WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1931, Page 9

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED

CLEARING HYDRO LAND TRACK.

QUESTION OF PLANTING HILLS.

Further work for men under the unemployment scheme was provided by the New Plymouth Borough Council last night when it was decided that the clearing of the hydro lands at Mangamahoe should be accomplished by this means. It had previously been decided by the council that because of the closing of the present entrance to the lands the caretaker s’ ould reopen and widen the old tram line from Kent Road. It is this work that will now b,o done by the unemployed. The proposal was made by Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the unemployment committee. The committee he said, had men available and was urgently in need of additional undertakings to absorb them. He suggested it would be a desirable thing if 100,000 to 200,000 trees could be planted on the land by unemployed .men, the only cost to the council being the price of the trees. Such an undertaking would be an excellent means pf absorbing the unemployed besides being of great advantage to the borough. He advocated a.i energetic and systematic planting in extension of that already accomplished. ;nd said it had been’suggested that with tliis object the council should' consider resuming the hills' on the eastern side of the lake at present leased' to Mr. Wasley. There were tremendous future possibilities there, plus the immediate advantage of giving employment to 20 men for at least four or five months. A considerable amount of preliminary work was necessary before planting. Mr. G. M. Spence endorsed Mr, Stainton’s idea. Preparatory work should be done as soon as possible, he said. Besides the utilitarian value of tree planting, there was the scenic value to be considered and l.c thought it would be well worth -while for the council to take up the proposal. He looked forward to the time when Lake Mangamahoe would be a scenic attraction of importance to New. Plymouth, but with the hills in their present condition that was not possible. The. hills would be of greater value planted than as they were now. He urged that steps should be taken immediately to repossess the hills so that something could be done during the winter.

The. question of adjusting the boundaries of Mr. Wasley’s property was left to the electric light committee. :