DAMAGE TO TREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20930, 21 July 1931, Page 6

DAMAGE TO TREES.

r ACCESS FOE POWER LINES.

WAITEMATA BOARD'S ACTION.

EXPERT ADVICE FOR ENGINEER.

" There have been one or two extraordinary exhibitions of stupidity in connection with the cutting down ol trees by power boards in the country, and one historic tree at Otorcihanga, associated with Maori tradition/was absolutely ruined," said Mr. A. E. H. Harrison, at a meeting of the Waitemata Electric-Power Board yesterday. He was speaking in connection witlv a letter written by the board's engineer to the Waitemata County Council, asking for arrangements to be made to have certain bluegum trees at Huapai cut down, as they would be a danger to a power line in course of construction. Mr, Harrison said the board should endeavour to keep lines clear of trees wherever possible, instead of cutting trees down. The chairman, Mr. H. A. Robertson, said the board's employees were very careful in cutting trees and had avoided them wherever possible. When it was found necessary to cut a tree, the work was always done with care and regard to the future growth of the tree. In the course of five years the board had received only two complaints. Naturally, trees had to be lopped to clear the lines, but the board could rest assured that the engineer would not ruin trees of historic or other interest.

Mr. G. O'Halloran stated that at Murray's Bay pine trees which had been cut by the board's men had since died and were.blots on the landscape. >

Mr. S. E. Kennings moved that the engineer be authorised to seek expert advice in connection with the cutting down or lopping of trees wherever necessary. Mr. R. Wright said an unskilled man could do irremediable damage to a tree in 10 minutes. Post and Telegraph Department emoloyees used to swing tomahawks at random in cutting back trees and in some instances it had taken 10 years to repair the damage caused. He bad never seen a man with experience in tree work in the employ of a board or local body. Most employees simply hacked limbs off in all directions, instead of cutting back in the correct manner one or two branches necessary to clear the lines. Mr. G. Trevethick stated that wires through a gap between branches of a tree were prohibited by lawj on account of the danger of upper branches bending in a gale, touching the wires and causing damage. The chairman said the proposal, if carried, would, put the engineer in an invidious position. After further discussion the engineer was given authority to seek expert advice when necessary in connection with the cutting back of trees.