FORESTRY POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1933, Page 8

FORESTRY POLICY

VALUE OF SOFT WOODS

WELLINGTON, December 9. An important statement on the future of afforestation in the Dominion was made by the Minister of Finance, the Rt Hon J. G. Contes, in the Hotufe »■ during the debate- on tlio Forestry Department’s estimates. Referring to criticisms that had been made of the department’s work, Mr Coates said that members should hesitate before they destroyed or checked the good work. Mr Coates said that at the Imperial Conference of 1926 a great deal of made' work was done toward estimating; the world’s production of soft woods, and it was calculated that ih 16 years’ time there would be a world shortage. The estimate was made after a world tour by representative foresters, whom he had the .pleasure of entertaining in New Zealand. Since that time there had been a very severe curtailing in building, and the demand for soft woods in other coun-t-ip-. Wi been checked. The miestion of substitutes was very carefully estimated, hut still it was held that there must be a very large demand for soft woods. EFFECT OF BUILDING SLUMP There was a very definite opinion, based upon calculations, that New Zealand soft woods would be required for pulp purposes. It was found that the Siberian output was available for world supply for only a few months in the year, and in some years for only a few weeks. Canadian supplies were fast approaching the stage at which afforestation could in no way replace what was being removed. The United States had taken up the matter very seriously, but there was going to be a gap between the time when the shortage occurred and the time when the results of tlie progressive system of afforestation were available. The expert opinion was that, had it not been for a temporary cessation of building not contemplated at the time, New Zealand would have been in a very fortunate l position Jn Aibouti 16 years from 1927. He had followed the question closely and thought that New Zealand soft woods certainly would be required a little, after that date, no„ only for wood pulp, but also for other purposes. x Mr Coates referred also to the planting of. marram grass, not only for the purpose of preventing sand from drifting, but also to make land suitable later for forestry and eventually for agriculture. He thought there was roohi'for a little more co-operation between the Departments of Lands and of Forestry in this matter. When they approached this subject they should keep "in mind that a number of highly-qualified men considered that New 1 -Zealand’s afforestation policy was right and sound. ■ 1 | DISPROPORTIONATE SERVICE Speaking earlier in the debate, Mr J. Hargest (Government —Invercargill) , drew attention to the expenditure of the department. He said it was a striking example of the way in which ; Government departments grew from small beginnings out of all proportion to the service they performed, aiid ' ability of the country to maintain. J Mr Hargest said he recognised the need for afforestation. However, he pointed out that the whole of the . revenue last year was £45,195, while the expenditure was £212,383. Of the revenue, the greater proportion had come from natural forest and would, therefore, have come in without the department’s administration. Against the revenue of £45,000, the salaries of the permanent staff amounted to over £34,000, and that was added to by the wages of relief workers and others employed casually to the extent of many thousands of pounds. In addition, there was an item of £97,000 for interest on loans that must approximate £2,000,000. Unless care was taken the result of the Forestry Department’s work would be to grow areas of trees smothered in debt. Mr W. J. Poison (Government— Stratford) endorsed Mr Hargest’s remarks.