THE FOREST QUESTION IN VICTORIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 328, 7 February 1874, Page 3

THE FOREST QUESTION IN VICTORIA.

In his recent visit of inspection to the Ballarat State forest, the Minister of Lands appears to have found much to be dissatisfied with. Some fine portions of the forest have been completely denuded of timber, and there is little probability that the young trees, of which it is said very few are growing, will replace those that have been destroyed. The very same thing may be said of many other parta of the colony, and there is indeed no more general complaint than that of the rapid disappearance of serviceable trees, and the distant prospect of restoration of our forests. Everywhere the work of demolition is being carried on apparently with little check, and although everyone is ready to acknowledge the importance of the matter, but little interest is manifested by anyone in the preservation of trees, or the planting and rearing of others in the place of those cut down. The state forests them&slves are not sufficiently protected by the. Government, nor are they regarded as sacred from destruction by individuals. There is a piece of gnound containing about 300 acres between Ballarat and Creswick, which has been securely fenced by the Government with the viow of preserving tbc trees growing upon it. But the woodcutters cannot be kept out of it ; and this will be found to be the case with all similar preserves, and continue to be so, unless some better and more stringent system be adopted for their protection. In the report of Mr. Casey's visit to Ballarat we observe that special mention is made of the immense waste of wood by splitters and sawyers, who are in the habit of using only the best portion of trees, and leaving the rest to rot on the ground, or to be consumed by bush fires, to the great danger of the surrounding living trees, which are frequently sadly injured, and ssmetimes totally destroyed by fire. In common with many others we have frequently insisted on the necessity of taking steps to prevent this wantonness. But hitherto any measures resorted to for the purpose app<-a.-to have been abortive. Certain it is, the wholesale destruction of timber proceeds unJer the very eyes of the constituted authorities, and in spite of all attempts on their part to prevent it.

Mr. Casey proposes to limit those licensed to cut wood to certain areas, instead of their being allowed, as at present, to roam about at will over the forests. He would also make them responsible for the protection of the trees from fires, and impose upon them the duty of fostering the growth of young trees. This appears to be a very necessary and Balutary arrangement, and the advantages that would accrue from its being carried out would soon become apparent. It is impossible that the Government can effectually protect the forests by any plan that could be devised for the purpose. Forest rangers have failed to carry out the object for which they were appointed, and' this ia owing not so much to their want of activity and efficiency as to the utter impractability of a limited staff of such officers exercising the requisite vigilance over the wile areas to be watched and prol-ectei. If a system such as that which Mr. Casey has in view were adopted, a forest police might be of some service, but at present they do little or no good.

The conservation of forests is one of the most important questions of the day ; but, while measures are being taken for the prevention of wanton destruction and wilful waste, the most strenuous efforts should be made to promote restoration. Various suggestions have been made for the latter purpose, which, to some extent, have been acted upon by the Government. One of them was the appointment of local boards of management, which, as yet, have not proved a very great success, the chief obstacle to the efficiency of the boards being the great difficulty of obtaining the means of protecting the timber under their charge. Another suggestion whidi has been carried out was the formation of a State nursery near the Macedon railway station, with the view of raising useful trees for distribution, and for the planting of reserves which have been denuded of indignious timber. This- nursery is young as yet, but it contains many thousands of young and healthy plants, which, it is said, will be ready for distribution next autumn. Applications, it appears, have been made for the young trees to such an extent that it has been found impossible to comply with them ; and in order to bring^thom within a reasonable limit Mr. Casey has determined that a charge shall be mado for them approximaing to the actual cost of production ; but a reduction will be made in the price when the plants are required for public or charitable institutions. It is manifest that treoplanting in all parts of the colony should be encouraged by every possible means, and that strong inducements should be offered for the preservation of indigenous trees of natural growth. The Royal Commission on Foreign Industries and Forests appeared to favor the idea of the adoption of the plan carried out in New Zealand, of the granting of land in proportion to the extent successfully planted with useful axotie or native trees. It was suggested, however, by some of those to whom the Commission applied for their opinion, that money premiums snouldbe offered to the successful growers of trees. One proposal was that owners of hind by the side of wide roads should be allowed to fence in a certain width of the land reserved for the roads on the condition of their fencing such land ; and it was suggested to the Commission by many of its correspondents that the local managing bodies, whether Councils or Forest Boards, should be compelled to plant trees along the roads every year. It was also suggested that plantations of anything over an acre in extent should be exempt from rates and charges of any kind, and that trees planted by selectors should be liberally estimated when valuing their improvements. Some of the suggestions are worthy of consideration ; bat in the meantime we hope to see Mr Casey's plan generally carried out, by which the conservation and restoration.? of forests will bs made an obligation on those who are profitably engaged in felling, splittine, and tawing the timber on the. Crown a . lands of the colony.— "Bendigo JLd«ai±isec?' ;