Waipoua Controversy For Government Consideration

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1947, Page 3

Waipoua Controversy For Government Consideration

THE Waipoua controversy progressed a step further yesterday when the Commissioner of State Forests (Mr Skinner) announced to a meeting of 40 delegates from local bodies and other interested organisations that the whole question would be referred to the Government for consideration.

His announcement was made after a number of speakers had advanced their views on the wisdom or otherwise of the announced programme of the State Forest Service which proposes to reserve 4300 acres bordering the highway and to mill the rest of the forest on a long-term plan providing for 700,000 to 1,000,000 board feet of kauri annually in perpetuity.

Yesterday's meeting took place on a hill at the southern outskirts of the i forest from which a fine panorama I could be obtained. i A motion submitted by the chairman of the Hokianga County Council (Mr A. G. C. Yarborough), requesting that 5000 acres of heavy kauri be preserved, this area to be surrounded by a protective belt of a further 5000 acres of bush, was supported by 25 of the delegates. Twelve voted against it. An amendment that the whole area of 39,000 acres should be declared a national park or a scenic reserve, was defeated by 21 votes to 19. The Commissioner, who was accompanied by Mr Campbell, armed at the spot chosen for the meeting at about II a.m. after driving through the forest from Opononi.

The Mayor of Dargaville (Mr W. L. Hughes), speaking of the resolution passed at the previous inspection ot the forest when the preservation of 8000 acres was sought, stated that the recent conference of the Municipal Association had approved of this proposal

Speaking for the Mangonui County Council, Mr F. H. Holder said 90 per cent of the people of his county favoured the preservation of at least 10.000 acres

He considered that logging operations could not be carried out without damage to the trees.

“If any people think that a forest such as this should bo sacrificed for a few man-made houses, beer barrens, launches and yachts, they are all wrong.

He was met by Mr A. J. Murdoch. M.P., who deputised for the member for Hobson (Mr S. W. Smith' who was unable to attend.

“The theory of letting in the light so that a kauri can grow properly is all bunkum. Leave the forest alone—we have seen what has happened on our high country where erosion has set in and rainfall has been disturbed. “If I can afford to save 30 acres of bush on my 380-acre farm and pay taxes and rates on it. so can the Government afford to leave us 10,000 acres.” Mr Holder concluded.

“I hope that the consensus of opinion here today will be such that you will see the wisdom of our request to preserve a large proportion of the iorcst." Mr Murdoch said, addressing the Commissioner.

“I hope that the views you have previously expressed are not finalised, Mr Murdoch said.