RE-AFFORESTATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4299, 3 August 1921, Page 3

RE-AFFORESTATION.

FARMERS’ UNION ADVOCACY.

Farmers undoubted<y will cpasuit i their own interests if ch-y follow the lead given of the president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Mr Lcailey) in whole-heartedly approving the establishment of the Forestry Department. It is perhaps not yet as clteacly recognised as it ought to be in this country that where forestry is neglected a handicap is imposed on all other forms of primary industry. This applies with particular force to farming industry, and npt by any means only with reference to the vital influence of forest growth on climate and water supply. There are in this country not tens of thousands, but millions of acres of land which "S tim,e goes on will either carry forest or become or remain barren. Farmers are particularly interested in having the greatest possible area of land in this category retained in forest or Apart from the question of timber supply, as forests are improved and plantations extended they will alike contribute on xh increasing scale to the cost of roads and other .transport routes serving the areas in which they are located. The load thus imposed on other, forms of primary production in maintaining these facilities for transport will be correspondingly lightened.. Another very material consideration from the fanners’ standpoint is that forestry makes profitable use of land which, otherwise in many cases would be a breeding ground *'or noxious weeds.