FOREST WORKING

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1921, Page 4

FOREST WORKING

GOVERNMENT POLICY DETAILED

MINISTRY .\ND SAWMILLERS

A FRIENDLY UNDERSTANDING

REACHED

WELLINGTON, Jan. 22

During the past week a detailed policy (Statement made by the Commissioner of State Forests (Sir Francis Bell) was considered by a conference representing the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association. Tn the course of a subsequent discussion with the Minister, the sawniilling representatives, while suggesting some variations in matters of detail, declared their willingness to co-operate with the Government in giving effect to the new policy. Following is the text of the Munster’s statement: —

A true forest policy may he expressed not in terms of the sissc of the country’s forests, but in its effectiveness m securing t-lie most efficient possible utilisation of the nation’s wood resources. The policy must provide confidence and security in every legal and commercial phase to industry and public alike, it must assure: 1. Ample timber supplies at reasonable prices both in the present and for the future for Hie people of New Zealand. . * 2. Protection and regulation ot stream flow by the maintenance ot protection forests. ;l. Maintenance as productive forest capital on lion-agricultural areas which might otherwise he turned into idle impoverished wastes. I. Transferring to forest management all existing and future forests where water conditions, soil fertility, climate and public health are dependent upon them. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. Some basic requirements for the effective operation of the forest policy art*: 1. A continuity and stability ot policy. 2. A modern and comprehensive forest law. lb A progressive timber-sale policy. •1. Permanent dedication by Act ol Parliament of all forested noil-agricul-tural Crown lands to forest management (up to the limits required to pro duce—by ft sustained yield management —the Dominion’s timber needs.). 5. Adequate forest development funds for afforestation protection, education,

and research. To fullil these requirements it is necessary to make provision for: - i. Classification of the soil capabilities of all provisional State forests, with a view to the dedication of sustained forest management of all areas more suitable for the production of forest crops than agricultural or pastoral crops (other lands to lie opened for settlement). 2. Demarcation and forest organisation of all permanently dedicated State forests.with the application of applied forestry principles to the production of sustained timber crops in perpetuity. ;L Conservation of all forested regions from which flow streams, or upon which are dependent the water, for hydro-elec-tric projes s, irrigation schemes, the water supply of communities, etc. 1. Steady acquisition of forest lands from the Native owners; classification and dedication to forest management of all suitable areas so acquired. "). Application of a forest-fire prevention control (after the situation has been carefully studied) throughout the Dominion’s forested regions. (Fire is one of scientific forestry’s greatest enemies). THE FOREST SERVICE. 6. Gradual building of an effective administration instrument—a State forest service, manned largely by New Zealanders, who have been trained in technical forest schools in New Zealand, and who will then be capable of successfully carrying through the forest policy. 7. Establishment of a professional course in forest engineering for the training of forest technicians by a faculty of forestry in a university college, and two State ranger schools —one in each island. S. Unified control and administration of the permanent and provisional State forests by one administrative body (the forest service) as regards all activities such as: Sale and disposal and protection of the timber; the grazing rights; kauri gum-digging privileges; and all other uses and privileges within their boundaries.

n. Reinvestment of all realised revenues from the disposal of State forest and provisional State lorest timber in the construction of improvements within their boundaries, such as roads, tracks, telephone lines, and other means of communication, ranger stations, boundaries definition, internal demarcation, and other needs of forest organisation, and local development. If). Allocation of (say) 20. per cent of all net revenues received from the sale of virgin timber to the country, within whose boundary the forest or Invests arc located, for the purpose of building and maintaining roads and bridges, and for educational purposes. 11. Formation of a small advisory forestry board to advise the State Forest Service on matters concerning its activities; such board (honorary) to consist of nil appointee from the forest industry, forest labour, the consuming public, and the agricultural industry.

PROMOTION OF RESEARCH. 12. Promotion of forest research — looking to better utilisation and handling of forest products, to aid in the management of. State forests, add to solve the problems of forest-fire prevention, the silviculture of the native trees and their regeneration. 14. A more exhaustive study of the possibilities and practical application of fo rest -fi re insu rn n ce.

-15. Diffusion of knowledge regarding the forests and forest fesoittTes of New Zealand. 1(5. A survey or census of the forests, quantities of timber available to industry, present and future needs, territorial requirements, productively, and other information needed to deal with forest problems intelligently. 17. Restriction of timber export—tho timber of New Zealand for the'people of New Zealand: The exploitation of New Zealand forests to keep pace with the domestic needs of the Dominion. 18. Consistent and steady afforestation. by the State in the Rotorua, Ha’nmer Springs, and Tapanui districts o( about 4000 acres per year. (Concentra-

tion in those regions where demonstrated results are best, and the local needs are most urgent). 19. Financial assistance by the Government to co-operative profit-sharing tree-planting schemes desired by local governing bodies, county councils, municipalities, etc. Extension of cooperative assistance to private individuals who are desirous of carrying on private forestry operations by the supplying of forest planting material at low prices, competent technical advice, and assistance in the formation of work-

ing plans. THE SALE OF TIMBER. A progressive timber-sale policy is a vital need and component of any broad

national forest policy. With some exceptions, New Zealand is not receiving even approximately the market price for her staining timber disposed of to concessionaries. It goes without saying, that as-.stewards of the people the Government is responsible for the careful administration of all natural resources. It thercfoie behoves the legislative authority to see that a fair return is attained from the sale of the Dominion’s timber resources, at the same time considering the interests o the timber industry and ot the con-

sumer. The timber-sale policy should he one that gives a fair and just measure of certainty to concessionaries, and therefore stability. It should provide for a more equitable return than under present conditions (concessions such as sawmill licenses, licenses under the Mining Warden, etc.), and proportionate increases in the future. (It is fortunate that the principle of Crown timber royalties is generally in use, inasmuch as u represents the principle of profit-sharing by the people in the industries which develop the timber re-

sources). A fair timber-sale policy should pro

provide for — h Sale of public timber in such a manner that it contributes to the poo pie’s 'welfare in the highest practical

degree. 2. A procedure which will eliminate definitely and fairly the uncertainties which have disturbed and hampered for-

est industry: Indefinite policy. Ambiguous regulations. Erratic supervision. Uncertain tenure. 3. Granting of all reasonable facilities to actual and bona-fide millers in order to permit of adequate investment and profitable return and so that forest conservation may not be a remote, bfit a near and more profitable thing upon all areas over which milling rights are

granted. PREVENTING AGGREGATION

4. Formulation of a forest law and regulations which will effectively discourage timber-land aggregation, prevent trafficking, and speculation in the resources of the Dominion. 5, I am in favour of providing Li the new forest law a. clause preventing the transfer of any timber-sale made by the new regime—this principle will have to he ultimately recognised it applied forest management is to prevail. In countries where a conscious forestry eontiol is now in force—l' ranee, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada, British Columbia, United States, this principle applies. (The philosophy of it is: The plate holds, at all times, a full control over its contract; there is no granting of vested interest to the standing-timber purchaser, it reaps the unearned increment —and justly so. It will ho seen that ultimately the salepi ice will equal the cost of production, so t.hat Tor self-protection it must maintain a firm control of its property.) As a general principle it is desirable that in the development o f administrative procedure the settlement of all local questions be upon local grounds, in each ease considering the dominant industry, but with as little restriction to minor industries as possible. UNDIVIDED CONTROL. 7.. The Commissioner of SLRo T° r " ests and his administrative instrument the State forest service—is the one branch of Government empowered and responsible for the control, disposition, and sale of all forest resources within State forests and provisional State forests.

8. The people are entitled, at all times, to the full market value of all standing timber disposed of. This principle is a j ust one to all concerned. In order that this may always be attained, all timber sales should bo subjected to public competition (exceptions, small sales of nominal value; the limit to be fixed by the Minister in charge). It is further proposed that no timber should he sold for less than its appraised market value (minimum fixed from time to time).

9. State timber should be sold in the round by one of the standard units of measure of the service, namely, solid cubic feet, or superficial measure of 100 feet (1-foot board measure equals a board 12in. x l2in. x lin. deep). 10. Sales of timber in small quantities should be encouraged by every possible means. As far as practicable the rate at which timber is sold from any unit should ensure a reasonable operating life for mills constructed in connection with sales It is not desired to sell timber in such a manner that any one mill would have a monopoly, but the amount to be cut from year to year should be regulated so that established plants, if successful competitors tyir timber offered for sale, can he assured continued operation for reasonable periods. Furthermore, no sales should be made which endanger the future supply for local use or the maintenance of local industries. 11. All felled timber to be branded and properly measured before- removal from the sale area (in the discretion of the competent officers measurement may take place at the point of milling). WORKING METHODS. 12. The State Forest Service should have full charge of silvicultural policy over all timber sales from State‘forests or provisional State forests, _or , any other forest under control of the State Forest, Department, and, to the extent of protecting the public interest, should be granted sufficient supervision over manufacture to require the use of efficient machinery for the prevention of J excessive waste. Only those restric- fl tions would he imposed upon operators j which are essential to the sound, and j' conservative silvicultural management j of the forest; and, as far as practicable, | the conditions of exploitation should be adapted to the established, and ne-

cessary" methods of logging and milling in the region. 13. All timber should be subject to the following: (a) Ground rent. (b) Royalty. (o) Forest fire protection charge (it desirable). (d) Payment of all expenses in connection with the survey, appraisal and advertisement of sale. (e) The furnishing of a bond or guarantee of performance. (f) Time limit of operation. (g) Provision for adequate penalties for non-observance of conditions of and regulations. 14. A revision of the minimum royalty schedule should be made without delay in order that the State's interest may he brought into line with the current timber values (the British Columbia system of periodic revision is sound and satisfactory). 15. By the end of the year 1923. all timber cut from State forests or pn-vt-sional State forests should be scaled or measured by licensed scalers (a license to lie granted by the Forest Service to applicants on proper examination and approval—this is in successful operation throughout Canada). 10. Adequate forest-fire protection safeguards should he required in all timber sales.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS. Conclusion.— The operation of this Ne\V Zealand forest policy should result both in the present and in th c futuro in :

1. —Continued supplies for wood-us-iu<r industries at thc lowest possible cost.

2 A continuous and sustained supply of timber to meet the local and national needs of the people of New Zealand. 3. Adequate .protection of all water supply sources and safe control of stream flow. t.—Utilisation of all forest soils at their productive capacity. 3.—The closest use of all the forest resources of the people. 6.—Stability of the timber industry. When the representatives of the Sawmillers’ Association met the Minister, after considering the foregoing statement of policy, various questions were discussed. Mr W. J. Sutler (president of the association) said the sawmillers felt that one repreentative in four on the Advisory Committee was barely sufficient.. He suggested a committee of five persons with the Minister as chairman. The sawmillers, he said, were willing to work with the Department, and thought that as far as possible they should lie given an opportunity to assist in forming the forestry policy. The Minister expressed his willingness to consider the appointment of the association s nominee as the sawmillers’ representative on the Advisory Committee. CONTROL OK TIMBER EXPORTS. The question of restricting timber exports was discussed at some length. Mr J. Butler spoke regarding the'export husines. He emphasised the importance of maintaining a system of exchange between Australia and New Zealand of jarrah 6h the one hand and kauri and white pine on the other. He stated that during the last six months the import of jarrah alone, by his company, had greatly exceeded the export of New Zealand timbers, and asked that the Minister would carefully consider the advantages apparent from this continued export to Australia. II Australia adopted the same attitude as New Zealand and with-held all exports, they would soon have New Zealand farmers using white pine for posts while Australians used jarrah for butterboxes.

Tho Minister stated that never at any time had the Department refused to allow an exchange of timber, and that they certainly did not propose to do so now.