TREE-PLANTING LANDS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 255, 20 September 1928, Page 2

TREE-PLANTING LANDS.

COUNCIL INSISTENT. What is Minister Going To Do ? The Commissioner for State Forests replied in regard to a protest from the Matamata County Council that farm lands were being used for treeplanting purposes, that these lands were freehold or on the point of being made freehold, and that there was no power to prevent an owner from disposing of such land to any person who was eligible to purchase. Section 386 of the Land Act, 1924, enabled any afforestation company to acquire lands nothwithstanding restrictions as to the maximum area held, provided the Governor-General on the joint recommendation of the writer and his colleague consented thereto. Such consents were only given after the fullest investigation.

The Hon. O. Hawken’s letter concluded with the observation: “ With respect to the areas in question, I understand that, generally speaking, these are more suitable for afforestation than for farming purposes.” Cr. Cox: Where has he got his information from? It is not correct.

Cr. Judd: We should write back and point out that even he himself admits some land suitable for farming is being used for tree-planting. Cr. Allen: The point is they are isolating farmers who are making a success of farming on this land. On the motion of Crs. Judd and Allen, it was decided to reply that the Minister himself admitted in his letter that the council’s contention was correct so far as some of the land was concerned, and the council would like to know what he intended to do about it.