THE FORESTRY DELEGATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 480, 9 October 1928, Page 8

THE FORESTRY DELEGATION

A TREE has an aesthetic appeal to most of us, but there are still many who have failed to realise the full value of the tree to commerce and industry. In New Zealand, however, we are gradually developing the “tree-sense.” We are fortunate in possessing a Forestry Department which lias accomplished much, and promises to accomplish more, toward the safeguarding of the nation’s timber supplies. Its work will be inspected by 50 experts in forestry who have arrived in Wellington. In the 15 days at their disposal they hope to see something of our forests and plantations (not overlooking, of course, our unique kauri reserves in the Northland), and to gain, firsthand, a knowledge of the methods employed by our experts. The delegation has already made a similar tour in Australia, and its object is the collation of the information, so gained, that it may be used to the best advantage throughout the Empire. In all parts of the world to-day there is a movement to remedy the past depredations of man in the forest lands, and to build up reserves for the next generation. Scientists have ruled that when the proportion of forests in any country falls below 0.89 acres a head, the necessity for importation of timber arises, and steps are being taken to guard against this emergency. Australia at present has 20,000,000 acres of forests; closely-settled Britain has 3.9 per cent, of its area under wood; America 24.35, and Canada 26.78. New Zealand has 11.66 of its superficial area dedicated under the Forests Act. Close on 140,000 acres of exotic forest plantations are State-owned, and the department has as its objective for 1929 the raising of this total to 188,000 acres. With this productive work in view, it is probable that 1,500 men will be occupied in planting next season. The visiting delegates will doubtless find much to interest them in this richly-wooded land. We, in our turn, may learn much from their knowledge of the science of forestry and the valuable experience they have gained on their tour.