TIMBER CROP.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18479, 5 September 1925, Page 12

TIMBER CROP.

GROWING TREES FOR PROFIT. MAY REDUCE TAXES. (special to "tbx pbess.") WELLINGTON", September 4. In reply to a question as to what ■was the ultimate aim of the Forestry Department, the Minister (the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) stated in the House yesterday that it aimed at maintaining an adequate supply of timber for the country, and it was anticipated that in 30 years' time this would be assured. Jin rounding off his survey and recommendations, the Director of Forestry says: "Individual public and political support of the forestry movement, forest conservation, and the growing of timber for profit, is to-day from the North Cape to the Bluff, most definite and spontaneous. Progress Leagues, Farmers' Unions, Chambers of Commerce, and dozens of other public organisations have pledged themselves to the continuance and wide extension of the policy laid down in 1920. Finances Sound. "The fiscal position of tho State Forests account is excellent, for its gross revenues arc now in the neighbourhood of £160,000 to £200,000 per annum, and are sufficient to complete the building up of a national trust fund, adequate to the needs of New Zealand for all time. Experience has shown the desirability and need of action, and the success of this action - during the past five years now warrants the adoption \>f theso proposals. The writer is confident that the acceptance of these recommendations and proposals will more than adequately ensuro tho results desired —that is, the conservation and reasoned use of New Zealand's timber resources, and the provision of a permanent national forest heritage from which can be secured the necessary timber* supplies for tho economy of New Zealand." A Forecast. Concluding his report to Parliament, the Director of Forests states: "A serious forecast therefore of future national timber requirements based on the normal trend of population increase and on the development and expansion and intensive agriculture, and of secondary industry, over a period of years, indicates that the gross national consumption of sawn forest produce by the year 1985 will be 675,000,000 feet, board measure, per annum (other products in proportion)-! Our virgin softwood resources will be economically exhausted by the period 1965-70. Is it possible to provide internally for our annual needs, so vital to New Zealand's orderly progress and future prosperity thereafter? Yes, by the application of tried and proper methods of forest culture. The State plantations will require to be of such dimensions as to take over the major burden of supplying the raw material at that time. At present there are 63,000 acres of State plantations. It is recommended that this acreage oe increased to 300,000, formation to be completed by the year 1935." Armnal Output. Assuming such an increase in the State plantations, the Director states that the total supplies of timber available in this country by the year 1965 will be 700 million feet, board measure, ,as follows: — Source ~of supply . Annual Timber yield, feet b.m. State plantations ... 450,000,000 Indigenous forests .. 50,000,000 Local body, proprietary, and private plantations 150,000,000 Importations i Total ■• • 700,000,000 "The total costi of establishing an additional 237,000 acres of State plantations during the next ten years," the Director states, "should not be more than £1,250,000, and this sum should be all secured from contemporary and current State Forest Seme© receipts. "The annual harvest from the State plantations for the year 1965 should return £1,125,000 per annum, gradually increasing to £1,500,000 (a conservative estimate), a sum which will aid very materially in reducing the Dominion 's general "taxation.