FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1702, 19 March 1913, Page 7

FORESTRY COMMISSION.

(By Telegraph.—Prees Association.) Christchurch, March 18. -. The Forestry Commission held their first, sitting, here to-day, when evidence was. taken. Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P:, said that there was great need tor tree-planting through the length and- breadth of tho country, and he thought ' that it should not bo limited to any particular- province. Within the province of Canterbury there was no State forest," and this was also the case in certain other parts. Tho people of Canterbury would, therefore, have to pay the cost of the transport of timber from other parts unless they had State .forests in their midst. At present the Wellington, Taranaki, Hnwke's Bay; and Canterbury people would have to draw their supplies from the plantations at, Hanmer, and yet there was poor laud ill all theso localities which would bo suittiblo for planting purposes. He was not in a'position to discuss tho cost of planting theso lands. The timber millers, however, had found it profitable to cut timber off precipitous country, in Taranaki. The furnier, in a very few years, would liavo to go far afield to secure oven posts for fencing. Ho \yould advocate the encouragement of the planting of shelter-belts by settlers. There woulU need to be supervision in order that tho right trees should bG planted. Tho Chairman: Such ' shelter-belts might bo exempted from taxation ? Mr. Ell: Yes.

In answer to tho chairman, Jlr. Ell said that thero should lie restricted areas for deer. They should not be alloiyed tj roam at large. ■ ■ ) Dr. Cockayne: Do you think that deer should bo allowed to roam over the Waimakariri National Park, which is one of the most important climatic reserves in tho Dominion? Mr. Ell: No. Continuing, Mr. Ell said that an experienced' forester should be connected with every land board,- to superintend matters connected with forestry. Dr. Cockayne said that it would be difficult to secure such officials. Forestry was practically a new science in the British Umpire. "Do you think that we should get. young men trained properly, as scientific foresters? Jlr. Ell: I do. Forestry is ono of tho most neglected sciences in the Dominion— mere planters of trees are enough. We want men who know different kinds of 'soil, etc. . I Tho witness proceeded to quote from a Government report of 1907, which showed that, at. the present time, their oldeft State-planted trees were only thirteen years; of age. Tho estimate of the Department's officers was that," at the earliest, it would )>o fifty years before these trees were ready for commercial purposes, and that it might oven bo one hundred j ears. As it would be so long before these trees became ready for us?,, and, as they were drawing so heavily upon (heir national forests, there was a great necessity for more attention being devoted to planting. Evidence was also given by Edward Herring l!ich, G. Grady. ,f. C.' Ilelmore, .T 11. Maynard, Dr. Morten Anderson, Dr. Chas Chilton, and W. B. Buckhurst.