REAFFORESTATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1541, 20 April 1916, Page 2

REAFFORESTATION.

SIR J. G. WILSON’S SUGGESTIONS. FORMATION OF A FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. By the courtesy of the editor of this paper, I am enabled to put before its readers the following in connection with re-afforestation in the Dominion : It is common knowledge that experts have variously estimated that the available amouutof forest left in New Zealand will last perhaps 30 years, and at the most 40 years. Unless immediate steps are taken to plant considerable areas, future generations would require to import all the timber used. The Government is doing something towards planting trees in a few districts in New Zealand. The whole of the present Government areas might give 6 months’ cutting. The seriousness of the position may be put in another way. When I came to this district (Raugitikei-Manawatu) in 1873, there was a fringe of open country which had been settled all along the Coast up to, and some distance beyond, Wanganui. In the Wairarapa also the open country from Featherston to Masterton, and out to the Coast, was settled. The rest of the country seemed illimitable bush. The seventy mile bush ran up from the Plain to Woodville, and the 40 mile bush from the Gorge to past Dannevirke. The valleys of the Manawatu, Pohangina, Oroua, the upper reaches of the Rangitikei from Halcombe upwards, were all bush, the whole of which is now cut down ; generally in the best timber areas the sawmiller was the pioneer and the settler iullowed when the timber was cut out. Now there is not a sawmill in the whole of this area. I should not like to estimate the area that was in bush, but it must have been millions of acres. The kauri forests are almost a thing of the past, puriri scarcely procurable, and totara very dear. The only source of timber for the North Island is the bush district in the central area, which cannot be nearly as large as that already cut out. In the South, there is still timber on the West Coast, but more and more expensive to market, and the forests of Southland have been depleted. A recent Forestry Commission, which collected much valuable Information and made admirable suggestions in their report (but which were not eveu discussed iu the House) said, to meet our future requirements, we would require to plant 7000 acres per annum. I doubt if we are planting even 700 per annum. Private individuals are doing a little, already some plantations of soft wood have been cut down and sawn into timber for building purposes. We must have large quantities of soft wood, possibly Poplar, P. Ins'ignis, and the Douglas fir planted ; and the Eucalyptus lor hard wood for the future. It is acknowledged in all countries that this should be the work of the Government. How are we to get the Government to realise the necessities of the case ? Governments are moved by public opinion and the obect of those who love trees for their own sake and for the benefit of present planting for future generations, is to create a public opinion sufficiently strong to force the pace. A few enthusiasts have suggested that this can best be done by a society after the lines of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society. This society keeps before the public the necessity for planting; (much as the Navy League has been instrumental in securing to Britain our present Naval strength), reports are published yearly or oftener. Arboriculture would be ideal work for returned soldiers, with an injured limb. The object of this circular, therefore, is to ask those who are prepared to join such a society and pay, say, £1 a year as subscription, to try and secure au increased area planted year by year, to send in their names. It may be said this is not the time for such a Society. My answer is that it we get it in train the time will shortly come for action. The Government must be impressed of the necessity to find money for this object, it is too pressing to wait, I should be much obliged if those who are prepared to join such a Society would send their names, together with £l, to Mr E. C. Jack, Secretary Farmers’ Union, Box 715, Wellington.