NO TREE SENSE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 4 August 1941, Page 2

NO TREE SENSE

V BOROUGH COUNCIL’S DECISION When a borough council of the Waikato district met recently it decided chat it would not observe Arbor Day 1 tliis \ear. but it resolved to cut down '■ some trees in a public park “Perhaps the war may be blamed by those councillors for their ignoring of Arbor Day.” comments a member of the Forc.-t and Bird Protection Society. I but they have apparently forgotten ! that the war has emphasised the importance of a national cult of trees This i fact is well recognised in England. - where the society known as the Men ! of the Trees is busy with a campaign : for i million shilling planting fund ' “Anart from the various kinds of real • wealth which well managed forests can (yield, the instinct of self-preservation | must compel New Zealanders to dej velop a strong tree sense, because their I country, which is largely hilly and i mountainous, is dangerously subject to | erosion when steep surfaces are clear- : ed An important purpose of Arbor . Day is to help in the cultivation of that j nec ‘ssary tree sense, especially among young folk Therefore, a resolution of j a local body to ignore Arbor Day is dis inctly against public interest and is definitely a dereliction of duty, i "That borough council's lack of vision I comes peculiarly this- year when it is i hoped that much of the Arbor Day i planting will be concerned with memorj ial trees associated with times of peace and war. Every town and village in : the Dominion has cause to honour worthy men and women with those liv- | mg memorials."