The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3534, 20 June 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1874.

Among the odd notions that find expression in the columns of some of our contemporaries, is the idea that conservation of our bush or forest is to be secured by selling the land on which it grows. It is quite possible that that result might follow, if by “conservation” is meant the right to say whether or not the timber shall be cut down. We can quite understand that a capatalist might purchase an area of forest land, and either through an idea of obtaining a higher price by holding it for • some years, or even through the pride of possessing an estate ornamented with forest trees, he might decree, as lord of the soil, that no timber should be cut down. This, however, is a very narrow conception of the meaning of the term “ conservation ” as applied to national property. If the timber is not utilised, it is like gold hidden in the earth, which a private proprietor will neither dig out himself nor allow others to acquire. What is included in our idea of “ conservation of the forest” is that it shall be used, not wasted, and that measures shall be adopted for reproducing timber in proportion to the quantity cut down. If, under the belief that a purchaser of forest land will conserve it in this spirit, the Government parts with all control over the bush, the right of destruction without reproduction is transferred: all healthy supervision and intelligent management become matters of chance, and a monopoly is given to buyers of bush land that may entail a heavy expense upon the community for importing timber, instead of enriching the country by obtaining a cheap supply at our own doors, and exporting it in logs or sawn stuff to other countries. The argument that alienation is the remedy for waste would lead to the idea that that remedy had not been tried, but was something very new instead of its having.been the practice in all the Australian Colonies. The result of alienation is apparent for miles in several directions from Dunedin. Stumps of trees standing a foot or two above the surface of the/ground prove that instead of conservation of the forest—that is, according to our definition, replacing the timber; removed by young plants or reproduction— there has been destruction. Not only has the timber been cut down, but the land on which it stood remains useless, it was bought at a price that would have justified considerable outlay upon it: the fact of timber growing on the most barren portion of it showed the purpose to which it migh£ have been applied. Biit the price paid, being a mere acknowledgment of proprietorship, rendered it cheaper to let it waste than to replant it. The crop is taken off, and it is abandoned as useless, or if riot abandoned, it is worthless. In other cases, and not a few, the destruction has been wanton, although perhaps not altogether purposeless. Large tracts of land, timber covered, have been bought by settlers, who could see their way to utilising the soil were the wood removed. Eor the time, perhaps, it would not have paid to have cut it down even for firewood. If corn or other agricultural or dairy produce could be obtained, it might pay for carriage to a market, but as wood was obtainable nearer at hand, or at less cost of cutting, it would not do to be at the expense of felling and waiting until in the course of time the demand would recoup the cost of holding, felling, splitting, or sawing. That did not suit the designs of the buyer. Present use was required; so fire, as the cheapest and most effectual agent, was employed, and thousands of acres ha,ve been destroyed that ought never to have been parted with. Forests are of slow growth. The advantage of immediate sale of the timber when appropriated to useful purposes is evident ; but it is not so tempting to lay out money for some unknown--perhaps unborn-being to reap the profit of. To look forward a few months to reaping a crop of wheat, oats, or barley, which will repay many times the labor spent in preparing the ground, is easy and common ; it is not so apparent when a four-course system of farming is contemplated : and comparatively few in the Colonies look forward so far. When, therefore, the harvest is only likely to be reaped in thirty or forty years, the chances are very much in favor of the present holder of the property being in bis grave, and some heir or successor blessing him for the fortune bequeathed to him. As a rule, immigrants are not capitalists. They come to the Colonies to make money for themselves; and it is only after years of toil that they are in a position to spare money for investments involving profit after long periods. To expect them to conserve forest is therefore illusory. But while the lifetime of individuals renders it usually unlikely that they will sacrifice the present to the future, the life-time of a Colony is a different matter. The Colony is in its infancy, though the early settlers are passing away or becoming grey and aged. What would be impolitic for them to undertake, is not only to the advantage, but is absolutely the duty of the Government. The future as well as the present must be looked to. We have no right tp

take off the land that which, stripped, will leave it poor and bare, if we have the means of replacing it for our successors. Even the gold that has been taken from the soil has been made the means of improving the country. Much of it has been invested in other forms. It has been a labor fund, providing for the well-being of an industrial population ; and although the gold itself has disappeared, it is represented in thriving townships, farm houses, ploughed fields, ships, and commerce. The conservation of our forests means the same thing. It includes the idea of cheap and plentiful supply of timber; giving employment to a large and thriving industrial population. It means cheap buildings in the Colony, and a large export trade. It means, therefore, enrichment of the country through conservation; not impoverishment through bad management and waste. It means regulation of times and seasons at which timber shall be cut down ; supervision, so that only that shall be brought into consumption that is fitted for use ; prevention of waste by destruction of young trees, and planting area sufficiently extended to meet the probable demand of generations to come. These results cannot be counted on if forest laud is alienated. What Mr Vogel may have to propose on this subject we do not know. We are moving on our own account in this Southern Island. In Southland, however, the Waste Land Board has adopted measures so extraordinary that we feel it our duty to , draw public attention to them at another time.