FORESTS OPPOSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 5

FORESTS OPPOSED

DIVIDED OPINIONS AT MARAMARUA DEPUTATION TO MINISTER (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Today. Claiming that land included in the Maramarua afforestation block of 14,300 acres, about 20 miles east of Pokeno, was suitable for farming, a deputation waited on the Hon. W. B. Ta/verner, Commissioner of State Forests, at Maramarua yesterday. Officers of the Forestry Department are working to a five years’ programme. Planting was started on the block last winter, an area of about 3,700 acres being afforested, while it is hoped to plant a further 2,500 acres this winter, commencing next month. SUITABLE FOR FARMS It was claimed by the deputation, said Mr. F. Steed, who said he spoke on behalf of both Maramarua and Hauraki Plains interests, theft the land was suitable for farming. There were 45,000 acres in the Maramarua Riding of the Waikato County, and the amount of Crown land and land being planted in trees was causing difficulties with the rates, as practically no revenue for roads was contributed by such lands. The Lands, Agriculture and Forestry Departments should each appoint a representative to go into the matter of determining what lands in the block were suitable for farming, said Mr. Steed, it being further suggested that these officers should be assisted by local residents with experience of farming in the district. Operations on the block should be suspended for three months, and applications for land in the area should be invited. If the land considered suitable for farming was not taken up within that period, those -whose opinions he voiced in the matter would be prepared to drop the request. OPINION DIVIDED A contrary view was expressed by Mr. G. F. Mclnnes. “The block, generally speaking, is of very poor quality, and there are only a few sections worthy of consideration from a farming point of view,” he said. “The block has been an eyesore for many years, and we are glad to see the Forestry Department making some move to enhance the value of the area. I feel that, if one or- two sections are set aside, we are not iq a position to ask the department to hold up operations on the rest of the block.” Mr. Steed said he was glad Mr. Mclnnes had made it clear he was only expressing his personal views, "The views I have expressed are those of Haurakt Plains farmers, who unfortunately were unable to meet you,” he said. Mr. R. McKenzie, who is well acquainted with the land in the area, said he held the same views as Mr. Mclnnes. The land was poor and the department had met all reasonable requests. WORK TO GO ON It was not possible for the area to be entirely abandoned, said Mr. Taverner, in reply, though the representations made would not suffer because of the divided opinions. A great deal of expenditure had been incurred, and to be worked economically and operated successfully in later years, it was necessary that an afforestation area should not fall below a certain minimum, which was estimated at about 10,000 acres in a block. It was not possible to suspend op erations for three months, as sug gested, added the Minister, in point ing out that the planting seas %i was at hand, and the suspension would mean no planting could be done this winter. His officers would shortly report' to him on the points raised and an early reply would be given. Later, a circuit of the block was made by the Minister, who said he was not impressed with the farming possibilities of the portions of the block he had seen.