Claims Dept. Has Done Most

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1947, Page 3

Claims Dept. Has Done Most

The secretarv ol' the Auckland Ship and Bcaibuifilers' Association (Mr F. Bertrandi said his organisation was just as concerned about the preservation of Waipoua as any other section, but ho felt a practical approach to the

subject was offered by the State Forest Service's proposals.

Dargaville's deputy mayor (Mr S. T. Astlcy) voiced his strong approval of the departmental schemes which he said would effect the preservation of the forest for all time and allow the use of the valuable timber which wa urgently needed. “I have cut about 150,000,000 ft of kauri in my time and 1 can say there is a lot of rubbish and poor timber in this forest." said Mr A. Smythe. of Bayswater.

• : To take this forest out of the hands of the State Forest Service as has been suggested today is absolute suicide. It is the biggest, bit of lunacy I have heard.

Mr Smythe was the last speaker and when ho concluded Mr Murdoch put the motion and its amendment to ihe meeting, with the result that the majority of delegates supported Mr Yarborough’s request for the preservation of 5000 acres of kauri with a 5000-acre block of surrounding forest. There was an obvious lack of unanimity among delegates, each of whom desired to see the forest preserved, commented the Commissioner in replying.

"A good deal has been said in this controversy by people who were not well informed about the work of the State Forest Service.

“Where would Waipoua be today if it were not for the department? "There would not be a single nullable tree standing. "They say we are only interested in the commercial side of the undertaking but we have done more to preserve the bush than any nt !, or organisation in New Zealand."