TIMBER SUPPLIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 649, 28 October 1909, Page 3

TIMBER SUPPLIES.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORESTRY. REGENERATION NOT POSSIBLE. Out of a total area of 66,5G8,871i acres in New Zealand, about 17,074,003 acres are still covered with forest, states the annual report on forestry brought down in the House of Representatives on Tuesday in 1886, the forest-area was estimated at 21,r96,!iG0' acres. Of the present area, it is estimated that there is growing within the Crown and State forests, and on private and Native freehold lands,-a gross total of about 33,000,000,000 sup. ft. of timber that is, or may eventually prove, suitable for commercial requirements. Tne output of sawn timber for tho past year amounted to 413,868,919 sup. ft., and will probably advance to an average of from 450,000,000 sup. ft. to 500,000,000 sup. ft for tho next fifty years, thereby giving an anticipated period of about forty years within wfiicb. our indigenous forests can meot tho full demand. As against this, the stock of trees in tho State nurseries and plantations amounted to 47,835,217 at March 31, 1909, of which no' fewer than 0,231,479 had been planted during the preceding twolvo months. The total area of land planted with forest-trees at same date was 12,175 acros, of which 2700 acres had been planted during the previous year. Assuming that an average yield of 40,000 sup. ft. per acre will bo experienced, wo may anticipate a total crop of about 100,000,000 sup. ft. per annum, exclusive of the periodical thinnings, from the present rato of planting. Tho expected timberdemand will be about 500,000,000 sup. ft. pen annum at the same period, leaving a fairij 'large deficit .• to be supplied from foreign sources, or to be met from the remaining patches of indigenous forest. "' .

Available for Milling. •• Although at first sight it may seem that a. very large and sufficient proportion of thia country is clothed with forest, and that the future supply of milling-timber is much larger than was generally supposed, many circumstances may prevent much of the milling-tim-ber from ever being used for commercial purposes, and the retention of tho forest covering. For obvious reasons, such as climatic, soil-pro-tection, river and water conservation, scenerypreservation, etc., it is absolutely imperative that-large areas should permanently remain covered with, forest. When it is noticed that out of a total area of 17,074,003 acres now under forest no fewer than 7,054,681' acres have been sold, and the timber thereon may bo cut and destroyed at any time, whilst the timber in all the Crown forests is V available for sawmilliug, and will doubtless be eventually used for that purpose, it cannot be denied that an area of 2, 110,717 acres (or only 3.1 per cent, of tho total area of tho Dominion) is a very small proportion to keep covered with forest.

An Extensive Industry. ' ; Figures are given to show tbat, notwithstanding the distress that has prevailed in the sawmill industry during the past twelvo months, and the complaints that have been made against tho importation of foreign timber, tho output of timber is still very large, whilst more hands have been employed than two years previously. This will doubtless occasion surprise, but,'as tho statistics-have been, compiled with much care, and each district has been separately dealt with, it is thought that the figures are fairly reliable, and can be ac--ccpted as being practically correct.. The figures foT'last year, as compared with those for 1907 (given in brackets) are as follow:—Sawmills in operation, 423 (411), hands employed, 7414 (7130), output for year 413,803,919 superficial feet (432,031,611, cutting capacity per annum, 755,465,480 superficial feet.(718,040,000). , 'Out of tho gross amount of 33,060,883,437 superficiol feet of milling timber estimated to exist'on'Crown or alienated land at tho present time, it will bo noticed that 10,664,382,913 superficial feet (or nearly: one-third) is com.: posed of timber not commercially used to any appreciable extent, siidi as- birches, rairo, tawa, rata, kowhai, etc. This reduces tho immediately available total quantity t0.22,416,. 500,489 superficial feet, and o£ this a largo portion is situated on land,too difficult of access to be profitably worked for many years to come. The net quantity: of timber now used for commercial purposes, and likely to be "available • lor- sawmilling, would therefore amount to about 16,000,000,000 superficial feet.

■I Sawn Timber for Forty Years. . ' As'tho present output of timber is .over 400,000,000 superficial feet, it is a fair assumption that the average output for the next generation will be about 450,000,000 superficial,, feet. : If the present estimated supply is divided by this amount, it will be seen that there •is only sufficient timber to last the sawihiller for about thirty : fivo'years, and this' is with-, but ".'taking'into account the inevitable los 3" that periodicall""! : 6ccnrs through accidental 'fires; l -At the end of - twenty .or year's it is expected "that-the annual output (or, 1 rather; tho demand for timber) will.aver, .age 500,000,000 superficial,: feet; but by that time some of tho surplus timber that.is now difficult of access -may be more easily worked, and would be'.included in tho quantity available for sawmilling, whilst no doubt such as Fagus fusca, miro, and othor woods not at present used' to any great extent will be in more favour and will bo utilised to supplement the decreasing supply. Taking, all these considerations into account, it does not appear nn unreasonable assumption . that tho indigenous forests of 'Mew Zealand will not cope with tlio full demand for sawn timber for a'longer period, than thirty-five to forty "years. It must be remembered that during this period large supplies of-foreign tim-:ber.may-be expected to arrive, and thus reduce the strain on our local forests,; but, as every country in the world will be feeling tho effects of the universal demand, it is not to be expected that such timber can be procured after th'e next ten or twenty years, save at much higher prices than now are current, and in gradually decreasing quantities. It is therefore evident that our forest resources must bo husbanded ,with the greatest care, and every precaution must be taken to insure that they are utilised to the greatest possible extent. No unnecessary waste must be permitted, and tho occurrence of bush fires' must: be scrupulously guarded against. It is only by working on these lines and by systematically taking stock of our resources that wo can prevent a future tiinber-famine and much : unnecessary distress and disorganisation in tho.timber trade. . Regeneration of Forests. ■The forests, of .New: Zealand, writes Dr. Cockayne, differ altogether from those .of Europo and America, where forestry operations • are being carried on. The trees are of too slow a growth to allow of a profitable reinstatement; the. difficulties of planting within the: forest, owing to the multitude of-shrubs, tho tangle of roots on the, ground, and tho fallen and rotting trees, are very great, while for the reproduction of certain trees—tho, kauri, e.g. 1 - the light of the forest interior is not generally sufficient. Even were saplings left to replace the felled trees, the length of time required boforo they were of "millablo" size would bo taltogether too great to'profitably allow the re'generating forest to' occupy good .ground. At the same time, where the ground is unsuitable for settlement, or where there would be no special benefit in opening up for farming purposes, that particular area, it certainly should be preserved, especially as.no one can tell but that many of the neglected species may be of value. Also, undoubtedly, the present methods of dealing with'our timber forests, are far from perfect. Trees are. cut" at all seasons of the year, there is little, supervision, as to what trees should be cut, much damage is done to the standing timber, and, finally there is a lamentable; amount *of waste. Undoubtedly more supervision and less wasteful and more careful methods would materially assist in conserving the present timber supply. Certain, of the native trees will grow under artificial conditions, and it might pay to, cultivate them; such are the totara, kowhai, and puriri. Beech forests could be produced artificially, and will regenerate, as noted above, if cattle, etc., are kept: out of them, but-in the latter case the timber would not eqnal that of foreign trees much more easily raised and' quicker to mature. -. .■ ■■ •',.''."' Foreign Supplies. 1 As regards the countries that are likely to be in a position to'export timber suitable for New Zealand requirements, it would seem that the bulk of our pine imports must come from Canada; or perhaps Manchuria; that Australia will, still be able to furnish hardwoods . and eucalypti; and that no great supply can bo reckoned 'on from elsewhere. The outlook, therefore, is not too promising, for, vast as the western Canadian forests may bo at present, the certain enormous d'rnin on their resources from the United States will diminish the supply available for other countries, and a higher price will have to v bc.naid gradually for the timber that is purchased in America. It therefore seems certain that tho present tree-plant-ing operations can be expanded with advantage, and that by so.doing New Zealand will act wisely. ' !