CLIMATIC RESERVE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 143, 29 July 1926, Page 4

CLIMATIC RESERVE.

PRESERVATION of the bush upon Maungatautari range is desired by the residents of Cambridge and certain parts of Matamata and Waipa counties. Cambridge borough is substantially interested because its proposed water supply comes from the slopes of the range, and the fellii-g of the bush, while it would have no effect whatever upon the annual ramfall, certainly would disturb the continuity of supply, since the bush builds up and retains a great carpet of humus and general overlay tnut acts as a natural sponge, from which the water percolates through hi me course of weeks and months, whereas the whole volume would come do v/n in a few days on denuded slopes. For reasons of steady irrigation, certain parts of Waipa and Matamata counties are also interested, and no doubt it would be desirable for those localities that the bush should be preserved. There is also the national aspect, and it needs no argument in these days to stress the desirableness of preserving all the native that remains on our hillsides. The wholesale destruction of forests, for the sake of grazing a few sheep, has resulted in the rich humus being washed off, making the land almost useless for grazing, and causing destructive floods.

But, however desirable the preservation of the' bush may be upon general grounds, the principle that the beneficiaries must pay should not be lost sight of in the event of the Government requiring local bodies to contribute towards the purchase price. In that case it would scarcely be equitable for the whole of Matamata county ratepayers to be asked to contribute. Whatever allocation is required from the Matamata Co.unty Council should be found by the" ratepayers of the riding or ridings who are willing to back their representations financially. Subject to this reservation, the council would be acting wisely in assisting with the project beyond the “ moral support ” stage.