STATE FORESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1925, Page 4

STATE FORESTS

INSTHI'CTION IN' THKH LORIO. WORK IN Til 10 SCHOOLS. PA LAI EH ST ON N., February 21. The introduction of forestry and plantation work into the primary and secondary schools throughout the Dominion has, in approximately SO per cent, of eases, proved successful, according to Air P. Al. Page, forestry extension officer for the State Forest Service, who was in Palmerston North to-day. Afr Page stated that the outbreak of infantile paralysis and the consequent extension of school holidays had prevented an official return being secured, hut from what lie could gather from, the instructors in various conservation areas, lie estimated that SO per cent, of the schools had made n .success of their initial efforts. This he considered very pleasing, and far beyond the expectations of the Department, which ranged in the vicinity of 10 per cent.

During the four months since the introduction of the scheme, 395 schools in the North Island had taken up the work, and to these seed had been distributed free, and had been sown by pupils themselves. Alany other schools were willing to fall in line. At the present time the jurisdiction in appointing the schools lay with the forestry instructors in the different districts. who were well acquainted with local conditions, and could anticipate the result of forestry work there. So popular was the movement becoming that Air Page estimated that by next season over 1000 schools in this island would be working under it. In the Wanganui education district, it had not been adopted as extensively as elsewhere, because of the already overcrowded syllabus of other school

work. Immediately the schools recommenced, it was intended that officers of the service should visit them and criticise the work, at the same time tendering advice as to improvements'. In outlining the objects of the course .Mr l’argc said the lirst aim was to instruct children in the propagation of trees for shelter purposes, and the protection of timber by having them planted in the pupils’ own school ground. Alter this had been done, and sufficient shelter had been established, it was proposed to urge the propagation of native flora in the school nurseries. " Xow that the Education Department has agreed to the introduction of forestry lessons in primary schools, the State Forestry Service is prepared to do its part by assisting in the formation of nurseries. Free seed is being given for the raising of seedling trees, and it is the intention of the service to present suitable prizes to schools which attain the best results. The object of the movement is not a moneymaking one, but purely educational.” In order to encourage this work it was proposed that many of the schools would exhibit the results of tlieii efforts at Winter Shows at Pnlnierstcu North, Auckland, Hawera, and Hamilton, and for this purpose provision had been made in the schools’ section for a forestry competition. If carried out successfully, the crop of the school nursery would he transferred from the bed to some new location,