BLACK WILDERNESS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 169, 10 March 1932, Page 6

BLACK WILDERNESS

PROTEST AGAINST MILLING METH.ODS AT TE WHAITI. DEPARTMENT TO BE INFORMED. "It is an unholy wastage and something should be done about it," said Mr. H. P. Ford, chairman of the Rotorua County Couneil at yester day's meeting of the Couneil when referring , to the methods adopted by certain milling companies in the Te Whaiti district. Mr. Ford stated that the millers were taking only the choice areas of timber, and leaving large areas to be destroyed by fire and become breeding ground for fern. Other councillors supported Mr. Ford, who expressed the opinion that the millers in this area should be forced to work under the direction of the Forestry Department, as had been the case in the King County and Mamaku districts. Under the Department's supervision, all the millable j timber was assessed and the milling j companies were forced to take it all -j out. ! "At present," said Mr. Ford, "all j one side of the road around Te Whaiti j is a black wilderness of charred trees j and killed timber. It is an absolute shame." Cr. W. Steele expressed the opinion that the area in question should not have been touched for another 20 years. It should have been locked up, It was decided to draw the attention of the Forestry Department to the wastage which was proceeding.