Statement On Fungus Disease Among Trees

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 55, 15 July 1965, Page 5

Statement On Fungus Disease

Among Trees

The recent references in the press to an outbreak of leaf fungus — botanical name Dothistroma Pini — makes it essential for the extent of the attack and the danger to the pine forests in the North Island to be placed in proper perspective, ^ays a joint statement by Mr A. L. Poole, directorgeneral of forests and Mr R. H. Smythe, managing director of New Zealand Forest Products Limited. "The current occurrence of this leaf fungus is not extensive and is not serious. It only affects trees under the age of 15 years, and it is confined to a few isolated patches of trees on poor land in low-lying localities. A reasonable analogy would be that the present fungus. outbreak is similar to an outbreak of measles in a normal healthy N.Z. community. N.Z. Forest Products Limited, as the largest private forest owner in New Zealand has been greatly interested in exotic forests and their well-being, and in addition to conducting its own research has been closely associated with the forest service and its research institute, in first of all detecting any unusual phenomena affecting the forests and also in their identification and cause. Last year the company in conjunction with other leading forest owners in New Zealand assisted in finaneing the attendance of Dr S. J. Newhook of the

plant deseases division at a symposium on internationally dangerous forest diseases, as a result of which, information on all diseases affecting the forests in other parts of the world was secured, including the remedial steps which should be taken should any similar outbreaks occur in New Zealand. Furthermore when the present leaf fungus attack was identified New Zealand Forest Products Limited in conjunction with the forest service arranged to secure t'he services of Dr Gibson from the Kenya Forest Service, who is a well recognised authority on this type of fungus, to visit New Zealand in the near .future, and he will work in conjunction with the forest service and the Company's personnel to examine this fungus more fully,