NATIONAL MISFORTUNE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2659, 3 January 1916, Page 6

NATIONAL MISFORTUNE

LOSS OF OUR FORESTS AN EXPERTS OPINION Visiting Now Zealand at tho present time is Mr. D. E. Hutchins, ail expert on forestry, who has been engaged by tho Government to inspect our forests and advise on the principles of forestry. and how thoy should be applied for tho preservation of our forests. Mr. Hutching ivas for ten years in the Indian Forest Service, was for twentythree years in South Africa, and for four years was Chief Conservator of Forests in British East Africa. Ho is also the author of many books oil fores In;. Without infringing on matters that must bo dealt with in his report to the Government, Mr. Hutchins informed a reporter that New Zealand stands now where South Africa stood in 1883, in the matter of forestry. South Africa realised then that she was fast losing her forests. She was Bending away a quarter of a million sterling a year for imported timber. To-day, New Zealand is sending away £1000 a day—in round figures—for imported timber, besides about _£100 a day fo,r bark, etc., for tanning purposes. Australia is sending ' away £10,000 a day—in round figures—for timber. Before Australia could get right with her forestry she would have to spend £588,000,000, because she has not got softwoods. New Zealand has got softwoods, and she could get right with her forestry on a tithe of the expenditure which Australia would have to undertake for the same purpose. South Africa is still importing timber, but she is regenerating her forests to an extent which will cause that importation to disappear in time. Now Zealand could do the same thing. "AVhat is required," explained Mr. Hutchins, "is to preserve the forests, and at the same time have timber out of them. That is done by regulating cutting and by proper afforestation. Here in New Zealand you have tho same class of forest as South .Africa has —the same big yellow-wood trees, tho same dense evergreen forest, in contrast with Australia's open forest.New Zealand has a splendid forest, and it is a national misfortune that it la not being preserved. The Dominion is throwing away its timber, and there is no reason for it. It started with about 20,000,000 acres of forest—l am'quoting round figures—and it has only 10,000,000 r.cres left. You need what' the Americans call conservative lumbering, and not destructive lumbering. "Some people will tell you that land is so valuable that it would not do to keep it under forest. But the main point in commercial forestry is timber demarcation. That is to say, wliero the forest is good and tho soil is bad it is set aside. Where the soil is too good for forests it is brought under cultivation, the forest being cut out. You in New Zeal; nd want timber demarcation first. Tnen you will want a loan oo put ynir forests in order —to meet expenditure on surveying forests, laying out roads through them, regenerating forests, and other details." It would pay very well. It would' pay about ten times as well as your railways. So you can see what proper forestry means. In time yoii would not have to import any soft woods." Mr. Hutchins is at present on ...the West Coast inspecting the forests of that district,