WAITOTARA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1919, Page 1

WAITOTARA COUNTY COUNCIL.

TIMBER SUPPLIES,

At a meeting last Monday of the above Council at Wanganui, the conference recently held at Levin asked support of the following motions. (1) In view of the rapid depletion of tlie forests to supply export timber to Australia the conference endorses tlie regulations to regulate export and conserve the ■ remaining timber , -despite the clamour of interested parties. (2) That tlie Government be. urged to acquire at once all suitable land along the Wellington-AVest Const line,and to establish State, 'forests to provide, future timber needs-and prevent the destruction. of valuable land hv drifting, sand..

The Chairman considered. the exportation of timber should be prohibit? id, as there, would be no timber left in 15 or 20 years... There, was only one timber—kauri —for building railway, arriages, and it. was being exported fast to Australia. -It meant importing timber from America to New .‘Zealand. It was a. terrible pity; -that : Near .Zealand should allow timber to be, exported, as . the, Dominion. .would want', it all for home requirements. At present totara was pretty well done. Cr. Handley,• said, i if- export, , was:, stopped Australia might retaliate and not export hardwood. ■ . The Chairman said Australia; wanted ■white pine‘for buttef boxes, , and it was getting so dear Ahnt. ..they ..might get timber from Australia, cheaper. . Australia had some of the best hardwood Limbers., .. ■■ Cr. Morrison said they should uige the Government .to acquire suitable land along the coast for planting, in order to meet future needs. , At Okeliu pines iiad done remarkably well. ~ If only for firewood,, it would probably be unprocurable along the coast in ten years’ time. It was decided to support the resolutions.