RANGE AS RESERVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19377, 12 July 1926, Page 10

RANGE AS RESERVE.

THE MAUNGATAUTARI AREA. DESIRE OF LOCAL BODIES. : »:v ; ; ■ : - . . . - A proposal that the Government should purchg.se part of the Maungatautari Range as a reserve was again before the Matamata County , Council yesterday. The chairman, Mr. J. N. Anderson, presided. On the motion of Mr. E. J. Darby> seconded by Mr. S. H. Judd, it was decided that the council should attend to the forming of' a deputation, comprised of members' of the local bodies concerned, and district members of Parliament in order that the deputation may personally place the question before the Prime "Minister 'in Wellington, with a request for the Government to take over, and set aside the areas as a reserve., The reasons for the resolution were that the conservation of the summit lands of the Maungatautari Range as a reserve was considered by the surrounding local bodies, consisting of the Matamata and Waipa County Councils, - , the Cambridge Borough Council and _ the Leamington Town Board,, to be of vital importance to the districts'under their administration, ant there existed the grave menace that With'the call'for timber, and the gradual clearing-of the growth on the range, itwould ultimately become denuded of push. The outcome of clearing ranges was known to seriously affect the rainfall of the adjacent district. -'- The; range in question was the only 6ne frojn whjcfy the district concerned could derive the .benefit of a natural condenser. . Further, tile borough; and the town district we're about, to ihstal the means to obtain their. water supply from the range. The owners of the land were preparea to seU. v