NEW ZEALAND'S FORESTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 41, 12 November 1918, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S FORESTS

GROWTH OF WHITE PINE

REPORT OF BOARD OF TRADE

Considerable, attention is given m the second annual report of the Board ot Trade tc the subject of tho Now Zealand forests. The report has been presented to J'firliiiment ami covers the period ended March 31, 1918. "As far ns the board has bcou able to ascertain," it states, "there are no largo white pine forests left standing in New Zealand, but lvhitoi pins ex'-ts in scattered patches or mixed with other forest trees. The Commissioner of Crown Lands at Wellington supplied the board with interesting figures showing the proportion of white pine situated in the Wellington Land District, where lie was able to speak with some accuracy. Tho areas soleetcil were in hi? opinion, renresentntivo ot the rest of tho province, and nro probably lypicrl o! the distribution of white pi no throughout the rest of tho forestry of the JJottinioi:. The figures are:— Percentage of Area. .white pine. Acres. Situation. 'About 335—Between Mauunui and Alain Trunk lino "" 11110-Vieinitv Owhango ••■• 30 IGs—Vicinity Owhango i-l 175—Vicinity Owhango *- 340— \ ii'inity Owhango 22 j 450—Vicinity Owhango »9 200 —Viciniti. Oivliango 8 1251—Kaurinui 2t 913—Near Horopito 10 712-ljotwcen Ohakuno and Eaetihi "1 73-1-N'nnr Ohakuno ....; - 258—Hiliitalu 8 350—Hihitahi • ' 1-lOi—Ba.sb of Jlangawcka 50 "Wrer» in the past white pine formed pure forest'; of, that tree alone it was usually found on low-lying, swampv ground. These swamps, when tho forest had been removed and the soil drained, formed tne richest agricultural land, of high value for dairying purposes. Tho mixed forests- now standing whore tho white pine is the predominating treo are frequently situated on good agricultural land, and where areas of this nature ot bush have passed into private hands the temptation is great.to get rid of tho timber iat tho 'earliest possible moment and turn the land to practical productive purpoM'.'s. So strong has been this impulse that* settlers have seldom waited for tho advent of the sawmiller to clear their ground, but have, felled the bush in largo areas, grassed it, and stocked it with, daily herds. The high values that are now being received for dairy products will fKrlher accelerate the destruction of the bush on privately owned lands for settlement purposes. Where white pine is Btr'.rfound on swamp lands, the suitability of such lnnds 'for close settlement when drained is a strong plea for tho removal of bush forthwith, especially in vievf of the pressing demand for and limited area of first-class land in New Zealand."

What the Inquiry Demonstrated. During llir. course of the inquiry it was demons;rated to the board that in working mixed bush it is impossible to leavo nny, particular milling trees unfelled for future bush operations, as the felling of trecu other than white pine would damage am, destroy tho white pine' trees to such an extent that they would die. Even in a' mixed bush, where the whito pine predominated, the removal of other than white pino timber might so alter conditions that the white pine left standing would seriously deteriorate. Sonic .white pine was so situated that it could not be milled profitably for local consumption owing to heavy transportation charges but it escaped those heavy charges whet, reported. For example, it would be impossible for box factories situated in the North Island profitably to use for tiio local market tho white pino brought from the "West Coast of tho Synth Island The Crown, ill parting with its rights ii©timber areas to sawmiller,-, has imposed no restriction as 'to export, and, moreover, it was fully awarj of the fact when parting with the timber'that the white pine whon cut would be exported. Belying on .the good faith of the Crown, tho millers- had invested 'large sums in necessary plants, tramv..i)s, etc.,' for the purpose of mill-, ing white pine, which-timber, if thrown on the present local mnrket, would havo no value at all, but which found a ready value in the export trade. The dairying •industry requirements absorbed about 15 per cent, of the output of the log; the remaining portion of the output of the log was in size and qualities; for which no ready .sale ■ existed in New Zealand, but which in the Australian market brought almost as high a price as butterbox sizes. '

"Although we can never expect to get any timber equal to w'hito.pme for tho pacHng of dairy produce, yet other timber 'must be utilised, as in ,the near future- our white pine will be exhausted," continues the report. • "It is imperative that experiments that have already been made with some timbers should bo continued The board heard a good deal of evidence on the matter, and found that the following timbers had turned out quite satisfactorily under tesc for both butter and for cheese crates—viz., tarah'e, tawa, pinus insignis, poplar, »b.eech (Fagus Jfenziesii), Oregon pine, and Canad'.in spruce. Inquiries made in Australia from the New Zealand Government agent showed that just prior to the outbreak of war thousands of butterboxes were manufactured from scandiaboard, a wood-fibre produced in Gothenburg, Sweden. This substitute is reputed to bo capable of carrying about double the w'.dght of ordinary wooden boards." The Boards' Recommendations.

1. That the Government should determine without delay what its policy in regard to forestry generally is to be, as it is impracticable to pursue in regard to "white pine a policy different from that applied to tho other timbers of New Zealand." If the Government determines upon a policy of scientific conservation and aft'oiostation, a' 'courso which the board strongly recommends, no time should be lost in giving effect to such decision. Until the Government's decision tic arrived, at it is recommended that the various Commissioners of Crown Lands should meet periodically and decide oi; a policy to be pursued in regard to leut-ing or withholding from sale or lease the remaining blocks of timber on Crown lauds.

2. That tho Dairy Division of the Agricultural! Department be requested to make exhaustive tests with various native and imported woods with a view v to determining their suitability as substitutes for whito pino butter-boxes.

3. That a bonus be offered for a suitable manufactured substitute at reasonable price. <t. That all differential treatment of whito pine in the nmttor of freights on railway should be removed. This would moon an increase in tho freight rates now paid on white pine. 5. Tual tho Australian Government ba approached with a view to a rearrangement of its import duties on "New Zea-' land timbers in order that the differential treatment accorded white pine should be removed, and other New Zealand timbers be placed on an equality with it. Since this report was furnished further ■urgent representations wore made by inloresteil parties for tho absolute prohibition of the export of white pine tini'ber, so as to conserve existing supplies for New Zealand's sole use. Sharp advance,* in prices took placo in all classes of timber, the high prices and the insatiable demand in Australia having their effect on tho local trade, nml suhsequen 1 !y led to action being taken by tho Goverhmonl. imposing restrictions on the export of timber. It was decided to frame regulations having for their object the control of the export trade, the fixation oi price for timber for local use, and the gradual tapering off of export to prevent the depletion ami utter exhaustion oi our native forests. These regnlailuns were gazetted on August 0, 1918.

Because a man fixed a lock for a neighbour and did not tend her a bill, alio left him in her will ,£1001) that, enabled him'ln leave a New Jersey almshouse.

ILaverne \V. Noyes of Chicago, lias given 0:500,0(10 to the rinivci'siiy of Chicago for the education of soldiers and sailors and their descendants.