TIMBER FOR POWER POLES.

Shannon News, 19 July 1927, Page 4

TIMBER FOR POWER POLES.

QUESTION OF GROWING LOCALLY

A USE FOR SECOND-CLASS LAND

The well-tried axiom “Plant a tree has been taken to heart by the Horowhenua Power Board, in principle at any rate, and from a discussion which took place at the meeing on Tuesday it is evident that that body desires to formulate a policy on the matter. The advisability of providing for the needs of the future in regard to poles ±or transmission lines lias been touched on from time to time at the meetings, and a few months ago the members visited and inspected a plantation at the Muhunoa East, at the invitation of Mr. C. Blenßliorn, who has since been elected a member of the Board. On Tuesday the question of tree-planting was brought up by Mr. W. H. Gunning and the Chairman (Mr. G. A. Monk) indicated that it might form a subject for inquiry s by a committee of the Board. Mr. Gunning presented to the Board a copy of a report furnished to the Franklin Power Board by its engineei, Mr T. R. Overton, M.1.E.E., who was formerly engineer to the Horowhenua Board. After going thoroughly into the subject, Mr. • Overton had favoured (said Mr. Gunning) rhe planting of 1200 trees to the acre, which was a good deal in excess of what the Forestry Department’s representative had recommended in the case of the Hoiowlienua Board. Mr. Overton allowed 30 years for the growth of the trees and a period of three^ years for keeping tlie plantation clean ill the early stages; and he calculated that the Board would tret 25 per cent, of poles,fit for Power lloard purposes at £1 2s 6d each, after allowing 15s. per pole for cutting and preparing them. In this estimate nothing was charged for land, and it might be that the Franklin Board had plenty of undeveloped land suitable for the purpose. Mr. Overton had allowed 8 per cent, compound interest for 30 years on the outlay and upkeep. The Government representative who had visited this district mentioned, that 14-inch poles could be obtained in 20 years. Apparently the Franklin scheme was going to be considered by the Road Board. It seemed a legitimate sphere of Power Board activity. If the home-grown poles only lasted half the time that the imported poles did, it would still be a good proposition. It’seemed to the speaker that this was one of the things that were going to engage the attention of Power Boards in the near future. It was quite a legitimate thing, ami quite necessarv» The Chairman stated that the matter had been before tlie Board on previous occasions, as the older members knew. There’ was sandhill country near the sea coast, and in regard to its capabilities for growing timber there was no doubt; but it did not seem possible to grow eucalyptus unless it had adequate protection .* The Board had come to the conclusion that it could not think of acquiring the better-class land for this purpose —it could be put to better use; but there* were lands on the coast and in the low hill country which were mostly of second quality, and if the Board coulcf acquire these at a reasonable price, there was a prospect of making a success of the project. The trees grown on that class of country were of slower growth, and they would have greater durability when they came to a size suitable to utilise for power poles. At the invitation of Mi-. Blenkhorn before he was a member of the Board, the members Visited his plantation at Muhunoa East, where trees were planted on the class of country to which he had referred. From what the members saw on that occasion, there was a possibility in that class of country. The greatest difficulty in regard to hill country was that there would be a fairly high cost in the early stages, in keeping the plantations clean. This, of course, would apply in any part of New Zealand — when a piece of country was shut up, the native fern gained on it. The thanks of the Board were due to Mr. Gunning for keeping this matter alive; he had not lost an opportunity on any occasion to advocate the planting of trees. In regard to the future, the chairman thought it would be advisable for the Board to set up a small special committee to make a thorough investigation as to costs and probable revenue in this connection. They had the assurance of the Forestry representative that his Department would do anything it possibly could to assist and advise the Board in the matter. It was realised in this country that something should be done by Power Boards towards growing their own poles for use in the future. Nobody had courage at present to say what class of pole would be used in 30 years’ time. It seemed just now that the most suitable pole, outside of steel, was one of timber. Concrete had been tried out, but apparently, up to the present, it was not altogether satisfactory.

MENACE OF THE BLIGHT. The Chairman went on to say that there' had been in New Zealand, and particularly in the Rangitikei district, a blight that attacked the eucalyptus; and this would have to be taken into consideration. He understood that a ladybird had been imported, and if it could be liberated in a young plantation, it would cope with this particular plague. Where the trees had matured with the disease in them, it had not been possible to combat it, and plantations had died out. Mr. A. Seifert said that Australia had, he believed, about twelve million acres of land from which to get poles. Population was growing very rapidly, both there and in New Zealand, and it would not be long before it would be impossible for Australia to supply this country in addition to her own needs. The price of poles would then go to a very high figure; and it was worth while keeping that situation in view. Any committee that was set up should bear this in mind when considering whether it was advisable for the Board to plant trees for its future needs.

Mr. W. E. Barber said he quite agreed that the matter was worthy of consideration. He had had the subject under observation on his own property, where he had grown eucalyptus from seed. They made wonderful

growth in the sandhills, but must be sheltered from the saline winds. He had imported some young trees from the Government farm at Rotorua, but they were too small. In his own planting from seed lie found that the robust plant made the most headway and made the best tree. The blight had arrived, but it had only attacked the bluegums on his plantation. It seemed to do the damage mostly in the early part of the autumn. He knew of no other blight of this kind closer than Sanson before it affected his trees. Sir James Wilson had sent him some of the lady-birds which were the natural enemy of this blight. Probably if the ladybird was quickly introduced into the younger plantations, it would settle the trouble. Mr. Seifert mentioned that between Palmerston and Wanganui) in a plantation where there was only one kind of tree, the mortality among the trees was in greater proportion than in plantations where the trees were mixed. This indicated to him that where there was an assortment of trees, the ladybirds had some harbour to go to, : in trees that were well supplied with foliage. There they could live until they were able to attack the blight. For this reason, people who intended planting trees would be acting wisely if they put in a few pines among them. On the windy side there were more deaths of trees than on the other side. Shelter was evidently necessary for the natural enemy of the blight. Mr. Blenkhorn urged that the committee suggested by the Chairman be set up as soon as possible.

•The engineer (Mr. J. A. Smith) remarked that in the plantation referred to by Mr. Seifert there were two or three trees untouched by the blight. It seemed as though the blight existed for several years until its natural enemies increased sufficiently to deal with it, The secretary (Mr. P. W. Goldsmith) stated that certain varieties of the eucalyptus family were immune as compared with other varieties. Mr. Bryant remarked that if the Board planted trees, they would always be of some value, apart from their use as poles, as they might be cut up for posts and for other purposes.

The Chairman said he did not think the Board would be justified in considering the proposal from any point of view but that of the poles. Mr. Seifert added that he had been told that the blight and the ladybirds had existed from all time in Australia. New Zealand had imported the trees without the ladybirds.