VANISHING TIMBER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 254, 18 June 1932, Page 6

VANISHING TIMBER

POVERTY BAY FARMERS EXPRESS FEARS OF FAMINE. GOVERNMENT PLANTING URGED Farmers in the Poverty Bay district are viewing with considerable apprehension the possibility of being without timber within the next 15 or 20 years. The Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners' Association discussed the question at a meeting last week, reports the Gisborne Times, and further representations are to be made to the Government on the subject. The approaching difficulty was placed before the Commissioner some time ago, and the association received the following reply: "I have to inform you that the anxiety of the Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners' Industrial Union of Emp'loyers regarding future timber supplies for the Poverty Bay and East Coast districts is fully appreciated. It is a fact, however, that the cost of establishing and maintaining a plantation is considerably more than the cost of the land and the wages of planters, and under present eonditions the funds necessary to proceed with a planting scheme on the East Coast cannot be made available. Under the circumstances, it is not considered necessary or desirable to incur the preliminary costs of inspection at the present time. A Further Appeal. The" president commented that the reasons given by the Commissioner did not appear sufficient to delay the institution of planting here. The Government was putting men on tree-planting in other districts, so that the letter appeared rather contradictory in its main argument, and he could see no reason why this district should be neglected in regard to its future timber requirements. The president was authorised to ' draft a letter on the- subject to the Commissioner.