FORESTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 10

FORESTRY

A COMPREHENSIVE INQUIRY PERSONNEL OF ROYAL COMMISSION. WIDE ORDER OP' REFERENCE. It is officially announced that the following gentlemen have been appointed a commission to inquire into forestry matters in the Dominion; Henrv Douglas Morpeth Haszard, F.R.G.S., Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for the Westland Land District (chairman). Thomas William Adams, farmer, Greendale, Canterbury. Samuel Isaac Clarke, builder, Ponaonby, Auckland. Leonard Cockayne, F.R.S., F.L.S., Ph. D., Christchurch. Frank Yates Lethbridge, farmer, Feilding, and Charles Primrose Murdoch, woodware manufacturer, Auckland. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION. The subjects upon which the commission has to renort arc as follows; (1) Which of the existing forest lands it is desirable to retain under forest covering for the purpose of soil protection, and prevention of denudation, water conservation, prevention of floods, climatic, scenic, or any other national benefit. (2) Which of the forest areas are not required for any of the purposes mentioned in (1), but are suitable for settlement, sawmilling or other commercial purposes, indicating whether such areas should be utilised forthwith, or rendered available at some future period. (3) The best method of dealing with the indigenous forests in the public interests generally. (4) Whether or not, in view of the large and increasing demand for white pine timber in connection with the butter industry, the exportation thereof should bo wholly or partially prohibited. And with regard to afforestation operations: (5) The probable future demand for timber for commercial purposes within the Dominion of New Zealand. (6) The nature and kinds of timber likely to be so required. (I) How far the operations of the existing State nurseries and plantations meet the probable demand. (8) To what extent such operations should be supplemented and expanded, and in what localities such new nurseries and plantations (if any) be situated : (9) Whether the present operations of the State are being conducted on satisfactory and progressive lines. If not, to what extent, and in what manner, the present management and control should bo altered. (10) Under what conditions should the State encourage and assist tree planting by private individuals and local bodies. And, generally, any matters_ which, in the opinion of the commission, affect forest conditions and afforestation in the Dominion, or would tend to promote their development, including the necessity or expediency of any legislation in the premises. The commission is to submit its report not later than April SOth, 1913. Mr S. I. Clarke, of Auckland, was also a member of the Timber and Timber Building __ Industries Commission, which produced a voluminous report in 1909.