OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 120, 11 February 1926, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

TIMBER SUPPLIES. An exceedingly interesting and suggestive address on the subject of the timber supplies of the Dominion, adumbrating- a policy of future development, was delivered at Dunedin by Captain L. Macintosh Ellis, who has been associated, in his position as Director of Forestry, with the inauguration of a definite scheme of State actiivties in connection with afforestation. It was not before it

was time that the Government recognised the need for the institution of what Captain Macintosh Ellis describes as “ a policy of New Zealand timber for New Zealand people, of sound conservation and reasoned use, of sustained timber crops from our indigenous forest assets, and the building into a timber-crop-production machine of the residual forest domain.” For, as he says, though few people may realise it, a timber famine is now being experienced here. It is a startling reflection that the average market value in New Zealand of such soft woods as rimu, matai and totara has increased from 500 to 1000 per cent., that the stumpag-e value of kauri is equalled only by that of “ the king of all soft woods,” and that the outlook is for a continuance of the upward trend of prices to the point of exhaustion of national virgin supplies. It is not claimed by Captain Macintosh Ellis that the State Forests Department has yet done more than lay a very insignificant part of the foundation of a national forestry policy. A start only has been made both with the education of public opinion as to the need for the conservation and extension of forest lands and with the planting of suitable areas with trees that will be of commercial value. It is necessary to continue the efforts to stimulate a public sentiment in favour of the creation and protection of forest lands. The efforts of local bodies, of afforestation companies (with due regard to the reasonableness of the claims that are made in their behalf as commercial enterprises), and of individuals to increase the area of forest lands in the Dominion, must all command respect. There is room for all of them in a scheme of afforestation. It may be noted with satisfaction that Captain Macintosh Ellis expresses such high commendation of the forest plantations on the watersheds controlled by the Dunedin Corporation that he bids the City Council look forward to the time—not distant, he suggests—when the net revenue from the plantations will be greater than from all the other public services combined. We allow (writes the Otago Daily Times) some discount on account of Captain Ellis’ enthusiasm in the matter of afforestation, but the citizens of Dunedin hardly need to be assured that in these plantations they possess a valuable asset. The State welcomes, also, the activities of forest-planting companies, which have now been established in New Zealand to a number that exceeds thirty, but, as we have suggested, a note of warning may be requisite in respect of some of these projects. A large amount of capital for these private companies is being subscribed by the public, and it is a matter of regret that the prospects of profits that have beqn held out by the promoters of some concerns seem to be more or less extravagant. It has been suggested that the operations of these private companies should be brought in some way under the supervision, or that they should at least be conducted under the advice, of the State Forests Department, and Captain Macintosh Ellis himself hints that seme form of statutory control should be exercised. There is, however, another and a sounder view to be expressed upon this point. It is that the State, while not indifferent to the value of the activities of these companies, must remain clear of any responsibility whatever for the control or for the financial outcome of their operations.