WHITE PINE FORESTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 100, 23 December 1912, Page 2

WHITE PINE FORESTS.

A COMMISSION TO' REPORT,

ill- J. B. Hine. M.P., is m receipt of :v letter, from the Hon. W. F. Massey, as Minister of Lands, with reference to the White Pine Forests o: New Zealand, the communication which explains itself being as follows :

Wellington, 14th Dec. 1012. “Sir,—With reference to the representations made by Mr Morton, President of the National Dairy Association, and Mr Watson, whom you introduced to me on the Kith August last, and who urged that steps should be taken to restrict the export of white pine from the Dominion, I have to inform you that the greater part of the remaining Kahikatea or White Pine trees are on private lands, it being estimated that at the present time only one-third of the available supply is in forests belonging to the State.

Under the circumstances I am not in a position to deal with the matter on the lines that 1 should have preferred, but after consideration of the whole question as to the best manner of utilising our present forests, it has been decided to set up a Commission to inquire into the subject and report as to what is to be done in the future. This Commission will probably be appointed at an early date, and one of its duties will be to inquire into the future supply of wood suitable for the needs of the dairy farmers in Ne.w Zealand. 1 have the honour to be, (dr, your obedient servant, W. F. MASSEY, Minister of Lands. J. 13. Hine, Esq., M.P., Toko, New Plymouth.