They were concerned that eliminating the plant could worsen erosion and negatively affect river systems and surrounding landscapes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, back in 1927, \u201cJ.H.C.\u201d wrote to the NZ Herald to clarify confusion between \u201cti-tree\u201d and \u201cmanuka\u201d.<\/p>\n
Below is a selection of historical stories on m\u0101nuka from the NZ Herald (1927), the Hawke\u2019s Bay Herald-Tribune (1949), and the Gisborne Herald (1949).<\/p>\n
Ti-Tree or Manuka?<\/p>\n
New Zealand Herald, August 9, 1927<\/p>\n
Sir,\u2013With all due respect to \u201cMercutio,\u201d whose contributions I read with interest, I would suggest that \u201cti-tree\u201d is not \u201cmanuka\u201d (vide Saturday\u2019s Herald), though both appear to be of the same family. <\/p>\n
As a boy in Poverty Boy 50 years ago, I was acquainted with a certain old neighbouring Maori who could speak English fairly well. <\/p>\n
One day I asked him if ti-tree is young manuka? <\/p>\n
He replied: \u201cNo; ti-tree is \u2018ti-tamiti,\u2019 and \u2018manuka\u2019 is \u2018manuka.\u2019 Ti-tree is always a shrub and does not grow trees as does manuka.\u201d <\/p>\n
I have seen ti-tree and manuka growing together on virgin soil, and observed the difference in size, though the foliage is almost similar. <\/p>\n
I cannot imagine a ti-tree plant growing into a large tree 5ft. or 6ft. in circumference, as I have seen manuka. <\/p>\n
Half a century ago, Government publications spelt it \u201cti-tree.\u201d <\/p>\n
J.H.C.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurse\u201d of Manuka said to outweigh its uses against erosion<\/p>\n
Hawke\u2019s Bay Herald-Tribune, February 10, 1949<\/p>\n
Disagreement with a suggestion that manuka provides excellent cover to check erosion, a theory of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, was voiced by members of the Hawke\u2019s Bay Catchment Board today. <\/p>\n
In a letter received by the board this morning, the council asked if any successful attempts had been made in Hawke\u2019s Bay to eradicate manuka by infesting it with blight. <\/p>\n
The letter stated that there had been no authenticated cases of blight-infested manuka from the South Island being employed successfully to infect areas free of the disease. <\/p>\n
However, as manuka was an excellent cover in many districts to check erosion and nurse forest crops, the council viewed with concern the continuation of these attempts. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile there might be occasions when this method of cleaning pasture land is justified, it entails considerable danger,\u201d the letter added. <\/p>\n
Mr. L. E. Harris declared that this was an amazing attitude for the council to take. <\/p>\n
The eradication of manuka was one of the worst problems that farmers had to face, and he did not agree that manuka checked erosion. <\/p>\n
Experiments on his own property showed that cutting out manuka in gullies and sowing slips in pasture was ten times more effective.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe curse of this scrub is enormous, ‘ he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf some grub could get to work and eradicate it, we should be very thankful.\u201d <\/p>\n
The blight would kill manuka only in small areas, said Mr. R. P. Hill. <\/p>\n
It had been established in one or two places in Wairoa, but it would not spread. <\/p>\n
He agreed that manuka was the biggest scourge of much second-class hill country. <\/p>\n
At Mr. Harris\u2019s suggestion, the board decided to advise the council that a few isolated attempts had been made to establish the blight in Hawke\u2019s Bay, though \u201cunfortunately, they had not been successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manuka destruction opposed<\/p>\n
Gisborne Herald, February 16, 1949<\/p>\n
(P.A.) NELSON, Feb. 16. <\/p>\n
The Nelson Catchment Board is opposed to the introduction of manuka blight. <\/p>\n
The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council asked the board for details of any attempts to check manuka by infecting it with manuka blight in the Nelson district. <\/p>\n
Mr. C. Biggs, conservator of forests, considered it highly undesirable as manuka was needed.<\/p>\n
Other members spoke strongly against any attempt to wipe out manuka, which helped to check erosion. <\/p>\n
The board decided to reaffirm its previous decision opposing the establishment of blight in Nelson.<\/p>\n