TIMBER PRODUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1950, 11 March 1919, Page 4

TIMBER PRODUCTION.

DEPLETION OF AREAS

NEED FOR AFFORESTATION,

SUPPLIES IN THE FUTURE

The official report on afforestation operations in the North Island for the year ended March 31st last states that an area of 1633 acres was planted, and that 3,128,000 trees were raised from seed, writes the Ohakune coxwespondent of the Auckland Herald. If the number of trees raised from seed attain maturity, and each tree yields 2,000 superficial feet of limber, the ultimate result of the year’s work will be, approximately, (>,216,000,000 superficial feet of timber. As the total quantity of timber transported by rail from all the mills of the North Island in 1918 was 133,615,400 superficial feet, the number of trees raised from seed appears to be ample to compensate for the depletion of the natural forests. The balance, however, is not nearly so satisfactory as the figures indicate. The actual area planted with trees during the year was only 1633 acres, the matured product of which could not be expected to yield more than half the quantity of timber milted in 1918. The total area of plantations in the North Island is only 21,792 acres, which compares most unfavourably with the acreage of the areas which have been depleted since the commencement of milling operations, and the timber which the plantations may be expected to yield, about fifty years hence, must also be compartively small. Within the last decade, the mills of the North Island have sent more than 1,000,000.000 superficial feet of timber td®the various centres, and this quantity was additional to that used loftxlly for building purposes, etc., in and near the milling centres. If the 21,792 acres of plantations ai’e to compensate for the depletion of areas during the last 10 years, the average yield per acre will have to be more than 50,000 superficial feet of sawn timber. It is, of course, not necessary that (he whole of the depict ion of past years should be made up, but it is necessary that afforestation should be conducted on such a scale that an annual yield of sawn timber sufficient to meet all requirements will be assured.

It must ho borne in mind, however, that when the afforested areas have to he drawn upon for supplies, depletion will bo more rapid than at present, and the product of every acre milled will no! bo replaced for 50 years or more. At present, afforestation is proceeding to build up a reserve which is not being drav*p upon iu any way while the natural areas are available; hut when it is necessary to draw upon the reserve for the total quantity of timber inquired from year to year, the need for afforestation will (hen he considerably greater than it is now. It is absolutely essential ibnf the acreage of plantations should be increased annually to a much greater extent, as it will be necessary to provide a good reserve by tbo time the natural areas have been cut out.

Fortunately, there is more than sufficient suitable land available for tree-planting, and the North Island b very favourably placed in that inspect. Afforestation is most profitable in every way, but (he returns are too slow to attract the investment of private capital, and the duty of providing for the needs of the future has been left to the State. The timber industry is one of the greatest and most profitable in New Zealand at present, and. as there will always bo a great demand for timber, it is likely to remain so. As the Slate has allotted to itself the task of re-afforestation, it, is only reasonable to assume that private enterprise in regard to the limber industry will one day he a thing of the past. The Slate will control all the sources of supply of the raw material, and will probably compensate itself by making the timber industry a complete national, concern.