NATIVE TREES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 7

NATIVE TREES

NEED FOR REPLANTING

KAURI FORESTS GOING

A plea for the preservation and scion,: tiflc planting of Now Zealand trees was made by Sir Edwin Mitcholsou at the opening of the Cheescman Memorial exhibition ■of native spring flowers at the Auckland War Momorial Museum on Saturday. After praising the objects of the exhibition, Sir Edwin mentioned that jS'ow Zealand had n variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, and. ferns that could be equalled by few noun trios, states the "New Zealand Herald."

In the kauri she had'the fiucst timber tree in the world. "Its quantity, however, is. rapidly diminishing," continued the speaker, "and it will soon bo a- memory .of the past unless the people in the whole of the Dominion will bring pressure to bear upon the Government to preserve all of the great kauri reserves that are owned by the State. Pressure is being used to induce the Government to permit the dead trees in the great kauri forest in the Dargavillc district to be cut. If that is conceded, that will bo tho end of that forest. From tho knowledge that I have gained, extending over 50 years, in the working of kauri bushes, once let the bushman into a kauri bush to work timber and,the end of that busk lias arrived. The kauri tree is more susceptible to-fire than any other tree. "Unfortunately for our country, the Governments that have been in power since tree-planting was initiated have shown no desire to" plant our native timber trees, the excuse being that they all are too slow of growth. They are probably slower of growth than many of the American • and Canadian timbers, but I am satisfied that if some of our New-Zealand trees were planted scientifically, as is now the custom iv forest plantations, ; they would grow fairly fast."

Sir Edwin gavo examples of kauri trees that were showing good growth under favourable'circumstances. Other timbers that could bo successfully grown were rimu, which could easily bo reproduced on the West Coast of the South Island, mariawao, puriri, and totara. Good specimens of totara, selfsown, could- be seen on tho road from Kamo to Hikurangi. These showed good growth, but were. short in the barrel. If scientifically planted, however, they would grow with straight stems. Mangiao produced good timber for furniture and;-carriage building, and was one of the finest timbers in the world for gun stocks, while, kahikatea could be" profitably grown for butter boxes. ■

"I would like to impress on every person, in New Zealand how necessary it is to. push forward afforestation in our- country, as timber shortage' is a thing to dread," said Sir Edwin. "May I also suggest to our civic authorities the necessity of planting through the Domain all the New. Zealand trees that produce the,food our pigeon, tui, and other native birds like, so as to induce tnem'^to visit; our very fine Domain."