Australia’s Forest Wealth

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1922, Page 4

Australia’s Forest Wealth

SYDNEY, April 8. Valuable work is done by tbc Australian Forestry Conference, wbieb is bolding one of its periodical sittings in Brisbane, in directing attention to tbo rapid demolition of Australia’s forest wealth. There is a popular delusion that Australia still has untold riches in her forests. The contrary is the case. A long course of improvement conduct has reduced our forests to one twenty-fifth of our total area, and our permanent reserves to one-hundredth. Yet India, with an area one-third of Australia, and a. population 1.2 N times as large, has onevtenth of its total area reserved, and one-fourth of the area, under forests. Such facts speak for themselves; but, what is worse, the forest areas are rapidly diminishing, and Australia, is now importing four times as much timber ns she exports. All this is the outcome of the policy of wanton destruction of timber by mill and fire, which millers and agriculturists have been permitted to pursue, without a. thought of the future. A deplorable instance of this disregard, alike for forest wealth and forest beauty, is to be found in Valley. What was once one of the most beautiful tourist tracks in Victoria is now «. scene of desolation, owing to the operations of sawmillers, whose one object was to clear the country of its timber quickly and thoroughly. Frequent inspection by skilled foresters, protected from the interference of politicians is necessary.