WEALTH IN TREES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 257, 18 July 1918, Page 6

WEALTH IN TREES

SAVING OUR OWN TIMBER

MEETING OF FORESTRY LEAGUE The annual meeting of the New Zealand Forestry League was held last night in the new Dominion Farmers' Institute building. The president, Sir James G. Wilson, was in the chair.

The president said thnt he "wished to express satisfaction that the Government had established <i. separate forestry branch, of which Sir Francis Bell was in charge. He said that the year's work of the league had not been without good fruit. The interest created by (he league had hod the effect hoped for—a strong public opinion that something should be done to preserve our remaining forest.?. Tho establishment of a separate Department of Forestry should go to help in the preservation of our forests. Hitherto it bad been natural for the Minister of Lands to settlo the land at his disposal as quickly as-he could. The forester would, however, wish to decide first whether in the bush the crop growing upon tho land was not of much greater value to the community than it could be made to yield under any other conditions, especially in the light of experience that tho bush might, under scientific oversight, contimio to give an annual .yield. Under the. ol agreement the land had been settled and l.he bush had been destroyed. Land had been settled which, he was sure, was more suitable for growing timber than any other crop. This land should have been retained by the State for growing timber. The kauri, probably the finest timber tree in tho world, growing on land unsuitable for settlement, had melted away "like snow-wreaths in thaw," but there was yet time to save the remnants of it, and if p.-ompt steps were taken now wo should be ablo to loavo to future generations an invaluable asset. Sir Francis Bell had a' read.v taken some steps to preservo the kauri forests, and the league would give him every. assistance possible. It was to be hoped that the controversy as to how fast the kauri tree grew would not retard the preservation of tho forests, otherwise the timber would nil bo gone before the point was settled. The evidence was that some of our native trees under forest conditions grew faster than forest trees in other countries.

White Pine, Tho planting of exotics to replaco white pine timber, now being used up 60 rapidly, must bo the concern of the league. It had been suggested that pi\)\is insignis and poplar should bo planted, and oh this more information might be necessary as to their suitability.

The league should aim at having all the bush still in Ihe hands of the Crown demarcated before it was opened for sale, or lease, and at having the bush reserved for milling made inalienable except for the purpose of timber growing. The planting of fast-growing frees, should be pressed on and privato individuals should lie encouraged to, plant hardwood lor their own use.

Mr. A. Leigh Hunt presented the annual statement of accounts, which was adopted. He referred to the need for increased membership, and supported a proposal that had been made for the appointment of a paid organiser for the league.

Value of Forests. Mr. D. E. Hutchins delivered an address on Forestry. He declared that by scientific forestry in New Zealand it would be possible, with half a million acres of forest, to pay the- whole cost of the war. It would even double the number of men on tho land. He discussed the value of forests 1o the country, and said that the country needed ev.ery acre of its remaining forest demnrcaled, in order that the timber might be economically used, and trees continuously replanted. Tho custom in New Zealand was to sell timber to the miller "in the logs" only in some parts of Wellington and Auckland. Elsewhere the custom was to sell "off ths saws," and this method was a direct incentive to the waste of our forests. He declared that by giving away as ve were lOft.OIK) acres of forest yearly wo were lositw six and a half millions every year. The position was worst in the north of Auckland. After the war timber would lie scarce and costly, and this would make enmloyment of men on forestry profitable. The Government plantations at present were so badly placed that there eotild b.e no profit on "thinnings." Plantations could not be maao nrofitnble under these conditions. Mr. Hutchins said tjfllt forestry matters were not at present well organised here. Forests were being milled and destroyed everywhere, instead of being worked and renewed. Even the Railway Department was guilty in this respect. Discussing the white pine question, he said that the following practical measures were immediately necessary: (1) Demarcate and classify the forests and see what actual supplies of timber are; (2) prepare working plans for the demarcated forest to ensure supplies for all time; (ft establish plantations of insignis pine for_ butter boxes. He admitted thnt insignis pine was not an ideal liuttevbox timber, but it could bo made to serve, and it would be quite good enough for fruit eases. But. he -=aid that foresters in all countries did not. set much store by introduced trees. It would be better to depend on our own trees than to sink million': in plantations which might prove failures. A Forestry Dapartmcnt,

He recommended the organisation of a Forestry Department with a technicallytrained chief forester at the head of it; that, the Minister of Forestry should havo charge of all forest lands; and that a scheme be prepared for the employment of soldiers of the whole Empire on forestry work, with forestry stations and village hamlets with comfortable homes. Such legislation as might bo necessary to give effect to these, proposals should bo asked for next session, bearing in mind that a, complete Forests Act must await the Chief Forest Officer to be appointed. He estimated that under proper management the return from kauri forests would be J3lO per acre per year. In reply to a question, Mr. Hutchins said -that a trained forester with theoretical knowledge coming to this country would require three years' experience of our forests before ho would know all about them.

On the motion of Mr. Will B. Atatlu'eson a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr, Hutchins for his address.

Ministers Speak,

Sir Francis 8011, Minister in Charge of the Forestiy Department., mid that there was a great deal of forest Crown land which ought to be added to the State forests- It was not quite fair to say that nothing had been done in the past. Areas of forest had been reserved although not demarcated. Very little reform was possible without legislation. It might be that nothing could be done next session, but he would ask the league to be patient. The fact was that the Minister of Lands (Mr. Guthrie) was at least as enthusiastic about forestry as he, himself was. It was Mr. Guthrie's concern to sco that lands suitable for settlement was settled, but the Minister of Lands and lie agreed that the trees not yet ripe for cutting should be preserved. It must, not be assumed that because there was , no great splash being nindo that nothing was being done. The Tlon. D. IT. "Guthrie said that there might be differences of opinion between the Commissioner of State Forests ami the. Minister of Lands as to the classification of wooded lands—as forest lands or settlement lands. It happened that Sir Francis Bell and he wcro in complete agreement. Mr. Wiitehins said that in Now Zealand State forests were not preserved for the use of the people, but preserved for destruction by sawmillerß. Other Business. Mr. T. W. Adams was elected nil honorary member of the league. The election of officers resulted as fol-

lows:—President, Sir James G. Wilson; lion, secretarv, Mr. F. W. Furkert; lion, treasurer, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt;; lion, auditor, Mr, ,0. T. Stuart; council, Hon. D. Buddo, Hon. A. T. Ngnta, Messrs. James Deans, W. D. Hunt, li. Phillips Turner, S. 1. Clarke, L. 0. H. Trip]), N. King, 1). Crosby Smith, J. Orchiston. It was decided that the "Fanners' Union Advocate" bo made the oliicial organ of the league Votes nf thanks were accorded to the auditor and to Mr.-Jack for services rendered,