FARMERS’ PROTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 4

FARMERS’ PROTEST

TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION DAMAGE CAUSED BY GOLD DREDGES “Gold dredges are destroying what has taken centuries to build; not only is the land itself destroyed, but the way is opened for erosion and all its disastrous effects,” said the Otago preside nt of Federated Farmers, Mr S. Sim, when invited yesterday to comment on the article in the Daily Times this week about the trail of destruction left by the dredge at Lowburn. The extraction of gold was one ot the contributing causes of the silting of the Molyneux River at Balclutha, which increased the danger of flooding, Mr Sim said. Gold was of comparatively little value when one realised that the land would be there for ever if treated well. Gold-dredging was really a tragedy, and it was wrong that it should continue. To interfere with Nature was to invite trouble. Another Central Otago farmer expressed the same views. He recalled the destruction of valuable land by gold-dredging in the Waikaka Valley. This land had once grown good crops of turnips, he said. To-day it was useReference was made to the possibility of covering the great heaps of tailings with soil once again. This, it was, agreed was an almost impossible task. Even if the soil were put back, many years would pass before it would be arable and even then it would not be first-class farming land. Farmers agreed that something should be done to cover the tailings left by the gold dredges, snd the planting of suitable trees, such as pinus insignis, was one method suggested. These would arrest erosion and grass would grow aiound the trees. _________