FOREST SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1930, Page 2

FOREST SERVICE

THE YEAR’S OPERATIONS

REPORT TO PARLIAMENT.

AVELLINGTON, September 3

The annual report of the State Forest Service was. tabled in the House ot Representatives to-day. Inter aiia, the report stated that the new area planted was 56,630 acres (including 30 acres of direct formation) which far exceeds the area planted in any one year by any other State in the Empire. Ibis brings the total plantations in tiie settlement to 253.603 acres, which, as far as afforestation is concerned makes New Zealand the leading State of tiie Empire. The programme mapped out for the 1930 planting involves the afforestation of approximately 54,600. The total area controlled by the State Forest Service under all headings is approximately 7,700,000 acres. Aw first glance this may appear a very large area indeed, but when it is observed that it comprises less than 12 per cent, of the total superficial aiea of the Dominion and that in an Insular State such as New Zealand 25 per cent, under forests could not be considered too high to ensure a reasonable margin of safety the figures can be viewed in their true perspective. It will he noticed that whilst 13,768 acres were proclaimed under the Forests Act in 1929-30, 68,967 acres were withdrawn, making a total reduction of 45,199 acres when coni" pared with last year. The principal areas withdrawn were in Canterbury and AVestlnnd regions apd are mainly forest lands, which are not included in the Arthur Pass National Park. In the Nelson region the reservation over a large area of provisional State forest was cancelled and the land was included in the scenic reserve surrounding Lake Rotorua. Many areas were withdrawn for settlement purposes, the grand total in this connection being 17,262 acres, of which 8377 acres were located in the Auckland and 6586 acres in AVestland regions respectively. The most notable acquisition was approximately 12,300 acres of milling bush in the Southland region.

PLANTING OBJECTIVE EXCEEDED.

The year’s . planting objective of 47,000 acres set last year was exceeded by approximately 9000 acres due to the fact that the Department was again called upon to increase its programme very considerably in order to provide employment for many who could find no other means of livelihood for several months of the; year. That the service was able to respond to the call and rearrange its plans so as to find work for approximately 1800 men at very short notice and accommodate them in the field for nearly five months speaks well for its organisation and for the willing team work and loyal co-operation of all members of the staff,

The total area planted was 56,830 acres (including 30 acres of direct formation) which brings the aggregate area of State softwood plantations (in round figures) to 253,600 acres, and constitutes the largest area of State owned and State-planted forests in any single State in the Empire.