MILLING PROPOSAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1944, Page 2

MILLING PROPOSAL

AREA IN TARARUA FOOTHILLS VIEWS OF MASTERTON CHAMBER. NO OBJECTION RAISED. Reference to the proposed milling of an area of State Forest in the Tararua foothills near Kiriwhakapapa was made at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce. The Timber Controller had asked for the Chamber's view regarding milling rights being granted in the area. The executive decided that it would not raise any objection to the timber being milled. From the scenic point of view no objection could be raised as second growth scrub would cover the scars. From the point of view of erosion the milling was a matter for the Catchment Board. Mr J. Bradbury said the executive had exceeded its powers. He did not want it to be understood that the Chamber encouraged the milling of timber. Mr Laing said the milling area was too far back to be of scenic use. Mr L. T. Daniell said there was a Forest and Bird Society in New Zealand. At Raurimu there was a milling area and idle sawmills nearby. The engines coughed out sparks from the nearby railway lines. The whole area was eventually burned, after public protest and agitation had caused a plan to mill the area to be washed out. At the Miki Miki the trees had reached maturity and wanted cutting. On the motion of Mr H, Reid, seconded by Mr L. T. the executive's action was endorsed.