FOREST RICHES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1931, Page 3

FOREST RICHES

NEW ZEALAND’S CHANCE WOOD-PULP DEMAND To take commercial advantage of the famine in forest products, particularly paper, which is expected to occur in from 10 to 15 years time, New Zealand should concentrate on afforestation, now and henceforth, with all the resources it can muster. This policy was advocated strongly by Mr R, St. Bar he Baker, a forestry expert of world repute, .who arrived from Wan Francisco at Wellington this week. Mi Baker gave figures of the dwindling reserves of soft-wood forest in America, and pointed out that New Zealand, which could grow these trees more rapidly than America, was in an excellent position to take advantage of the famine later on, provided afforestation were done on a commercial scale.

In view of the inevitable forthcoming (amine in soft-woods, he saitj, and of their shortage in America, where certain metropolitan newspapers used the wood production ol as much as 24 acres for a single edition, they would be looking to New Zealand for their newsprint in from 10 to 15 years’ time.

POSITION IN AMERICA. At pre«ent. the situation in America was that they had cut seven-eighths of (heir plantations, and, of the remaining eighth, half was in reserves, so that they were working now on the last sixteenth. When that came io an end they would look for supplies from outside. They were already Canada’s biggest customers.

Th ese two countries, Mr Baker continued, with one-twmfth of he world’s population, used half the world’s forest production. They were beginning to put tlveir forests in order, .but there wou’d certainly lie an interim period when New Zealand could come to the rescue. This country, however, would have to liavA sufficient foi.e.si to make it a commercial; proposition. “Here is a possible -solution to the unemployment problem in New Zealand to-day,” said Mr Baker. i“lf you increase your wood capital it will come into its own inevitably. The feeling I get IVoinf vbuf people here is that times are hard. But whatever you do. don’t cut down on forestry, because tlie whole world is locking to you as Lading the way in forestry to-drv.

“In proportion to the size of the country you are doing wonderful tilings, and it would he disastrous to you not to have sufficient commetoial supplies later on. ‘ You can grow trees several times as fast as they are grown in their own original surroundings. The Monterey pi lie*, which you call pin us insignis. grows here five times as fast as in California, where it came from.”

“PLANT HART)- NOW.” Mr Baker bad been talking with Dr. L. Cockayne, whose work incidentally he had followed for many years, and lie had been glad to find that on this subject Dr. Cockayne’s views were similar to bis own. New. Zoaalnd was a land of bills, and bills were tlie natural domain of trees.

“You will have to plant hard, now," he said. “As T see it, after a study < f world supplies and needs, there will he an increasing demand for so''t woods, and you are doing the rmbt tiling in speeding up your planting programme.” Air Baker, who will ho in New Zealand for about a month, completed his education at Cnius College, Cambridge, where he took his diploma in forestry. He also took a post-graduate course in forestry at Oxford, and further research work on the Continent. After distinguished war service lie returned to Cambridge to complete his studios in forestry. Tn November, 1920, he proceeded to Kenya Colony as Assistant Conservator of Forests, and did valuable work there in connection with the substitution of Kenya pencil cedar to replace the almost exhausted American supplies. It was while in the highland of Kenya, in 1922, that he started his forest scout movement, which is now known throughout tlm world as “The Men of the Trees.” “AIEN OF THE TREES.”

Tins last society, founded by Air Baker, has for its president Sir Francis Younghusbnnd. K.C.5.1., K.C.1.E., and tlie council contains many distinguished names, well-known in the Empire and outside. Tlie aim of the t,ociety is “to develop a tree sense in every citizen and to encourage all to plant, protect and love trees everywhere.” Air Baker remarked that one of the members of the council. Sir John Stirling Maxwell, chairman of the Forestry Commission, maintained 17:000 acres of his 30,000-acre Scottish, estate in plantations. Two other members n c the Council, the Right Hon. Lord Clinton and Professor R.. S. Troup. F.R.S.. who had visited New Zealand in connection with the Empire Forestry Congress, bad brought hrek glowing accounts, and bad said when ei>tei'tnilied rf bupli bv Tbe Men of the Trees that New Zealand seamed to h« leading the world in the planting 'of trees. It bad been of special interest to the society. ATr Baker has left for tbe south to t'o’bv an Itinerary arrnng- 1 pd for him lu- tbe State Forest £nrvirp fo enable him to learn at a-ct band about New Zealand trees and fej-esfs. Tt, is likelv that '•■bp,! lie ve-tei-pt. te AVellington he will give a lecture here.