WORK FOR ALL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 94, 14 January 1921, Page 5

WORK FOR ALL

CARRYING’OUT A FOREST POLICY

NEW ZEALAND’S RESOURCES

ADDRESS BY DIRECTOR OF FORESTRY

An interesting treatise on foiestiy in New Zealand was given by the Director of Forestry, Captain MUntosh Ehs at yesterday’s conference of the i land Association of Nurserymen By way of premise Captain Elbe stated tl .at the problems before the New Ze . ala ™ Sato Forest Service were, ot particulai interest to the conference, for the succ = or otherwise of a forward forest policy in New Zealand vitally depended on -he interest and participation taken by the Nurserymen’s Association and the lorert Service in stimulating the interest of .he farmers and settlers in the groving harvesting of timber trees These trees would be to a large extent grown from stock procured from the various nurserymen of the Dominion. The Nurserymen =. Association had been good enough to appoint a standing forestry committee to confer with--the Department on matters of mutual interest. The co-operation and constructive criticism of nurserymen were earnestly desired, and already the results and conclusions that had been reached had opened up new avenues ot approach and crystallised very valuable means of interesting the people of NewZealand in the all-important matter ot private afforestation. The world s visible supply of timber useful in the arts was limited, and all facte pointed to the airsolute need of New Zealand solving the problem of future timber supplies within her shores. Forest Capital. , A careful review of all existing estimates of the quantity of milling timber available in New Zealand indicated an apparent volume of over 30,000,W0,000 superficial feet growing on about 8,000,(Xd acres. A careful survey and inventory cl the forest resources would considerably increase this forest capital. While this quantity appeared large, it would require very careful husbanding, and the introduction of considerable economies without delay, if serious hardships were to be avoided in the near future. Under the forward forest policy of the Government during the past two. years the total area of Crown forest dedicated permanently and provisionally for applied forestry management had reached 7,000,0W acres, and it s was hoped that during the next four years this would be steadily added to by proclamation and purchase untit the total area of supply, protection, and recreation forests reached 12,000,000 acres. Captain Ellis went on to urge that the primary objective of the forest policy of the Government was the assurance of adequate timber supplies at a reasonable price for all time. "Many of you, no doubt," continued Captain Ellis, "will say that it is impossible to regenerate the native trees, or that the rate of growth is so slow as to be prohibitive. You may be right. In any event, this forest service is going to find out for once and all, and before long I hope to be able to present to yon facts, and not opinions. In any case, the forest capital is the main thing. Using the native forest as capital, it is possible to build on it, or its foundation, a consciously managed forest capable of annually producing its harvest of mature timber. How to attain that end is your problem, and with your generous sympathy and helpful attitude the problem of reforestation is capable of solution.” The Critical Period. "The next five years will be the critical formative period. Many mistakes will be made, for until the fundamental knowledge of native tree growth is obtained, we are groping in the dark. Forestry is also hampered through lack of trained men, but with the establishment of educational facilities in New Zealand technical men, I hope, will ba available in three or four years. In the meantime it will be our duty to place ‘our house in order’ by inducing cleaner methods of utilisation, preventing forest fires, and educating the public as to the wealth of their valuable heritage—the forests of New Zealand.”

Captain Ellis stated that, estimating the annual timber consumption would be, within a generation, 1,000,000 superficial, feet, the national requirements might bo satisfied as follow(1) The State indigenous forest regions under scientific management should produce 60 per cent, of the requirements. (2) The State-planted forests under scientific management should produce 10 per cent, of the requirements. (3) Private forests, shelter belts, woodlots and importations should produce. 30 per cent, of the requirements. It was, he added, presumed in the case of No. 1 that a satisfactory stable forest capital had been secured and that “an effective plan cf management would operate. With reference to No. 2. the State plantations, by the period specified, should bq producing from 65,000,000 to 100,000,000 superficial feet per annum. No. 3 was the item of peculiar interest to nurserymen. It was generally accepted in professional circles that timbergrowing was the proper function of the State, but in New Zealand an exception might bo made to this general rule. Looking to the Future. "To satisfy our future internal dethere is,” continued Captain Ellis, “required in New Zealand an aggregate private acreage of 150,000 io 200,000 acres of plantations. Is it possible to induce the establishment of this enormous cumulative area within a generation? It is well worth trying for, and by a strong effort on the part of all concerned it can be attained. Keeping continually at it by lecture, demonstration, education, and instruction, supported by planting stock, expert advice, aqd the development of co-operative profit-shar-ing schemes, should result in the establishment and operation of thousands of small and large plantations throughout the Dominion. Inequitable taxation must be overcome, forest-fire protection methods developed, and forest-fire insurance perfected, so that every farmer will have his woodlot and from it secure a periodic and satisfactory return of timber for his own use, and a steady profit by conversion.

‘‘ln conclusion, I should like to say that the State Forest Service is out to be the leader of forestry-thought in New Zealand. It is not a competitor with the New Zealand Nurserymen’s Association in any shape or form, whether by ‘he distribution of cheap forest trees or the assistance by advice of the prospective planter. This service earnestly desires to stimulate and induce the extension of private forests, and it purposes to secure this objective by every legitimate means. One of these means is by the building up of a strong, sturdy nursery industry in New Zealand, an industry that will supply cheap and healthy little forest trees and seeds to prospective planters and will help them to secure the best results. Our interest is your interest, and the more tree-planters there are ’he more grist there is to your mill.” Captain Ellis was heartily thanked for hie address, and congratulated by tho chairman and others on the "splendid spirit” he was infusing into his work. Nurserymen were confident, it was stated, that under his direction much would be accomplished, ana to this end he could rely upon the earnest co-operation of the association. (Applause.)