PLANTING OF TREES

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 4

PLANTING OF TREES

ABANDONED LAND IN TARANAKI. CLAIMS OF SAND DUNE AREAS. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Opportunities for afforestation in New Zealand were emphasised by the Hon. J. McLeod in moving the Address-in-Reply motion in the Legislative Council to-day. Mr. McLeod said he believed this work would bring in a greater return for money spent than any other. Not only did it provide employment for men m the preparation of ground and in the planting of trees, but it also provided an opportunity for the men to adopt a vocation for which there was ample scope. There was much abandoned land in the back country of Taranaki that could be used to advantage in afforestation, said Mr. McLeod. This land would never be brought back to use for agricultural and pastoral purposes, but it was eminently suited for tree growing. Between Wellington and Mokau and Kawhia there were thousands of acres of sand dunes that would respond to the cultivation of trees. Mr. McLeod hoped the Minister would consider the afforestation of the waste lands of the North Island and of practically the whole of the west coast sand dunes. After all, he said, the growing of trees required a period of only 20 to 50 years and even in the case of native trees, which were of infinitely greater value than exotic trees, it would be a matter of only 100 years before they would return tenfold any expenditure on the preparation of the areas and planting.