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Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1920, Page 2

Captain Ei-uis, continuing L is comments wont on to situlo that it was from the standpoint of the effective utilisation of all land areas that the capital importance of good forestry was most clearly apparent. The positive results attainable in the shape of an assured timber supply, in water conservation, and the protection of land surfaces, and in other ways ,were in the most direct view immensely important. Their virtue was enormously enhanced when it was considered that the whole of these benefits accrued from the utilisation of lands that were useless, or almost useless for any other purposes, Systematic forestry was not an alternative to some other form of productive enterprise on the lands to which it was applied; it was an alternative to the transtormation into idle wastes of productive forests and of lands on which forest growth might easily he restored. It is impossible to lay too pinch pmpliasis op the point that systematic forestry wps not, and never would bp, in competition with any other form of productive enterprise. At a reasonably long view the issue raised in considering a national forest policy was whether millions of acres ol land were to lie made richly productive or were to be aliowed-to lapse into the condition of a barren waste. The contribution which forestry was capable of making ,and would piake, to the furtherance of national development was in all essentials the same as would be made if by some means the areas of fertile agricultural in this country were largely increased. The essence ol forest management was to obtain assured and continuing crops of great value from lands which otherwise would produce nothing after their first crop of tim her hud been harvested. Apart, therefore, from the permanent tifflbfir supply at which it primarily aimed, systematic forestry, because it enormously ex tended the effective utilisation of land areas, would enable this country to reach a, pitch of development in the ex., tensioif of transport facilities and in other directions wliicli otherwise wouid lie unattainable.

The action of the firemen of the Mokoia in refusing to sail for Wellington on Monday night unless Sir George Clifford, who was an intending passenger, went ashore, js something more than a stupid interference with the rights of a citizen, comments the Christchurch “Press.” Now that this section of organised labour has made a beginning with the boycotting of individuals, the matter must be taken-up seriously. We need not point out that the war Icing waned by the maritime transport workers against racehorse owners is sf useless and unjustifiable. The very body—the Jockeys’ Association- —in whose in. terests this policy is being pursued, has held a ballot, which resulted in ti e vetoing of a proposal to strike. The action of the maritime transport workers accordingly looks like wanton mischief, The public lias a l ight fo know whether the firemen are .acting under orders from their own or any other organisation. If the Transport Workeis Advisory Board has authorised or approved this policy of boycott, the sooner the public knows it, in order that it may deal with it, the better it will be, for* the possibilities of such a policy are infinitely evil. The public has also a rjglit to know whether the shipping companies recognise their responsibility or duty in thjjs matter.

The contests for the America Cup announced to lie commencing to-day, will be followed eagerly by the sporting public all over the world. The sportsmanlike determination of the challenger, Sir Thomas Ljpton, who, in spite of repeated failures to win back the Cup for England, has continued |ijs efforts, lias won tile admiration of ail true sportsmen the world over. In September, 1914. a challenge race was to have taken place, but the great world war intervened, and held up the sporting activities of the challenger, which were engaged in move serious matters. Now Sir Thomas lias crossed the Atlantic again, and his challenger, Shamrock IV, is engaged in a further attempt to um back what is regarded as the yachting championship of the world. The British yacht is 75 feet, long, and was designed by Mr 0. Nicholson. The teims of the contest arrange for three races, the Sandy Hook course being that selected for tile historic contest by the present holders.