PLANTING WASTE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1919, Page 5

PLANTING WASTE LAND.

m SOUTH TARANAKI BIGHT. (By Wire.—Own- Correspondent.) [ Wellington, Last Night. I. Mr Field (Otaki) asked the Minister fin. charge of State forests whether, in I view of the fast diminishing supply of, white pine timber for butter cases, tallow I casks, and other purposes, and in corn[pliance with the strongly expressed desire of local bodies, dairy farmers, and others located on the west coast of the North Island, he would, without further' delay, tako such steps as would ensure | the establishment of large plantations of pinus radiata and other suitable trees on the waste coastal sandy lands fronting the South Taranaki Bight, thus accomI plishing the fourfold purpose of pretention of sand drift, the abundant I future supply of suitable timber,, the provision of shelter for the more fertile land from the prevailing sea winds, and the absorption of surplus labor in a work of great national importance. i Mr, Massey replied that most of the sand dune areas on the shores of the I South Taranaki Bight are national endowment lands, which are closed to Eurojpeans who hold adjoining land. As at the present time there is no authority Whereby national endowment lands can Ibe proclaimed State forests, these runs I cannot be resumed for forestry purposes. [ Towards the southern end of the Bight there is a considerable extent of Nativeowned sand dunes, but from inquiries made before the war it was found that the price required for this land was excessive. Negotiations are at present being continued with the owner of a private sand dune area between Wanganui and Paekakariki, and if' the price required for the land be satisfactory it may be purchased and afforested.