BOROUGH COUNCIL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 66, 13 August 1947, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

AUGUST MEETING HELD WAIPOUA FOREST PRESERVATION The August meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council took place last Monday, His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry) presiding. Present: Crs R .Morpeth, C. S. Armstrong, L. R. Spring, H, G. Warren, A. J. Canning, H. B. Warner, J. Creeke. The Town Clerk (Mr L. D. Lovelock), Electrical Engineer (Mr F. W. Lysaght) and Foreman-Engineer (Mr W. S. Henderson) were also in attendance.

A letter from the Waipoua Forest Preservation Committee drew attention to the Dominion-wide petition which was launched by the committee with a view to preserving for all time the last remaining stand of Kauri Forest known as Waipoua and from which the Government was now taking out a number of ‘dead’ kauris and thereby threatening the well being of others. It was suggested that ‘street days’ be organised whereby women’s organisations could obtain thousands of signatures from the general public. Cr Morpeth said that any threat to the forest should be discouraged. He knew the forest personally and considered it the best in New Zealand. He criticised also the attempt to cut the area down to 7000 acres.

Cr Canning could not understand how a Government with such a champion of the forest as Hon. W. E* Parry in its Cabinet could be guilty of the present decision to cut cut the older trees.

On the motion of the Mayor the Council recorded its support of the petition and decided to approach the women’s organisations of the town and district to secure the necessary signatures. Pinus As Building Timber Following an enquiry as to the utility of pinus insignus for ordinary building purposes, the Clerk read Cr Sullivan’s recommendations to the Council. These showed that pinus could safely be used providing it was installed above the floor level. It was authorised by the State Housing Department, and partially by the State Advances, v It was decided -to amend the existing Building By-laws so as to permit of the use of insignus, above the vermin or bottom plates; but that it should not be used as a flooring timber. State Housing Cr Morpeth mentioned that there had been a distinct lull in the building of State Houses lately. Not one had been built during the present year, and the shortage was more acute than ever. He suggested that the Department be written to and urged to make a start on the new block at Kopeopeo. Cr Canning pointed out that with so many shortages facing building construction at the present time, it was almost futile to. think of new houses.

The Mayor: I would be quite willing to ‘shake them up.’ If you had the number of people in your office who visit mine seeking accommodation in this town you yrouldn’t hesitate to do anything'to help the sittion.

Cr Warren: I have read where some Boroughs are building more houses than ever before. The Council decided to write the Department, urging that no time be lost in constructing the projected State houses on the CampbellGaraway block.