Forest Service's policy was not in the 1 interests of die forest. lIOKSON DIVIDED Detention of at least portion of the Waipoua Forest in its primeval shite a s a national park was urged, on the Government in a ,■ e.-olnlion which toe Hobson County Council passed this week.

The resolution followed a long debate which revealed a conflict of op.nior. among councillors on the met its of the Forestry Department's intention to work at least portion of the forest area on scientific forestry principles.