FORESTRY CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1924, Page 1

FORESTRY CONFERENCE

POLICY TO BE RECAST.

[by TELEGRAPH —rEH PRESS association.]

WELLINGTON, April 28.

In the course of a message to the Executive Officers of the Forest Service, in conference at Hamner Springs, to-day, the Minister of Forestry said: During the year over 7000 acres of new plantations were established in Rotorua, Hamner Springs, Ba'i'.noral and Tapanui districts, as compared with 2862 acres established in 1922-23, 3103 acres in 1921-2, and 1331 acres* in 1920-21. This result is indeed encouraging, particularly when it is remembered that ibis new acreage of 7000 acres was formed at a cost of not more than one half of the unit costs of tlie other years. The total area of State Plantations now in New Zealand embraces 52,000 acres. The total quantity of trees for planting disposed of to settlers, returned soldier farms, /riinholders, local bodies and others was nearly two millions, which constitutes another record in our history. The time will be soon ripe for a complete recasting of the national forest policy in the- light of the knowledge and experience gained as a result of the investigations and developments of tlie past four years. Our Dominion-wide forest inventory shows the timber resources of the country, and where and what they are. We know fairly accurately what lands may be permanently dedicated to timber crop production. 5Ve can gauge our national growth, and we know what may be secured from planting. I ask you to consider the problem of formulating a permanent anil lasting forest programme, and to come to me in a few months with a definite exact and practical plan upon which can be built our national forest policy for all time—a programme of seasonal use, which will ensure New Zealand national safety in the continuity of its water How and in the widest, and greatest use of our forest land and re-

sources