FOREST PROBLEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1930, Page 5

FOREST PROBLEMS

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

PESTS AND TH EIR CONTROL,

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. I The first meeting of the Forest Bifl logical Research Committee of thl Council of Scientific and Industrie Research w-us held m'jently at till Cawthron Institute, Nelson. Mr Cl E. Foweraker, director of the School of Forestry. Canterbury, presided, anil the following members of the commitl tee were present:—Professor T. Hi Eastertield (director of the Oawtliroil Institute). Messrs X. G. Gribble (see-l ret ary of the New Zealand Timber! Growers’ Association), Owen Jonesl (superintendent of New Zealand Per-| pet mil Forests), A. J. Seed (New' Zea-I land Sawniiilers’ Federation), C. M. Smith and F. AY. Foster (State Forest Service), Dr I>. Miller (director of Forest Biological Research), and Mr] F. R. Callaghan (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This research has been inaugurated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in order to make investigations of such nature as will safeguard both the native an\l the established forests of the Dominion from attacks by insect and fungoid pests. The comparative immunity from these pests at present enjoyed by New Zealand will, i : t is hoped, thereby be preserved and timely measures taken to control,, at theirl initial stages, such pests as inevitably appear from time to time in both native and exotic timbers. All; entomological survey of insects present in New Zealand forests is being made. The Director, Mr David Miller, has already shown what eafi' be done to control timber free insects by means of their natural enemies. ; ‘Gumtvee scale, gumtree weevil and golden oak scale, as a result of the introduction of suitable parasites, are now being controlled. ■The committee decided to prepare for publication a bulletin dealing fully with the growth rates, etc., of introduced timber trees. It is proposed that this work shall be undertaken by members of the Canterbury College School of Forestry who have already compiled a good deal of this information for the Canterbury area.

The question of the establishment-of-a bureau of information by which all the latest developments iri forestry would be circulated to those most directly interested, was also discussed, and it was decided) to establish some means by which such information could be centralised . and made available.

The committee decided to make representations to the Council of Scientific anil Industrial -Research with a view to having further research undertaken on questions of timber utilisation. Various ■ speakers emphasised .the need for investigatory work qri„ account of the present lack of information concerning the fullest use of our timber resources.:’ •The new . forest biological laboratory erected by the Cawthron Trust Board adjacent to tile Noxious Weeds Biological Research Station,- was inspected. This laboratory and the adjacent ground make adequate provision for the research activities which are at present proposed. In view of the large area of recently-established forest situated ■ in the Putaruru-Taupo-Rotorua area, the establishment of a small sub-station in that district was approved, tliei details being left to the Director to deal with upon his return from the Imperial Entomological Conference. The funds of the forest biological research scheme are provided : grants from the New Zealand Timber Growers’ Association, the State Forest Service and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Hie Cawthron Trust Board provides the grounds and buildings requisite* for the laboratories.