The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1928. THE FORESTRY POLICY.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1928. THE FORESTRY POLICY.

] Advektino again to a subject in which 1 the whole of Now Zealand is concern- ;! ed, it must he remarked that it is j rather disquieting to find the Minister- " in-Charge stating at this juncture that I ‘afforestation must he tackled in a | business-like way, and comparatively I large areas must be planted and plnnt- | ed rapidly.” It would appear from 1 this that expensive as has been tlic I work of the Service, it has not been § “business like” and this confession is I confirmation from an unexpected qunrter of much that we have had to say in former times of the methods of the Service. Just how the Minister is going to have the job “tackled” is not vouchsafed, excepting that the work is to he done “rapidly.” We hope in his haste lie will not sanction more un-business-like methods. This fear brings us hack to the suggestion made in the previous issue that the 'Minister would he wise to take the considered opinion oi experienced millers regarding the scope and methods of afforestation. The industrialists to whom we have referred have had a life long experience of local conditions, and have acquired knowlep|2 and understanding which cannot he expected to come readily to a new Department, which has not at its call .the ripe experience referred to. The Government cast a glamour over the Department by permitting a certain line of policy to be adopted, and those in charge at least know the value of publicity, and spent much time in magnifying the importance of their mission. But sufficient time has gone by now for results, and unfortunately they are not, on the Minister’s confession, being realised. He is quoted as saying “some old forests” had cost far more than they should have done.” If the Minister has the figures for comparative costs we would like to know the difference between the “old” and the “new” in the matter of costs. Also, what are present costs in that relation for a hope of profit in the future? The Department is swinging, over to a “now” .policy to take up the cheapest land, but it would be interesting to kn.THj; what is the cost on the cheap land hitherto treated? In other words, are not the methods of the Department so thoroughly official, unduly costly at every turn, and is there any real prospect of a profitable crop, be the land ever so “cheap” ? Practically the land utilised is all “cheap” in that it is Crown lands, and vast tracts of such territory is always available to the Department. The Minister before launching out on a reckless policy of “rapidly” planting tho countryside, would we again suggest, he well advised to glean something from the experienced opinion of the miller. It is to the interests of the latter as industrialists to see the country well served with forest growth of a marketable .quality, and it should be the desire of the Department to work hand in hand with those who axe responsible for utilising the forests eommer- ( cinJly aiul providing in the first place the revenue to sustain the Depart- • mont. As far as we can gather the administration of the Department is not ( too elastic in the interests of the { millers. If so, this is a mistake, and the Minister should correct it. Revenue is not everything in this matter, and the zeal of the Department in that respect might well be cheeked so E that the industry will not he handi- * capped or capital harassed to such a r degree as to check its flow in promoting - industry and in providing employment. With the forest wealth possess- c ed by Westland, the subject is of the d

greatest import to tlie community at largo.