PINUS INSIGNIS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19166, 24 November 1927, Page 4

PINUS INSIGNIS.

AUSTRALIAN VALUES.

CRITICISM AND DEFENCE,

jCew Zealand contradictions of the statement of Mr Beckett (the Victorian Minister for Forests) concerning the unsuitability of softwoods in general, and of pinus insignis in particular, for pulping, occupy some space in the Melbourne Press.

One correspondent, Mr John Westwood, who says he is not interested in any forestry' company, writes:—"l cannot permit the disparaging remarks made by the Minister for Forests concerning' pinus insignis to go unchallenged. My experience of timber extends over "a period of more than 40 years. lam president of the Victorian Case Makers' Association, and one of the largest users of pinus insignis in the Commonwealth. For many years I have used with satisfaction as much pinus insignis timber as was procurable. My only complaint is that in the past neither "the Government nor privato enterprise, except in a few rare instances, has shown sufficient foresight to cultivate supplies of the pinus insignis. Consequently, I have had to import and use large quantities of American timber. Timber Famine Near. "I heartily commend tho action of the Ballarat Water Commission, which more than 40 years ago planted areas of pinus insignis. I have bought quantities of this timber, from tho Commission, which is of first-class quality. The Commission is now selling a limited quantity of pinus insignis at 6s to 7s per 100 ft in the tree. The trees, planted 680 to the acre, are worth more than £1 each. The substantial value of a pinus insignis plantation may thus be easily recognised. When a boy I witnessed the planting of pinus insignis on the Ballarat Water Commission's reserves, some of which were purchased by me twenty-live years later. This was some of the best pine I have seen, being almost free from knots. I have travelled round tho world, and from personal observation I am fully alive to the imminence of the softwood timber famine that will shortly overtake the civilised world. I have no interest in any timber or forestry company outside my own business as a manufacturer, but I do realise the benefit to this country that will result if an adequate supply of softwood is ensured for the future. I

"On what authority does the Minister for Forests condemn this valuable timber? His office, which he Iras occupied for only a few weeks, does not invest him with any special knowledge. Responsible Ministers in tho past have been guided by the advice of their departmental experts. The present Minister lias tho temerity not only to contradict well-established expert opinion, but he actually refutes the written and published views of his own departmental experts. What can be his motive? Is it not time wo had another Minister for Forests, with sufficient statesmanship and intelligence to assist in laying down the foundations of work and wealth for coming generations instead of hindering, by foolish and ill-consid-ered utterances, tho efforts of private enterprise to establish great national wealth V

Will Grow Anywhere,

"My experience," writes Mr W. L. Ilartlaud, of Murrumbecna, "goes back ovor 55 years, during which timo I havo grown and planted many thousands of acres of pines, both in Great Britain and Australia. For nearly 40 years I havo acted as superintendent the Victorian Stato forests. I do not class pinus insignis timber as tho best, but it is not bad when well grown and kept free of knots. It is hardy, growing almost anywhere if the ground be drained, and just the timber wo need, of quick growth, giving five rotations of very useful timber in a hundred years. Pinus laricio should also bo largely grown. The timber is much closer and bettor than insignis, but one will not get more than two, or at tho outsido three, rotations in a century. There can bo no doubt of the need of tho pino in tho future. Prices are yearly rising, and must go still higher, in view of tho .demands on American and European forests, and I havo no doubt whatever that Mr Owen Jones will make tho most of tho Now Zealand enterprise. I havo seen plenty of pines bought at 80s each, and I know of one which was Bft in diameter." A recent arrival in Melbourne is Mr A. J. Gibson, forestry expert of tho Indian Forest Service, who is "on loan" to the Commonwealth Ministry for four or fivo months, to dvise tho Federal forestry authorities regarding development and marketing of forest wealth in Australia, in addition to methods of conducting research work. "One Now Zealand company," he said, "has been flooding India with copies of its prospectus. In my opinion they are too optimistic. Experience has shown that a recurring net annual return an acre of £2 10s is very high. All tho capital charges of planting and upkeep have to be taken into consideration. The yearly return is arrived at by estimating the yearly growth in cubic feet of wood. In the plantations it will take 40 years for pines to como to maturity, and a pine forest could not be expected to return profits within that time."