POWER BOARD AND TREE PLANTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3948, 28 May 1929, Page 3

POWER BOARD AND TREE PLANTING.

PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN. » At last week’s meeting of the Horowhenua Power Bo'ard Mr. Blenkliorii moved arid Mr. R. Bryant seconded the following resolution : “That the Board urge the Government to acquire an area of sand dune country and to vest the same or a suitable area thereof in the Board as a reserve for tree-plant-ing and for other of its general purposes, or in the alternative the Board acquire by purchase a suitable area for the purposes.” 'Speaking an support of the motion Mr. Blenkhom said his idea was for the Board to pia-ke some provision for growing its own poles. A loan Avould not be necessary to acquire the land and a certain amount of preliminary preparation would be needed. The land he had in view would not, in its present condition, grow the class of timber they wanted. They would, first of all, haye to plant shelter belts on the side nearest the sea; that could be gone on With at once; it would improve the reserve materially as the ycall's went on. When th© primary shelter belt was established, eucalypts could be planted. At Foxton the Hailbour Board had a reserve which was, in the meantime, leased for seaside cottages, and quite a decent revenue was derived from it. Eon- many years it lay dormant, hut it had since acquired quite a considerable value and formed an endowiment without which the Harbour Board would find themselves very much harder up than they were at present. Mr. Bryant said he thought it would be a good idea if, for the purpose of planting - trees, the Board could obtain from the Government a grant of a few hundred acres.

•Mr. A. Seifert said that it was easy enough to grow the trees. The Forestry Department had, each yeair, cut the cost down until it (Ame out at a remarkably low figure. If the Board started operalions on a few hundred acres, it would be costly, and it should be done in a fairly large way, unless it was carried out by farmers with the aid of the equipment which 1 hey used for other work. Moreover, there was the danger of fire. The proposal did not seem to blend in witli the work which the Board had in hand, and he thought that poles produced in that way would cost a good deal more than what ether Boards would be paying. There was always the advent of concrete poles to be considered. When he visited India he had found that steel or iron poles were being gencirally used there, and was told that they cost less than wooden poles. 'The Board would get nothing out of the proposed scheme for 30 years. As one who had planted a great many trees in his time, he must vote against -the motion, from a oommei'eial point of view.

Mr. Blenkhom explained that he only wanted Hie Board to acquire land as a reserve; he was not moving that they start planting. While there was an opportunity he wished to have the land secured for the general purposes of the Board. If this or another Bo'ard cared in the future to utilise it for tree-planting, let them do so. Mr. A. E. Hyde said the Government were planting thousands of acres and within the next 30 years, he thought, would be -able to sell poles to the Board at a far lower cost than the Board could grow them for. The chairman (Mr. G. A. Monk) agreed with AH. Hyde, and suggested that Mr. Blenkhom should take the matter up -with the Levin Borough Council. Mr. Bdenkhorn said that it might be possible to get the land for nothing. Be thought -the Government valuation was about i 5- per acre. It is eminently well situated, he said, more so for the erection of seaside cottages than is the present location of Ho'kio township, and as such cquld beleased to residents for something that would more than cover any expenditure that the Board would have to face to acquire the land.

Mr. W. E. Barber said lie was in sympathy with Mr. Blenkhorn with •regard to planting, which was a * right thing; but he did not think it was the business of this Board. He did mot (know that it Would do the Board any harm to view the land, and he thought that, in fairness to Mi’.' Blentehorn, they should view it. •Mr. Vincent: 1 don’t think there is any possiliility of getting it at 5/-. The Maori owners understand the position out there. The amotion was then out to the meeting and was defeated, only the . mover and the seconder voting for it. |