FOREST CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 7

FOREST CONTROL

THE OUTLOOK FOR SAWMILLERS.] Dealin#, in his report, with the possibility of. much more economical forest working in this country, the Director of Forestry (Captain Ellis) sets particular emphasis on tho fact that the changes in contemplation arc intended to be as beneficial to those engaged in the timber industry as to the State and the consuming public. While he insists that the devastation of forests must cease, and that a full market price must be obtained for all the raw material taken out by millers, Captain Ellis holds it equally necessary that only restrictions necessary to sound forest management should be imposed on concessionaires. 110 observes that as far as practicable silviculturnl requirements (those relating to the cultivation and improvement of forests) should be adapted to the established and neoessary methods of logging in each forest region. The sale and cutting of timber must "be governed by explicit regulations and all logging and milling operations should be subject to constant inspection by the Forest Service, but the imposition of harassing or unnecessary restrictions ia definitely disclaimed. The aim will be, the Director states, to establish co-operation betw-cen the Forestry Department and 'sawmillers and keep the users of timber land in ready touch with the Government. Regulation and inspection, he points out, will provide for the protection of young growth (thus ensuring continued timber supplies) and moro economical milling, and will, tend to raise the general standard of forest working to that set by the most progressive millers. Captain Ellis ridicules tho idea that sawmillers will be embarrassed by -having to pay royalties based on the actual use volume of the trees they cut instead of upon tho amount of sawn timber produced. It might as well bo said, he remarks in this connection, that freezing works should buy sheep in units of dressed mutton instead of on the hoof. Practically all the large' timber producing countries in the world, he continues, have adopted tho system of selling timber with reference to the solid cubic content of the trees. Tho measures proposed will place the forest industry of New Zealand on a sound and permanent footing and give sawmillers stability of tenure.