STATE FORESTRY WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 670, 23 May 1929, Page 18

STATE FORESTRY WORK

FARMING LAND USED SETTLERS PROTEST That the operations of the State Forestry Department at Riverhead might trench on land suitable for agricultural settlement was the fear expressed yesterday to the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Commissioner of State Forests. The Minister spent yesterday visiting the Riverhead district, and while he was there a deputation from the Kumeu Ratepayers” Association waited upon him for the purpose of impressing him with the necessity of preserving useful land. The Auckland Director of the Forestry Service, Mr. R. D. Campbell, said the objections to the use of land had been made two years late. The proposed schemes had been placed before those likely to be affected, and no objections had been made. Speaking as the member for Kaipara, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said that settlers in the district had grown uneasy at the growth of the Forestry Department’s work. The speaker admitted that he had been responsible for the position up to the present time, but he had also given thought to the other side of the question. Part of the area was suitable for farming, which brought a much quicker return. NOT UNIQUE Replying to Mr. Campbell's statement that the Forestry Department was not advised earlier that portion of the afforestation area was suitable for farming, Mr. R. Brockliss said the ■ department had been warned, but as soon as that was done planting went on faster than ever. Sympathising with the representations of the deputation, the Minister said that the position, though unfortunate, was not unique. He could, however, give the ' assurance that there would be no such difficulties in the future, for no land would be put into provisional State forest if it could be used for better purposes. A policy of co-operation between the Lands and Agricultural Department and the State Forestry Department had been embarked upon, and this would prevent further trouble. He went on to say that he could not reply to the request that certain areas set aside for planting should be rci served for settlement until he had conferred with expert officers and ascertained what effect it would have on the general scheme.