Hokitika guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1919. FORESTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1919, Page 2

Hokitika guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1919. FORESTRY.

Judging by the lengthy reports sent out from Wellington in regard to the annual meeting of the Forestry League, by the Press Association, the authorities aro directing propaganda work with a very earnest desire to capture the public imagination. Sir James Wilson the president of the League re-echoes Sir F. D. 'Bell with the faithfulness of a phonograph record, the desire being evidently to turn the balance of public opinion in favor of the restrictive legislation and regulations which the newly created Foresty Department is busy enjfbrcihg. Sir James Wilson, it is clear, is very much in the confidence of Sir Francis Bell, and he forecasts clearly what was anticipated in theso columns some few months ago, that the Government is out to appropriate the revenue of the local bodies and turn its use to secure the forests to the unborn millions wliile the preent generation lose the opportunity of profitng from nature’s gift, and will be mulcted in other directions to provide revenue which should be made good from tho sensible control of the timber industry. The press telegram despite its undue length, manages to find space for only half a dozen lines dealing with the practical side of the question. For a column and a. half Sir James Wilson and tho j other speakers are up in the air, and j they they are brought to earth by tho paper by Mr W. J. Butler which dealt with the economic utilisation o! tho ' I

timber as, a, factor in forest conservation. Mr Butler did not theorise, but - enlightened the gathering on using the existing timber for the present generation to the best advantage from an industrial and commercial point of view. Mr Butler, immersed as lie has been in the rise of the timber industry, being in fact one of the captains of v tire industry who from beginnings almost of a minus quantity, he has helped to direct the creation of a large and flourshing industry, and set a standard which has induced others to emulate

liis methods and enterprise, and so lift the industry into an industrial concern of the greatest importance in the matter of prouction and enterprise. Sir Butler, further is not a vandal. Ho has studied the timber trade in all its bearings and in a sensible practical way has promoted the industry to the status it stands at to-day. In the course of his paper he was able to point out that the encouragement that had j been given to unrestricted competition amongst sawmillers and the consequent I low price of timber at the point of ! production, had induced a demand on | the part of the users of timber for only 'the superior grades, with a result that ! a large percentage of inferor grades (which would be quite serviceable for many purposes where timber was now used) was left in the forest or destroyed at a slab fire. It was probable that with the development of industries ir New Zealand and with cheaper transport facilities, the demand for lower grade timber would proportionately increase. Tliis would mean that a lesser annual acreage of forest cropping would meet the community’s need than if the present wasteful custom of using only the better grades of timber were continued. The Forestry League keeping step with the Forestry Department fails to take the practical side of sawmilling into account. There is too much theorising, and the setting up of hard and fast rules, some of which carry their own condemnation in their own expression. This Nnres'try question as v have pointed out before, is of vital concern to the West Coast, and the pres is the time to fight the menace, not later when the promoters of the theoretical policy are firmly seated again in power. It will he too late then to intercept action, and the outlook is so ominous now that the agitation to get the Prime Minister to state a public policy at once should nob flag until the request is complied with.