TREE PLANTING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10891, 4 March 1914, Page 4

TREE PLANTING.

PROPOSAL TO PLANT THE WEST COAST.

At the Manawatu County Council meeting yesterday Or. Phillips initiated an interesting discussion on tree planting, by remarking that It would be more practically beneficial to the country if convicts were employed at tree planting along the West Coast, rather than at Waiotapu, far from a railway and where there was no industrial demand for the timber. The chairman said it was quite true, the State had the land along the coast, the railway was at hand, and a belt of trees along tbe coast would be of public benefit. It was Mr Tom McKenzie who had first made the suggestion and he, the chairman, had thereupon corresponded with Mr M&tthews, chief forest ranger of the Lands Department, on the matter. The latter had made arrangement for starting a nnrsery with the object mentioned in view, but on his death shortly afterwards the project was dropped. It probably could not be determined except by actual trial what sort of trees would be effective as shelter for a forest belt along the coast. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Phillips, seconded by Or. McKenzie, That this Council begs to draw the attention of the Minister for Lands to the large -area of Government land on the coast from Foxton northwards, which, if planted with trees, would become a most valuable State asset. Surrounded as it is by a large population and near easy means of transit, there would be a ready sale for all the timber that could be grown. W© therefore respectfully submit that immediate steps should be taken to resume possession of such area as is necessary for a nursery, where, under similar conditions, young trees suitable to the climate and soil could be grown for planting purposes on Crown lands.