FORESTRY SCHOOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1921, Page 1

FORESTRY SCHOOL.

SATURDAY’S DEPUTATION.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. At the school of forestry deputation to-day Mr D. J. Evans (Hokitika) representing all the local bodies in West land, said that the great forests of the West Coast formed one of the strongest reasons for establishing the school in Canterbury. There were over 2,000,000 acres of forest reserves in Westland, besides large educational re(Servejs and other areas suitable for forestry purposes. The great rainfall was one of the main advantages of the district in that direction. A voice: “That’s why you have the bush.” Mr Evans: Yes, that is so. Dr Thacker: You'll never have a dry district (laughter). Mr Evans concluded by saying that by proper afforestation methods the forests of Westland would be an asset to the Dominion for all time. The chairman read a large number of telegrnms and resolutions in support of Canterbury, among them being the following resolution passed at a meeting of the Greymontli and Hokitika Sawnrilkjrs’ .Association: “That in view of the fact that vast, areas of land on the West Coast arc suitable only for afforestation purposes and that the native hush on the West Coast will also last for many years, the Government be urged to establish the proposed chair of forestry at the Canterbury University College.” W. .T. Butler of the Kauri Timber Co., Butler Bros., and 'Stuart, and Chapman, the largest group of sawmilTing firms in the Dominion, wrote in support. “The need of a School of Forestry is most pressing. The location of such a school should be where it would lie most serviceable to the Dominion. From the fact that West land is th 0 most important forest region in New Zealand—it is considered so by the Director of Forestry,—and that it's climatic conditions arc so admirably ndanted to forest cultivation, it is certain that, tlic most successful forestry operations will be those earned on in Westland. The greater opportunity for practical demonstration will thus lie afforded to students who are domiciled conveniently close to Westland, with the educational facilities that already exist- r.t Christchurch T should unhesitatingly snv that next to Hokitika it would he the most suitable place in the Dominion for the proposed School of Forestry.