PLANTATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12757, 29 September 1919, Page 8

PLANTATION BOARD.

TO-DAY’S MEETING. A meeting of the Selwyn Plantation Board was held this morning; present Messrs H. D. M. Haszard (chairman), S- A. Staples (deputy-chairman), R. M. Morten. G. Hall. R. Naira, G. Bedford. W. T. Popple and C. Wolfe. An apology was received for the absence of Mr G. Wittjj M.P. The Finance Committee reported that Mr R. G. Robinson, superintendent, had received two offers of engagement from Australia at much larger salaries than he was receiving. The committee recommended that his salary should be increased by £SO a year, making it £4OO a year, on condition that he entered into an agreement for five years. The report was adopted, and Mr Robinson said that he would be pleased 'to enter into the agreement. Mr Morten said ho had heard that the Public Works Department was applying to Parliament for further powers in regard to destroying trees that interfered with electrical transmission lines. The chairman said that if any measure of that character was contemplated it should be submitted to the board before it was brought before Parliament. The _ secrctarv was instructed to inquire into the statement and to report to the Finance Committee, to which Mr Morten was added for the purpose. The transfer of part of reserve 33575 Bankside, from J. H. Shemmings to E. P. J. Grtew. was referred to the superintendent for a report. Members expressed disapproval of a practice of making transfers without consulting the board. An application by L. Derrett to lease a reserve at Hororata for grazing at 5s an acre for six months was refer rex? to the superintendent to take action. A letter from D. M : Loughlin, Darfield, as to the state of a reserve there, and asking for a rebate of rent, was referred to the superintendent for n report at next meeting. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the past month showed that the receipts, including balance of £374 14s 3d brought forward, were £B4B 10s sd, and the expenditure was £509 18s 2d, leaving a credit balance of £338 12s 3d. Accounts ..amounting to £509 8s 2d were passed'Vor payment. The Finance Committee was empowered to invest credits in war bonds. MANAGEMENT OF RESERVES, A special meeting was held to consider a report by Mr Robinson on the management of reserves, published some weeks ago. It was suggested by Mr Nairn that the work of propagating trees should be left in the hands of the superintendent, who said that next year the board should have 300,000 trees in the nursery. and should be able to plant 100 acresthat year. It was decided that the .superintendent should report on reserves suitable for planting, and that members of the board should inspect them. A motion was passed that the lessee of reserve 169, New Brighton sand dunes, should be informed that the board would resume one-third of the area in twelve months or the whole area in two years. The superintendent was instructed to take steps to prevent fires, especially by ploughing on roads near railway lines.