SAWMILLING AND TREE PLANTING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 May 1910, Page 4

SAWMILLING AND TREE PLANTING.

WIJAT INDIVIDUALISM HAS .1)0 XK.

There is no name that is more a household word in Hurowhenua than that of Prouse, and it is no exaggeration to say that tho name is one of tlio moslt honoured in the district. Mr -James Prouso wa.s born in New Zealand. Ifis grandfather and lather came to tho dominion in the ship "Duke of Roxburgh," in 1810, and landied at I'etone beach. From here they came to what was called Jackawai. near Thorndon. Later on the family went to Johnsonville, and about, the year 18iS they migrated to Wainuiomata. Hero Mr James Prouse went to school, and piissed some of his happiest years. Ifis father went in largely for dairy farming and sheep-farming, and consequently the subjuct of tins article soon obtained a wido experience of agricultural life. The turning point in his career, however, may he said to have been reached in the year 1875, when tho family embarked upon sawmilling. At Wainuiomata they were sawmilling for two years when they left, and went to Whitoiiwin's Valley. Tlio Prouso family was here for thirteen years, and at the. expiration of that period Mr -James Pro-use and his brothers moved to Levin, where they acquired 900 acres of freehold land and a block of leasehold and rights of timbercutting. They 'then began opera-tions-—operations which have developed to such an extent that, "Prouses' sawmills" a re one of the landmarks of the country for miles and miles around. They had considerable difficulty in acquiring the area of bush for milling purposes, as the interests of sa.wmillers were notconsidered by the then Government, or, as Mr James Prouso tersely puis it, by tho present Government either. The settler counted for everything; tho sawmiller counted for nothing. In order to preserve the bush he and his brothers had to buy it outright. To lease the bush it would require a great? deal less capital, but the Governmrut determined that the bush must ho destroyed. and tint was, of course, diametrically opposed to the interests of sawmilling. Mr "Prouso has one particular plot c.f TOO acres of Umber he has felled, and pointing to this he said that to carry out the work according to the ideals of the then Government it would have cost ("J 10s an acre to fall. It would al<o have required another C'l an acre for fencing and for seeding. Even when that was taken into consideration, the stock" could hardly get about it, and in the early years if a man derived 10s an aero profit ho wa.s considered lucky. On tho particular plot to which reference has been made, Mr Prouso says he considers he has converted thf bush into .'IO.OOO feet of timber, and in addition ho points out that a large staff of men has been employed as well. The yield of capital per acre oil the plot has been C*lot). Of this about 10 per cent, would be profit, and 90 per cent, would go in labour, depreciation of machinery, rates, taxes, and other things. The. process pursued by Mr Prouso was such as it made the hush yield not only f '|.")o per acre, but it. also improved the value of the land a good many pounds per acre. PROFITABLE ANT) ECONOMIC. That the system adopted by Mr Prouse was a most profitable and economic- one is proved by a glance at his paddocks as compared with those of the average settler. But the Government, ho considers, has apparenly remained hostile to the sawmilling industry, despite the fact that about eight years ago at a conference tlio enormous benefits to be derived from it were suceintly demonstrated. Some ten years since Mr P rouse wa.s looking tor timber along the Main Trunk line, and lie saw :i lot of valuable wood hind that could be treated upon the same principle that he and his brothers were treating the land at Levin. There were thousands and thousands of acres set aside for the settler's axe at almost a giit, yet for the sawmiller there was not an acre to be procured. Ho had stated before, and he stated now, that the treament of heavy bush lands was a political crime. It had been stated by some that when the sawmill went through the bush one could not get good burns, but he had every confidence that that theory was a fallacy. The paddock to which attention is directed is practically studded with stumps, and no other timber can bo seen. A largo quantity has been cut into firewood, some of the lighter timbers have been removed by tire, and now the stumps •are standing, as Mr j'rouse savs, "like stones in a graveyard." Sawmillers have done a great deal for New Zealand. They have done a great deal for this district in particular, and not a few people consider that'they have been, and are to-day, benefactors to the dominion. For his firm Mr Prouse claims that it has not wasted one pennyworth of tho natural wealth of the land. i\t the same time he says that as members of the sawmilling industry ho considers they have nob been properly or fairiy treated. Even under 'these circumstances the firm has become a. huge concern. When the sawmills at Weraroa were iirst put up about thirty men were .employed; in th# process of time the linn was merged into a limited liablility company, and to-day its prosperity is | unchallenged. Tho reporter pult the qeustion to Mr Prouso as to what amount- he and his brothers had cut ou the estate. Mr Prouse replied that its worth was anything from £60,000 to £100,000. Questioned as to what wages he had paid he said that on the basis of the figures just quoted, it would not be less tlia.il 7o per cent. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. He had very great hopes for the future of the timber -trade if the Government would improve its methods. Fndev t-he.se circumstances—possibly not altogether opt'iinistic:—Mr Prouse is pursuing an active policy. He would greatly enlarge his operations if Government would give sawmillers frie.idly assistance, such as it has given to settlers. At the present time lie is planting blue gwms. They are a very straight tree, and. their timber is very valuable. The acacia is a tree he recommends for .planting, rt ifl of hardy growth, and resists fire well. Some time ago .some person set fire to the grass near the

mail, and while ilia Uanies destroyed some ol (lie trees, the. acacias are now showing ii|> as though nothing had occurred. Aslceil as to how many trees lie planted a year, Mr I'rouse remarked that lately lie- had fallen hack, hut lie had .set himself to plant 000 trees per annum. So that if any <mp said lie. had destroyed hush, it was only right folium to point out that he was also planting, and it was not too much to say that Ive was growing more trees than anyone in Levin. I'evertiug to the acacia, Mi* I'rouse drew attention to a number of this variety to the. west of the house. They are only small ones now, hut within a couple of years he will he able ito remove tliu existing fence, ■and by that time the trees will become stately timber and. afford protection for the cattle.. Mr I'rouse lias been one of Hie most conspicuous figures in the local life of the district for very many years. While many men would have liad all their time take.ii- up with the development, of their estates, Mr Prouse has found I imo to deal with his multifarioHS business and commercial activities, his timber yards, and. his important farm. Twelve years <1.2:0 he was returned to tlie County Council, on which body he still sits, aiul many of the improvements that have been accomplished liave been brought about as a result ol his practical suggestions. Ho was a member of the I'oud Hoard uultil it was merged into the County Council, awl when the Borough Council elections took place Mr I'rouse was returned, and since its inception he has uninterruptedly represented tlie electorate. His activity 011 this authority i* well known, and his valued and valuable services to the community are highly appreciated by the general public. In many other directions. Mr I'rouse has performed work ol a busting and ben flee mfc character, and while lie lias done so much to develop the district and to prove beyond doubt the latent possibilities of the sawmilling industry, lie has thrown himself unreservedly into religious activity, [fe is a zealous supporter of the Methodist Church, but he recognises that- all the churches are animated bv the fame spirit (lie regeneration of the human race, and therefore every form of religious effort receives his cordial support. Mr Prouse has steadfastly supported religious education for the young, «nd the fact, that lie is president, ol'_ the Levin branch of the VM.C.A. is an emphatic indication of his interest in' the welfare of the rising generation. On agricultural matters Mr I'rouse. is a leadiing authority, and his fine farm and pretty grounds will form the subject of another article. agsgT-sngrfr/- mav-'-rrgrsn