“WELL DONE, N.Z."

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 1

“WELL DONE, N.Z."

FOREST EXPERT’S PRAISE EMPIRE DELEGATES’ TOUR PLANTATIONS WANT THINNING The colossal waste of New Zealand native forests was referred to this morning by Lord Clinton, president of the British Empire Forestry Delegation, which is ending its tour of the Dominion. “You cannot be blamed for this colossal waste,” he said. “It is typical of the British race, but it is to be hoped that the indigenous forests of New Zealand may be kept going.” The delegation arrived in Auckland late last evening and left for the North this morning on the Whangarei Express. It will return to Auckland to-morrow evening. The members are enthusiastic regarding the rapid growth of the exotic softwoods in New Zealand, and particularly the State forests of Rotorua. They did not believe, until they had seen the trees for themselves, that growth could be so rapid. Lord Clinton referred to the splendid rimu and other native trees in South Westland, where there were areas which could cut 60,000 feet of timber to the acre. The forests planted by the Dunedin Corporation were a remarkable achievement for a municipality. Until after the war there "was no State afforestation policy in England, but now an active policy was being pursued. Steps for the preservation and continuation of forests were being taken by every country in the British Empire. At the present time an Empire forest policy was being evolved and every unit was taking its share. New Zealand was doing her share in the cultivation of soft-woods and the preservation of her indigenous forests. Lord Clinton referred to the danger of fungus diseases in large areas of exotic woods. These might easily be imported without the pests which were their natural enemies. He would not say whether the best woods were being grown here, as the people of a country knew best the trees suited to the climate and the soil. Certainly the Douglas fir and the European larch were very good timbers. “We have the greatest admiration for the forests which have been grown in New Zealand,” continued Lord Clinton. “The work of the State is a big thing well done. I am not in a position to discuss private undertakings.” That the State forests want thinning is the opinion of Mr. R. D. Richmond, Chief Conservator of Forests for Madras, India. “Wonderful work has been done here in establishing the plantations,” he said, “but you have been wonderfully neglectful of them. It has been said that the country cannot afford the cost of thinning the State plantations. In my opinion you cannot afford not to do it.” Also with the delegation is Lieut.General Sir William Furse, director of the Imperial Institute, who passed through Auckland some weeks ago on his way to Australia. -> While in New Zealand he is investigating the effect of the Empire Marketing Board, which is a great central clearing-house for information regarding the raw products of the Empire, and is also a means of educating the people in Empire knowledge. Almost every part of the* British Empire is represented in the delegation. There are Canadians, South Africans, men from Ceylon, India, the Irish Free State, Australia, British North Borneo, Kenya Colony, the Federated Malay States, Gold Coast, Cyprus. Palestine, Tanganyika, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Mr. E. Phillips Turner. Director of Forestry for New Zealand, is travelling with the delegation. On Monday the last of the conferences will be held at the Auckland University, after which many of the delegation will return to Wellington in the evening. The remainder will sail by the Niagara on Wednesday.