Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1919. AFFORESTATION AND WASTE LAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2046, 25 October 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1919. AFFORESTATION AND WASTE LAND.

THEBE are thousands of acres of land along this coast which are practically non-productive. Portions of such land are owned privately by Natives and Europeans, and some is Grown land. The land we refer to extends from Waikanae in the south to north of Wanganui, and extends inland to a distance of from a quarter of a mile to a mile from the sea. This vast area could be converted into profitable use by afforestation. While the Now Zealand Forestry League and the Government Department aims at the conservation of existing forest areas, and the plantation of poor land now bare of forest, special attention should be given to unproductive coastal sand drift areas. If a Forest Act is to be introduced on the lines, laid down by Sir Francis Bell at the recent meeting of the League, we hope that special attention will be given to this phase of the question, and,-if necessary, make it compulsory on owners to plant a certain area each year. This would not impose any .hardship on the owners of such land, but on the other hand would add to the value of such land, and be beneficial to. (he State. The policy of afforestation as submitted by Sir Francis 801 l to the Forestry League was as follows: —(1) The conservation of existing forest areas; (2) the plantation of poor land now bare of forest. Sir James Wilson, president, of the Forestry League, emphasised the following points: —(1)' The demarcation should bo pressed on, so that none of our remaining' forests should be sacrificed if the land Is more suitable 'for timber growing than for settlement. (2) That a cen-u- of the private plantations be taken to ascertain fa) the extent, in area; (b) the class of timber; (c) the probable .size and height of timber suitable for milling, and (A) -the age of plantations. (3) That a vigorous policy should be at once adopted to plant the various areas of sand dunes on Crown lands which are all close.-to centres of population and the railway system. (-1) The passing of a Forest Act to give full power,- to a Minister to set up a separate Forest Department, properly staffed and provided with sufficient means to carry out the policy announced by Sir Francis Bell, so that the whole subject of our forests and the conditions under which the various native species grow- can be studied

with ;i view of conservation ami regeneration as well as the continuance of planting on inferior lauds. (5) Above all that no delay should take place in securing to the Forest Department as great tin area as possible in the kauri growing district (a limber which has been classed as the most valuable in the world).