AFFORESTATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 14, 8 September 1931, Page 3

AFFORESTATION

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD HELPS RIVER TRUST WAIMAKARIRI PLANATION One of the most successful schemes carried out with funds supplied Ly the Unemployment Board was the special tree-planting project undertaken by the Waimakariri River Trust (states the Unemployment Bpard's report, which has been recently presented to Parliament). Towards the end of June, 1931, the River Trust started to plant 450 acres of waste land on its reserves with Pinus radiata. Two separate eanips were established, some sixteen an'd twenty-six miles respectively from Christchurch, and two gangs of fifty unemployed married men each were transported to the camps. These men returned to their homes at the end of the first week, and on the following Monday the next two gangs were' taken out to the camps. The River Trust engaged the services of cooks and supplied all meals, while the men provided their own blankets and eating and drinkkig utensils: After this scheme has been carried on for three weeks the success of its operation led the River Trust to eonsider an extension of the scheme. A request was therefore made to the State Forest Service for some as-. sistance in furthering this project, with the result that 750,000 seedling trees were generously donated. A cash donation from the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association enabled the trust to purchase 250,000 trees from private nurseries. The planting of a further area.of 1500 acres was thus ensured, and approval was obtained to the employment of a further three hundred men in alternate gangs on similar conditions. As a result of this special scheme the unemployment position in Christchurch has been materially relieved during the winter months, and the value of the afforestation work is evident. Under the initial scheme two hundred men planted 225,000 trees by the 22nd August, 1931, and under the extended scheme threte hundred men will plant one million trees by the 26th September, 1931. The total area cleared, hurnt, and planted will amount to 1950 acres, and a pleasing feature of the arrangement is that all married men are employed without being absent from • their homes for more than a period of six days.