AFFORESTATION IN PROVINCE

Southland Times, Issue 25795, 5 October 1945, Page 4

AFFORESTATION IN PROVINCE

Projects Of Local Bodies

REPORTS RECEIVED BY PROGRESS LEAGUE

That local bodies in Southland are alive to the need for afforestation Projects in the province was revealed by information given in letters from local bodies received at a meeting of. the Southland Progress League last night. The league had written to these bodies, pointing out the desirability of afforestation projects to ensure a plentiiul supply of timber for future years. The Southland County Council had for some time been interesting itself in the matter of afforestation, and negotiations were now under way for securing an area of land for afforestation purposes, stated a letter received from the county clerk (Mr H. C. Gimblett). In the meantime the county had arranged for the planting of 10,000 yearling pinus radiata trees in order to have them in readiness for the next planting season. . It was felt that the league might interest itself and make representations to the State Forest Service to have supplies of two-year trees made available free of cost, or at a low rate, to farmers and to local authorities, the letter continued. A number ot trees at a low cost, or on a free basis, to local authorities, would definitely encourage planting, and the league’s assistance in this matter would be appreciated. SCHEME AT GORE An intimation that the Gore Borough Council had an afforestation scheme under consideration was given in toner received from the town clerk at Gore (Mr D. Harvey). Already, he stated, more than 2000 trees had been planted at Croydon Bush. The Mataura Borough Council was in full sympathy with the leagues efforts towards increasing Southlands foie areas, stated a totter from the town clerk at Mataura (Mr G M. Thom). It was the council’s intention, the lettei stated, to plant on the river chainages of the Mataura river, and the Waimumu stream within the borougi boundary, together with an. area ot 40 acres held in trust as a native reserve. There was also a tentative plan, under the auspices of the Southland Regional Planning Council, P 4ant a c ol £ lder " able area in the foothills of the Hokonui range, but this was still a possibility only. ~ Information that the Invercargill City Council was inquiring’ into the matter was contained in a tetter from the town-clerk (Mr W. F. Sturman). ADVICE TO SERVICEMEN

The State Advances Corporation advised that former-servicemen settlers would be encouraged to plant shelter belts and waste corners. The corporation had been i-equested to keep the matter under attention, the letter It was gratifying to hear what local bodies were doing in the matter, said Mr S. M. Macalister. “It is remarkable,” he added. Mr H. C. Gimblett said that it was not just a matter of getting the trees and planting them. Farmers had to fence trees off to protect them from rabbits. If netting could be released at a lower cost it would help. A decision was made to write to the Commissioner of State Forests to see if the State Forest Service could supply trees to local bodies and farmers free, or at a low cost. It was also decided to set up a small committee and to ask for representatives of the Farmers Union and nurserymen and the Conservator of Forests to join that committee in an effort to formulate a policy to encourage tree planting on farms and by local bodies.