Farmers And Future Of Timber Industry

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 9

Farmers And Future Of Timber Industry

(From Our Own Repurttr)

WELLINGTON. May 11. "The future of the timber industry in New Zealand could depend to a great extent on the farmers of this country,” said the retiring Director at Forest* (Mr A. R. Entrican), speaking at a function give in his honour by the New Zealand Timber Merchants’ Federation. Also present were the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), the Minister of Forests (Mr Gerard), and the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae). (It .1* understood that a bill facilitating the establishment of forest plantations on private farming property is under preparation, under the sponsorship of Mr Gerard.) “In Scandinavia most of the forests are on farm land," Mr Entrican said. "There is no reason why New Zealand should not be the Scandinavia of the South Pacific. There 1s no reason why sites at present unused should not produce two or three million acres of timber." Mr Entrican said that New Zealand had a potential of 150 million cubic feet of wood surplus to its own requirements. This, if exported, would mean an export income of £5O million.

Replying to tributes paid him by Mr E. W. D. Unwin, of Timaru, president of the federation, Mr Entrican said

that he felt they were due, not to him, but to those who had gone before. These included Sir Franc!* Bell, the "father of forestry in New Zealand,” and Mr Mclntosh Ellis, the first Director of Forests.

“With a courage to be admired by all of us, Mr Ellie went ahead and planted 300.000 acre* of forest m the face of all authority," said Mr Entrican. Mr Entrican was presented with a coffee table made of rare totara burL