FORESTS AND FORESTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1923, Page 2

FORESTS AND FORESTRY

FFKTJIEH NOTES ON THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT. X( i XVI. '‘Prithee, fair youth, think w- no churls, nor measure our good minds by this rude place we live in.” - Cymkeliiie. In dealing with ‘’Forest Economics" the report slates : —‘‘The lii-t duty ot the Forest Set vice to the Dominion is lo ensure a permanent limber supply. To this end it is necessary u> establish a balance between tlie timber sawn and the limber produced by the forest.” it states Hint w ith this in i ieu Hie Service lias taken an inventory of our National Forests. I nvo-t igalious. to determine the growth of our forest trees, "are proceeding a] ace." This is good work—if it were well done; but there is too ninth room lor doubt as to the accuracy of the results so bar recorded. In fact, it would appear that “the dan'gers and disasters of a wood famine’’ are. merely an apparition which Hie Service delights in dangling before us. and then seeking credit for saving us from, what turns out to ko, a bogey.

In a. previous article we showed that the Service had. evidently unconsciously, plucked the sheet away; and by their own investigations had proved that the said bogey could not materialise tor some A(>o years! Since then, Professor 0 ro-.-mann is reported to have stated, in a lecture given to the Auckland Forestry League, that “New Zealand could supply her own needs despite the failure of the indigenous trees.'’ Such a statement from so high nn aitthoriiy should lay any remnant of the “famine - ’ ghost which may rtill linger alter the reported results of the Service's own investigations, as referred to above. The report proceeds to recount activities which have been undertake by operators in an endeavour to eliminate waste; but whatever the Service may have done in the direction of economy

as applied lo forestry operations, the Forest Policy does not appear to have hell fiallied so as to admit any encouragement being given, to the aeti\iiies referred to. ft docs not encourage the economical use o[ our forests. In fact it shapes a course in the opposite direction.

It is somewhat depressing to learn that “in spile of their long sea-car-riage, Canadian, American and Baltic timbers are still able to compete with New Zealand woods on the Dominion and Australian markets." Although the distances are greater, we are 'informed that the rates of freight are lower than our const-vise or inter-colo-nial rates are, so that the iong seacarriage" does not count. The question naturallr avisos as to who is te-j onsible for this state of affairs? Has the Service contributed in any manner to lessen the cost of productionr

The report states “Cheap timber is only assured to a community hv healthy competition between various manufacturing legion-. Not only doesuch competition prevent, the creation of a monopoly hut ii encourages better manufacture and utilisation ||. s - wu-te." It has been asserted that the Service's ill-advised sales of standing timber have induced an excess of waste.

AYhile we heartily join with the Service in the condemnation of any monopoly which may have for its object the undue inflation of prices, we cannot for "ft that, in seokiiiff to monopolism the forests of the Dominion, and in striving to iai-e royal tie- to the highest tales obtainable, the M-rvici- is merely following the course which it condemns in other-. A\ ould it haw us believe that tile competitive -nies of standing timber are conducive to cheap timber for the community ? Then wo are told that “It is a tribute to the technique of Canadian inanuiactiirers that they have been able to supply at a competitive price hemlock boxes for the New Zealand export butter trade." This tribute i- understandable Irani such a source. Ale can readily conceive how the New Zealand manufacturers, and New Zealand Timber Workers, will appreciate the spirit which inspires such tributes to overseas rivals; and they will ever remember that “kissing goes by favour." Even if the statement: respecting hemlock boxes were in all respects, correct which we are led to believe is not the case— the boxes having been condemned by buyers of butter in England. why does the Service, take sides against a New Zealand product? Loyalty to the local product does not begin at home with, the Forest Service.