FORESTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1928, Page 1

FORESTRY

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE, DELEGATES TO VISIT DOMINION. WELLINGTON. Jan. 25. Subjects of vital importance to the forestry future of the Empire are listed for consideration and debate at the big Empire Forestry Conference to be held in Australia and New Zealand in September next. An outline of the principal business to come before the conference was given by the Commissioner of State Forests (the 1-lon 0. J. H.ewken) in an interview. The Minister explained that the first Empire Forestry Conference was held in Croat Britain in 1920. and the second in Canada in 1923. Australia anil New Zealand had been chosen as- the places for 1928. The inaugural meetings would be held in Perth at the beginning of September, and six weeks would bo spent in t-hc Commonwealth. The main conference would b-- lie-id at Canberra, and would extend over a week. The visit to New Zealand would last a fortnight, and a draft itinerary for the delegates, who it was at present estimated would number between sixty and seventy, had been prepared. “The conference,” continued the Minister, “is generally regarded as being the most important forestry conference in the history of the Empire. Many subjects will be discussed, and the delegates to attend the conference will lie especially -suited to deal with •the main items to lie considered. At present it is estimated that about fifty State forest service representatives and trade delegates will assemble at the main conference at Canberra. There will, it is expected, ho live State forest service representatives from Great Britain, six from India, eight from Canada, two from South Africa, nineteen from Australia and fourteen from non-self-governing colonies. New Zealand will he represented, but the number of delegates has not yet been determined. Elio following countries have been invited to- send one trade delegate each:—Great Britain, India, Eastern Canada, British Columbia. South Africa, Australia. New Zealand. and the non-self-governing colonies.”

After the conclusion of the deliberations in Australia, the Minister added, all the delegates would come to New Zealand, an an official welcome would be accorded them at the port ol arrival, as yet unknown. During their fortnight sojourn the delegation would visit the AA'aipoua kauri forest, Trounson’s Kauri Park, Riverhcad nursery plantation, the nurseries and plantations at Rotorua, and the sand dune reclamation work at the mouth of the Rangitikei River. A short conference would be held in Wellington, after which the visitors- would proceed to the South Island, visiting Nelson, Buller Gorge, AVestlnnd, and Christchurch, and leaving finally from Wcllington. The Minister explained that- the broad object of the conference was te discuss all phases of forestry in the Empire. At the main conference a' Canberra the respective forest authorities would submit statements covering their replies to the already circulated conference questionnaire, covering such points as the area of forests in the country concerned, volume of standing timber, ownership of the forests, annual increment- put on by the different species, utilisation of forest product, imports and exports ol timber, and the results being obtained with exotic species. (From these would be compiled a bulletin showing tlie comparative position of each country and tb° progress made. The next step wou-d lie to discuss under certain headings subjects of Empire interest, such as the following:—Timber supply and consumption, in which the world. Empire and local supplies and demands would lie dealt with; forestry research, both as regarded living trees and utilisation of Forest produce; forest technique, relating to silviculture a-nd management of indigenous and exotic species; forestry education; Australian hardwoods and markets; soft woods of the southern hemisphere; forestry in relation to climate and erosion and fire control. Gonsideiablo interest- had been shown in the proposal to form an Imperial l-or-estry Bureau, and this matter would be fully considered by the confercn -e. to which also would be presented, numerous papers dealing with v.iriom aspects of forestry.