LOOKING AHEAD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 57, 18 February 1927, Page 5

LOOKING AHEAD

PLANTING TREES FOR POLE*. POWER BOARD TO INVESTIGATE The question as to whether provision should be made to meet its requirement for poles in the future was discussed by the members of the Hawke’s Bay Power Board yesterday following a letter received from Mr. A. C. Birch, of Kaiwaka, who stated that he luul established a nursery at Waikoau and offering to supply and plant gum trees on any area required by the board. Mr. Hill considered that it would be wise for the board to acquire a block of land as suggested some time ago for She purpose of tree-planting. In other districts the local bodies had acquired areas for tree planting and he thought that the board would be doing the right thing in going in for a plantation. Mr. Kettle thought that the matter required most careful consideration before thq board embarked on such a scheme. It was doubtful that in twenty years tune the board would require poles. If so, he was confident that any poles required would he obtained at a reasonable rate. The chairman agreed with Mr. Kettle and considered that the time was inopportune for such a scheme. Mr. J. W. Callaghan felt that the matter was far too important to be turned down definitely. Mr. Chambers expressed the opinion that the land was most suitable for growing trees for the board’s purposes and he was confident that should the board go in for such a scheme it would be most profitable. Mr, Birch’s land was eminently suitable £pr tree-growing. He thought that the board should ask him to quote for the planting of 400 or 500 acres and maintaining it, with firebreaks, for ten years. Mr. Chambers’ suggestion found favour with the members and it was decided to reply to Mr. Birch on the lines suggested.