FREQUENCY OF FLOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 10

FREQUENCY OF FLOODS

ONE OF THE. FACTORS DEFORESTATION OF HILLSIDES (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, July 2 i That the deforestation of the hillsides is in some measure responsible for the frequent flooding in the north in recent years was claimed by a Public Works Department officer. Experts had stated that 25 per cent, of the country should be left under bush, and probably a greater percentage was necessary in North Auckland owing to its hilly nature. Under present conditions the water drained off the hills much too quickly, with the result that th? streams were unable to cope with it. Another factor was the growth of willows in the streams and watercourses, which greatly reduced the rate at which the water could escape. This was very noticeable in the areas now under flood. The Public Works Department had done a good deal of work in removing pillows from the streams recently/ The occurrence of floods had become much more noticeable in recent years through the improvement in reading conditions, he added. When clay roads were more general, travellers had much to contend with primarily, and it was usual for the roads to be regarded as impassable in bad weather. The regular passage of traffic in all weather served to emphasise the dislocation of transport when flooding did occur.