FORESTRY DIRECTOR RETIRES

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1928, Page 1

FORESTRY DIRECTOR RETIRES

AIR .MACINTOSH ELLIS FAKE WELLED. AYELLIXGTON. March 23. Remarkable progress in forestry in the Dominion was referred to by speakers at a gathering of the staff of the State Forest Service yesterday afternoon, to farewell the Director (Air L. Macintosh Ellis), who has resigned to take up an important appointment with a commercial afforestation concern. It was stated that last year the Dominion had planted more trees than tlic whole of the Australian States had done during the last thirty nr forty years. The lion. 0. ; J. Hiiwken. speaking on behalf of the Government, said that lie could not let Ali- Ellis go without expressing appreciation of his great services to the Dominion, which would lie realised more and more as time went on. He had put New Zealand “on the map” as far as forestry was concerned. The country had been fortunate indeed in getting the services of Mr Ellis at what was a very critical period, eight years ago. In presenting Air Ellis with an illuminated address from the staff of the State Forest Service, the .Minister expressed his personal appreciation of the work of a splendid officer in a splendid service. Replying, Air Ellis said New Zealand was very fortunate, and her success in forestry was primarily due to the Government’s policy. ( redit also was due to the workers in the Slate Forest Service and to the people of New Zealand, who responded well t forestry propaganda. It had bee a easier here than in Canada to get “forest mindedness.” Conditions in the Dominion were ideal, and be did not think any country could produce a tree growth as regularly and consistently as New Zealand. In regard lo future forestry, lie was certain fb.it they would have not 300.000 acres o! man-made forests, but 5.000,000 acres. At present they were using only onequarter of their lores! products, and lie looked- forward to the time when, with the establishment of the pulp industry and the utilisation ol all their forest products, they would achieve 100 per cent profit from lhe residue "t their forests.