THE FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 256, 19 March 1913, Page 5

THE FORESTRY COMMISSION.

I TREE- PLAXTIX(J AND CONSERVA- ! TION. By Tulegi apli—l'ress Association. Christehurch, Last Night. The Forestry Commission Jiold its lirst sitting to-day, when the evidence "was taken of Mr.'ll. (;. Ell, ALT. There was, he said, a great need tor tree-planting throughout the length and breadth of the country, and lie thought that it should not be limited to any particular province. Within the province of Canterbury there was 110 State forest, and this was also the case in other parts. The people of Canterbury would, therefore, have to .pay the cost of the transport of timber from other parts unless they had State forests in their midst. At present the Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury people would have to draw their supplies from the plantations at Haiimer, and yet there was poor laud in all these localities which would be suitable for planting purposes. He was not in a position to discuss the cost of planting these lands. The timber millers, however, had found it profitable to cut timber off precipitous country. -The Taranaki farmer, in a very few v'ears, would have to go far a field to secure even posts for fencing. He would advocate the encouragement of the planting of shelter belts by settlers. There would need to be supervision in order that the right trees should be planted. The chairman: Such shelter belts might Vie exempted from taxation. Mr. Ell: Yes.

In answer to the chairman, he said that there should be restricted areas for deer. They should not be allowed to roam at large.

Dr. Cockavne: Do you think that deer should be allowed to roam oven tin* Waimakariri National Park, which is one of the most important climatic reserves in the Dominion ? Mr. Ell: No.

Continuing, lie said that an experienced forester should he connected with every land hoard, to superintend matters connected with forestry. Dr. Cockayne said that it would be difficult to secure .such officials. Scientific forestry was practically a new science in the British Empire. "Do you think that we should get young men trained properly as scientific foresters?" he asked.

Mr. Ell: I do.. Forestry is one of the most neglected sciences in the Dominion. Mere planters of trees is not enough. We want men that know the different kinds of soil, etc.

The witness proceeded to quote from a Government report of M)O7, which showed that at the present time the oldest State-planted trees were only thirteen years of age. The estimate of the Department's officers was that at the earliest it would he fiftV years before these trees were ready for commercial purposes, and that it might even be a hundred years. As it would be so long before these trees became ready for use, and as they were drawing so heavily upon their national forests, there was great necessity for more attention being devoted to planting. Evidence was also given by Messrs. Edward Herrimr Rich. (!, (irady, J. C. Helmore. J. It. Maynard, Dr. Morten Anderson, Dr. Chas. Chilton, and Mr. AY. B. Scandrett.