NEED FOR SHELTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 156, 17 September 1941, Page 5

NEED FOR SHELTER

TREES, HEDGES ARE FEW VPLAINS EXPOSED TO WEATHER

Storms such as that whichi swept in from the Bay of Plenty on Saturday morning are a reminder that this district couldi <k> with more hediges and shelter trees. Long ago Nature clothed! the district with bush trees, manuka thickets, flax and other native plants, all designed to shelter the bird life and prevent soil erosion. Half ia century or so of vigorous land settlement in thiife district with more intensive cultivation each year, has cleared away much natural shelter.

Bush has been felled, manuka has •been burnt and flax swamps drained and cleared. But "cleared" land ia shelterless land, unless hedges and -shelter trees have been, pllanted at cost of time and moneyJmEhch good work lias been done, ■particularly on the Rangitaiki Plains in the way of planting hedges, most ly of barberry, and of shelter belt? of gum trees and pine trees. Yel much more planting of trees could lie done .in the future. Just how much more shelter is needed for man and beast, is shown whenevei a gale from the Bay of Plenty brings driving rain storms; or when the winter land winds from, the mountains sweep over the coastal farms. Too Often Postponed Extensive trees and hedge planting on some farms shows u]> by contrast the absence of shelter on other farms. Too often the business of ' tree planting is postponed from one ■ winter to another, and not done 1 at alt. Most settlers desire more shelt.er on their lands; bu 1 trees and protective fencing foi hedges cost ''money, and money wus scarce in- the years of low prices: and hedge planting calls for much labour, while too 'many farms "hav" 'oeen under-staffed .in recent years. Another Season Passed Another tree and hedge planting '.season has gone by. It is too late to pliant trees this year, but not too •early to make plans for putting in more hedges and shelter belts during next winter. Along miles and miles 'of roads in this district are wire fences and no hedges.

Far too many farm dwellings are merely "houses in a paddock" ratheT than homes in the shelter of trees. Stormy weather compels far too many herds of cattle to turn away from the wind and shiver, because •there are not trees to afford shelter. N ! o doubt many settlers, both pakeha and Maori, made good resolutions while the recent storm was at its height, resolutions to plant more trees. It is to be hoped such resolutions will noit be forgotten as soon .as the sun shines out and the gale .-gives place to gentle breezes.