THE NEW ZEALAND RHINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND RHINE.

ITS FORESTS & THE AXE. (By Tclciraph.—Special Oorrcepondent.) Wanganui, May 2G. Tho, Wanganui River Service Commission is at present in Wtuigauui, but tho evidenco lias been token iu private. Tho Forestry Commission also lield a sitting hero to-day, devoting their attention chietly to tho matter of conserving tho bush in tho Wauganui liiver Valley, in order that tho navigation of tho river might not bo injured. Members ol tho Commission gave a sympathetic healing to various witnesses, and expressed themsolvcs as satisfied that tho conservation ot tho bush was urgently needed. Mr. 1\ Y. Lethbridgo said that tho Commission recognised tho absolute necessity of stopping tho deforestation along uotli tlio river and its tributaries, and had decided to recommend Parliament to keep tho bush adjacent to this aiul other rivers in tho Dominion reserved, they had also-decided to recommend that suitable nroas bo reserved jicar small towns, so .is to guarantee tliccfo towns ft convomont water supply. Mr C. I'. Murdoch, another member, made some pertinent remarks on tho damago done to many waterways throughout New Zealand by tho reckless use of (ho ■ixc To devastate tho bush in the centre of ('he North Island, from which eo many rivers drew their sources, would l>o criminal. Unless tho authorities woko up to tlio danger, wo would see a pitiful example of tho "bush-denuded" South Island repeated here. Ho thought that it would bo a good thing to extend the national park, so far as practicable, without blocking settlement, and ho trusted that tho pooplo of AYaiigamii would givo tho Commission all Uie backing up possible with regard lo forest conservation, iu ordor to help tlio Commission's rcoouiwon- S dations being adopted by Parliament