CONSERVING THE FOREST

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1932, Page 11

CONSERVING THE FOREST

VALUE OF MOUNTAIN BUSH BOARD’S WORK APPRECIATED. TARANAKI COUNTY MAKES GRANT

The importance to Taranaki of conserving the forests on Mount Egmont and the ranges, and appreciation of the efforts of the Egmont National Park Board in that direction were emphasised by members of the Taranaki County Council, which yesterday unanimously decided to make the usual annual grant of £49 towards the funds of the board. Messrs. W. D. Armit, F. Amoore and W. H. Skinner, representing the Park Board apd the North Committee of the board, waited on the concil. .Mr. Armit .explained at some length the operations of both bodies, pointing out that during the year the board had pursued its policy of re-aflorcstation. It had recently planted 56 acres—so acres at Oakura and six acres at Stratford, making altogether approximately ftOU acres. The 56 acres had entailed an expenditure of £555, the work being car; ried out mainly through the Unemploy, ment Board and the bulk of the money as wages having been refunded. The board had to find- the trees. It had also had to clear fire breaks and the plantations had to be maintained. With the assistance Of a Government grant destruction of goats had, received atten. tion. To date 5551 goats had. been de. stroyed in the reserve. During the last yehr since the board had been paying on tails it had paid for 127 F tailA. As far as finance .wag concerned the board was in a parlous state. It had a. credit balance of £4B 16s Id, but its liabilities were considerably more than that. Referring to the activities Of the North Committee Mr. Armit said the committe had just taken over the hostel, which With tile furniture was now clear of debt, the hostel having been liinded over by the hostel eompany free of debt, whilst the furniture had been paid for out of the proceeds of an art union. It was now a question of patronage to decide whether it would prove a pay. able proposition, And to that end the committee was keeping the expenses down to a minimum- The committee had expended £172. in maintenance and pairs, the old building having been reno. vated, whilst the upkeep of the road had cost £lO7. With the new loan proposed to be raised £340 to £350 had to be found annually As fixed charges for interest, etc. Toll? last year had amounted to £305 19s 6d, but this year they had decreased so that during the past seven months they had amounted to only £328 19s. They could not expect more than £6OO for the ydar. With a view to attracting patrons the toll charges had been reduced. HOSTEL SATISFACTORY.

Speaking on behalf of the North Copimittae Mr. Amooi'e said that the taking over of the hostel was in the nature of a “pig in a poke.’’ He did hot know whether they could make it pay, but up to the present it had proved satis* factory. The committee, he said, was an enthusiastic and hard-working one. The buildings generally were in a ter state now than they had been for a long time apd for the coming summer they had a programme of work mapped, out at a moderate cost. He pointed out that the bounty was just as much interested in the mountain as was the town.

Mr. Skinner .stressed the importance of the work of.' reafforestation. The sources of all the streams in laranaki were' on the mountain or the Kaitake and Tpyakai ranges, and if they were', denuded of forest councillors knew what would happen. Replying to Cr. Thomas Mr. Arhnt said that° the art union had realised £HHQ, of which £l2OO had been paid fbr the furniture. The chairman explained that the hostel, which had been handed over to thb tforth Committee absolutely eW of debt, had cost the Hostel Company £3700, in addition to which the company had a further liability of over ±2OOO to meet, together with a possible contingency of £3OOO. It was necessary for th® committee to purchase the fur-, pjture so as to carry on. In moving, that the usual amount be voted Cr. Vickers said that the necessity for conserving the forests on Taranaki’s watershed was being impressed on them more apd more. It the mountain and. ranges were, denuded of forests Taranaki’s water supply would suffer severely.. As a practical farmer and a prodycet 110 ‘held that it wfts the duty of everyone to assist in conserving the forests. The greatest menace had been the goats. While it might be said that the hostel had been established for the convenience of tourists, the council had to meet the position us it was and it was their duty to assist in controlling the goat menace, also the reafforestation.

Councillor Wood seconded the motion, which was carried.