DOMINION FORESTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1921, Page 1

DOMINION FORESTRY

AMERICAN EXPERT’S IMPRESSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19. The famous American university, Harvard, has sent to the Dominion, on a mission of investigation into New Zealand forestry, especially the native trees, Professor Ernest H. Wilson, Assistant Director of the Arnold Arboretum. He arrived at Auckland about three weeks ago, and subsequently inspected different areas, including the Dargaville and Rotorua districts. He arrived at Christchurch yesterday to commence a tour of the South Island.

Interviewed regarding his impressions, Professor Wilson said that lie had not been in the country long enough to he prepared to make a detailed statement, but he was greatly impressed by the Dominion’s magnificpht native trees, and particularly by the kauri. New Zealand had cause to be proud of the kauri, and should be jealous to preserve the best specimens a., national monuments. The kauri was a unique asset; and tree lovers from all parts of the world would think it worth whjje to visit this country if to see the kauri only. .Much vandalism I had taken place where the native trees! were concerned, but it would be profitable to prevent further destruction, especially of the kauri, which was, indeed, a magnificent tree. The Press should help to educate the people on the importance of forestry. The ignorance or indifference of most people concerning trees was lamentable. They seemed to think that there was nothing in trees—until they had to purchase timber. New Zealand was a land ol scenic beauties, a real tourists’ country. and its native trees were far from the least of its attractions. The Japanese example, for instance, might well he copied. There the (tovernment issued booklets stating where the best specimens of Japanese trees could he seen, their age, size, etc., and also the mythology attached to each kind. This assistance was greatly appreciated by the visiting tree enthusiasts and other tourists, and was really good business. A variety of special circumstances had helped to preserve the New Zealand native hush before the days of white settlement. It had been the one country of the world where there were no destroying annuals, and the Maoris did very little harm. The coining of the white man, with his domestic animals ami imported Northern trees, and his clearing of the hush, liad changed the previous liittural preservation, and tue native trees were now hard put to it to endure, -lust as the Northern human

rat es were stronger ami more vigorous than the native people, so were their trees stronger than the native specimens. Ashed what lie thought' of the Dominion’s forestry policy, Professor Wilson said that he had seen so little evidence of such a policy that lie could pass no opinions on the subject, nor did he desire at this stage to make any comments except to urge that forestry should he kept strictly apart from polities. Unless the Forestry Department was entirely .non-political and free from political influences, failure must re-

salt. Ministers came and wont, but the forestry policy laid down should be permanent, as it would take many years for a constructive policy to be carried out, and it should not be subjected to periodical and many changes. He thought that it would pay to develop kauri forests. He did not altogether accept the theory of the kauri’s comparatively slow growth. Now Zealand could never expect to have many of bho*enormoiis kauri trees of several hundred years’ growth, as trees of that size might not he commercially inviting, but smaller kauris should be profitable. The English oak took about 120 years to attain maturity, whereas the “commercial sized” kauri could be grown within a century. Questioned regarding the prospects ot | paper pulp manufacture, Professor . Wilosn said that lie did not think that, at present, the outlook was very bright ■ for such an industry in New Zealand. - Apart from other reasons, it was doubt- | ful if there was sufficient raw ■ material | now in the Dominion. So much forest ( had been destroyed that the necessary quantity of trees did not seem to he , now available. However, he was not | speaking authoritatively, as he had not | seen much of the South Island, especial n ly the West Coast, where, he under- I. stood, there were still large tracts of 1 1 native forests. He was to inspect the . chief South Island centres in company with the Director of. Forestry, and was ooking forward with real interest to ( lie trip. 1