DOMINION FORESTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1730, 22 April 1913, Page 6

DOMINION FORESTS.

MR. ELL TO MR'. MASSEY. THE PRIME MINISTER'S EEPLY. (By' Tdeawph.—Press AG«ociation.) Christchurch, April 21. , Last month Mr. 11. G. Ell, M.P., communioated with tho Prime Minister, urging that when bush land was opened for settlement there should be reserved at least a few acres for tho purpose of preserving tho natural forest of the country, growing thereon, say, twenty or twenty-five acres. Mr. Ell pointed out that during tlio past few mouths a number of sale plans of laud, including a very large area of forest-covered country, had been issued, liut the plans did not show any area sot aside as reserves. for tho purpose of preserving'the forest. He was aware that, to a settler, the forest! was regarded as a difficulty in his way which had to bo removed, and that, therefore, in the initial stages of settlement those reserves were not viewed with favour, but thero would como a time when those very settlers would be -as keenly anxious to preserve any\small area which might have escaped burning as they were' now to destroy it. In many parts of New Zealand, formerly covered with bush, settlers had approached the Government and asked them to preserve somo area of bush which had escaped destruction. That had happened in. several places in both tho Wellington /and Hawke's Bay districts. '

jlr. Jlassey, in reply, said that lie lmd read with interest Jlr. Ell's suggestions. The matter had been giving -him n Rood deal of thought lately, anil it was one of the reasons' (among others) which prompted the Government to set up the Forestry Commission, which was now visiting different parts of the Dominion. The question of forest reservation was one i!i'.on which the Commission had been ashed specially to . make investigations, and when the report of the Commissioner was received any recommendation 'which was made on tho matter would havo the careful consideration of the Government.' Hoi had forwarded Jfr. EU's letter to the chairman of tho Commission.

Tho chairman of the Forestry Commission has written to Mr. Ell stating that members of the Commission had read his memo, on an important question with very deep interest, and those views .would, be further, considered when members ot the Commission were deliberating over their report. .