SACRIFICING TREES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1588, 17 March 1919, Page 8

SACRIFICING TREES.

FOR ELECTRIC POWER LINES. A VIGOROUS PROTEST. The action of the Public Works Department in giving notice to certain councils to cut down trees deemed to be in the way of electrical transmission lines, brought a protest from members of the Selwyn Plantation Board at this morning's meeting. The matter was brought up in a communication from the chairman of the Darfield County Council. This letter stated that if the Public Works Department carried out its intentions in this matter many properties would be decreased in value to the extent of thousands of pounds in the aggregate. It was not only the present time, but also the future, that had to be considered. If a Government Department could order the destruction of trees wholesale, no one would undertake to plant. There was necessity for concentrated action, the letter declared, to stop such wanton damage, which could easily have bee*n avoided by a little foresight in the first place. The chairman of the above council aMo enclosed a copy of a letter sent to th« electrical engineer of Christchurch. This letter stated that the 40 days' notice given the council to cut down trees in certain reserves for a distance of two chains was most untimely, on account of all available labour being engaged in harvest work. In town it was deemed sufficient simply to lop off branches without destroying the trees. The communication wished to know whether there was a legitimate reason for this difference. It was pointed out that in the city, where there were low-tension wires, this was sufficient. Mr G. E. Bedford said that some of the bark of the trees near the lines — chiefly between Darfield and Springfield —flew off in high winds and lodged in the wires, thus causing a short eircuit. Some excellent trees had at times to be destroyed because of this. Mr Witty contended that they should assist the Malvern County Council or any other council that took action against this wanton destruction of valuable property. The Public Works Department should not be allowed to destroy these trees. The land would be useless if the trees were cut down and years of work would be lost. It was resolved that Messrs Bedford, Hall and Staples wait upon the Minister of Public Works, and the Minister in charge of the Forestry Department in connection with the matter.