FOREST LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1674, 14 February 1913, Page 6

FOREST LANDS.

A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY,

PERSONNEL & SCOPE. !' The Government has appointed a commission to inquire into lorestry matters in A ew, Zealand,- with .instructions to report by April 30 next with regard to the following points:— (1) Which of tho existing forest lands it is desirable to retain under forest covering for' tho purpose of soil protection, and prevention of denudation, wnter conservation, prevention ,of floods, climatic, scenic, or any other national benefit. (2) Which of tho forest■areas are not required for any of the purposes mentioned in (1), but are suitable for settlement, sawmilling, or other commercial purposes, indicating whether such areas should bo utilised forthwith, or rendered available at some future period. (3) Hid best method of dealing with the indigenous for«its in the public interests generally. (1) Whether or not, in view of tho largo and increasing .demand for white pine timber in connection with the butter industry, the exportation thereof should be wholly or partially prohibited. And with regard to afforestation operations:

(5) Ihe probablo future demand for timber for commercial purposes within tho Dominion of Now Zealand.

(6) The nature and kinds of timber likely to be so required. (7) How far the operations of the existing State nurseries and plantations meet the probablo demand. (8) To what extent such operations should be supplemented and expanded, aud in what locnlties sucli new nurseries' and plantations (if any) be situated. . (9) Whethof the present operations of the, Stato are being conducted on satisfactory and progressive lines. If not, to what extent, and in what manner, the 'present management and control should be altered. | (10) Under what conditions should the State encourage ana assist tree-planting by private individuals and local bodies. . . And, generally, any, matters which, in the opinion of the commission, affect forest conditions and afforestation in the Dominion, or would tend to promote their development, including the necessity or expediency of any legislation in. the premises.

, The Commissioners. s The personnel of the commission, announced last evening, i? as follows:— Henry •' Douglas Morpeth Haszard, F.K.G.S., Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for tho Westland Land District (chairman).

Thomas William Adams, farmer, of Greendale, Canterbury. , 'Samuel Isaac Clarke, builder, of Ponsonby, Auckland. ' . Leonard Cockayne, F.R.S., F.L.S., Ph.D., of Christcliurch. Frank Yates Lethbridge, farmer, Makino. Road West, Feilding. Charles Primrose- Murdoch, woodware manufacturer, of Auckland.