THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1928, Page 2

THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES

Tim Eohests Of Canada. “Forestry is the* second of Ca.na<la’e natural assets, and while originally commercial activity ill this direction consisted of the production of square timber the industry lias developed until to-day the ramiiicatoins of the Canadian wood industry are myriad. The greatest and most spectacular progress has been made during the present century owing to stupendous development in the pulp and paper industry, and to the introduction of large scale mechanical logging and sawmill operations, it is estimated that there are about 1,200,000 square miles of absolute forest land, which, with proper conservation and fire protection, should contribute permanently to the needs of the forest industry. The large majority of the trees are coniferous, and owing to the world demand for lumber of this class, it is in the productin of soft woods that the true destiny of the Canadian forest lies. . . Last year the supplies of softwoods wore estimated to l>e 198,0CX) million cubic feet, and of hardwoods 48.000 million cubic feet. The capital invested in the forest industry is somewhere in the vicinity of £140,000.000, while the total annual value of forest production (including pulp and paper) is about £90.000,11(10. —Canadian Trade Commissioner.