OUR FOREST RESERVES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2215, 30 July 1914, Page 10

OUR FOREST RESERVES

/need for expert tree planters SAND DRIFT ON THE RAILWAY Not only some of the farms, but tho railways ot Now Zealand, also, are endangored by th© eneroacliment of isandareas, said Mr. J._ A. Pond, State Analyst at Auckland, who spoke at the A. and P. Societies' Conference vosterday, when the subject of afforestation was under discussion. • ; The-discussion was opened by Mr A. H.- Russell. (Hawke's Bay), who moved: ,-.

1 planting of the central plateau and-other parts of New Zealand sno.uld bo discussed. • ' j"(a) That a director trained in forestry should-be appointed to take the management of tho -Forestry Department. - • - • ' ■

1 (b) That steps should be; taken to plant sand dunes without further defay.' ■ \ "(0) That for. the purpose of growing sleepers for future uso im the railways, the whole, of tho suitable reserves 'Should.be planted with suitable kinds of trees."; 1 ' • ... ■

Mr.. Russell sdid that 'it was fistimated' that for practical purposes New Zealand would be cut out of timber in thirty yeai*s. ■If two and'a half times the 'present' rate of planting were'attained, there would be, by tho thirfcvS [: r.-i »' 3,si return of £1,000,000 per annum. The total expenditure up to tho thirtv-fifth year would, bo £3.000,000,' and 90 per cent, ot tliat amount- would have been spent in wages»and salaries. Mr. Poud said' that lie had seen in I 1 ranee some fine examples of how land could he saved and reclaimed by afforestation, hut'the work was so cleverly done that ho thought such an undor-. taking should be handled by an expert. ' Someone instanced lupin as a' usefui tiling to plant, but Mr. J. Ivebbell (Horowhcnua) said that lupin was dangerous whero there were rabbits, as it gave them top rnticlr shelter. Sir Walter Buchanan said that great mistakes might easily be made through planting trees of a. wrong description'. He did not think pine timber would last lone in the ground. ' . Mr. J. G. Rutherford (Auckland) mentioned that ho had tried planting totara and puriri, and had Co mo to the conclusion that it was little use getting Native trees because they grew'so slowly. ,

Mr. Russell's motion was carried, and it was also resolved: "That public bodies should bo empowered to acquire and -plant suitable lands within their rating areas, such work to be carried out under the supervision of' the Forestry Department, aild to be subsidised by the Government to the extent of 245. for £1."