NEW FORESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1928, Page 7

NEW FORESTS

VIEWS OF EMPIRE DELEGATES

IMPRESSED BY SOFT-WOOD PLANTATIONS.

AUCKLAND, October 19

Delighted with their New Zealand tour, and impressed with the forests of indigenous and exotic trees, the delegates of the third British Empire Forestry Conference arrived in Auelt land from Rotorua last last evening, and this morning left for the north to inspect the Waipoua kauri forest. The president. Lord Clinton, mentioned the magriificant stands of rimu and other native trees in Westland, where areas that would cut 60,000 feet to the acre aroused the admiration of men familiar with the best stands in other countries, and also the forest of exotics established by the Dunedin Corporation -which, |in his opinion, wns a remarkable (achievement for the municipality. The delegation, he said, had been deeply interested in the State forests in the Rotorua district, particularly so because most of its members had Cultivated similar species themselves. The trees showed remarkable growth and health so far. Indeed, the growtli 'of exotic softwoods, both in Australia and New Zealand, had astonished them. They had heard of the growth far more rapid than is the Northern Hemisphere, but they had not believed all they had heard until they saw the trees for themselves. They had pointed out, however, the risk in the large a.rteas of exotics of fungus diseases might be imported without the pests that were their natural enemy. ** “We hope, of course,” continued Lord Clinton, “that the valuable indigenous forests may be kept going. There has been a colossal waste, but we cannot blame you, for it is typical of the British race.” Actually there had been no .State afforestation in Great Britain until after the war. until the great drain then made upon mature and immature private forests. No steps were taken to face the position in a national way. Every State in the Empire, however, was now taking some steps for the preservation and continuation of forests. An Empire forest policy was being evolved, and each unit had to do its share in softwoods cultivation at all events. Questioned as to whether he thought the best class of soft woods were being used, Lord Clinton said that that was a matter on which he would not care to be dogmatic. The people of the country knew more about the trees best suited to the soil and climate. Some of the trees being grown certainly were not those regarded as the best timber, but others were. There were large areas in tbe State forests of Douglas fir, which was on of the best soft woods, and also there was on extensive cultivation of European larch, another good timber. “We really admire tbe forests this Dominion has made.” said Lord Clinton. “It is really a big thing, done well. I refer, of course to the work of the State, not being in a position to discuss private undertakings.” Throughout their tour in every country they had observed the serious consequences of forest destruction in erosion, the silting up of rivers, the danger of sudden ffoods, and, in drier countries the danger of drought throught the rapid escape of water that otherwise would be held to soak into the ground, and the information was valuable to the work of reconstruction which the Empire had in hand.

A brief and plain speaker was Mr R. D. Richmond, Chief Conservator of Forests, Madras, who heads the Indian delegation. “You have done wonderful work in establishing plantations,” he said, “and you have been wonderfully neglectful of them. Tbe State plantations want thinning. If it is said that country cannot afford to do this work, my reply is that it cannot afford not to do it. You may say so in so many words.”