The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, SEPT. 29th, 1921 BRITISH FORESTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, SEPT. 29th, 1921 BRITISH FORESTRY.

As this couontry is going to get :1 surfeit of forestry legislation, it will 1>« not without interest to note what is being done in a similar way in the Old Country. Interesting information relating to the work of the Hritish Forestry Commissioners is contained in the first annual rejiort, which has been published as a White) Paper. The 1920. 2| planting programme lias been successfully carried out, and the total urea planted by the Commission is about 8,000 acres. Of the 103 100 acres of land now in possession of the Commissioners, 68,100 acres are classified as [vtanlahlc. Owing to the extension of railways and the spread of industrialism the demand for timber has increased to an extent previously unknown, Imports having increased livefold between 1850 and 1910, The price of imported timber rose steadily during the thirty years before the war, while the quality bad declined. “That this stat,. of things was unsatisfactory in time of peace was generally admitted. It required but one year of war to show bow critical the .position was in a time of national emergency.’’ With regard to the future, the Commissioners have decided to enlist the assistance of private organisations and individuals, and to limit the work of their staff to assisting tlie orgHnisivtion of the survey and checking returns, and to spread the survey over a three-year period. It is hoped that Uv the year 1925-26—the year in which Parliament should come to a. decision on its future forest policy—«• survey of the woodlands in Great Britain will

have been completed, which will g ve the essential facts and ligures with a sufficient degree of accuracy. It is interesting to note that the timber consumed hy the lirilish Army in F’a-ice between 1915-20 cost Hie country at least £190.000.000 more than a similar amount of wood would have eo-t at

1909-13 prices. The report further points nut that tlier,. is no reason to suppose that the average ami ml demands for timber for house cniKtrielion, delayed repairs and industrial developments will be less ill the rest decade than they were during the five years preceding the war. II this is the case, and the, price of timber dims m>t fnW much below a figure mid-way between the 1913 and 1920 prices, we shall have to pay for the period 19153(1 anything between £100.000,000 and £000.000,(KN) more for our timber than we should have had to pay for a •imilar amount at 1909-13 prices. It is definitely stated that had the planting programme now adopted been < c-m----pleted before the war, the additional woods therefrom would 'have comp'ted with Scandinavia and Finland, and tendered to keep prices of soft woods at a lower level. The following arc the duties of tip. Commissioners for a tenvears pwrind:—The allorestation ol 150,1)00 acres of new land by the din i t action of the State: assistance to local authorities and private owners for the allorestation and reafforestation of 110-000 acres: th,. pun base and leconstruetion of hardwood areas; eduuition of forest officers, land owners and land agents, working foresters and foremen ; research and experiment and eiicouragoßinnt of forest industries. For these purposes a luiid ol £3.o f H).OtMf has been voted by Parliament, which find, bar also to bear the establishment as well as all incidental charges J the Forestry Commission.