9

C.—3

It is pleasing to note that acclimatization societies are in most cases doing their best to cope with the situation and are carrying out extensive culling operations. Much more remains to be done, however, before the menace of the deer can be said to be safely under control. The Service will continue to co-operate closely with the various controlling authorities to effect this end. 4. APFORESTATION AND POEEST-BXTBNSION. The year 1923 marks the record year in the area of new State plantations formed in New Zealand, and perhaps in any other country in any one year. Including the experimental planting, 7,207 acres were planted with 5,035,457 trees. The greater proportion of the area established was formed at a cost of £1. 13s. 7d, per acre, as against a cost of £4 ss. for planting for the previous year. In standard of practice, in cost, and in results the afforestation standards now in use by this Service in comparison with other countries will be found to be satisfactory. The Service is now in a position to carry out an annual planting programme of 20,000 acres yearly on a real efficient basis. If the annual national deficit in our wood requirements is to be made up this must come.

Summary of Operations on State Plantations during the Year ended 31st March, 1924.

In connection with the nursery propagation practice of the Service the following extract from the Official Report of the Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, held at Palmerston North, 16th and 17th January, 1924, may be of interest: "Itis a generally accepted fact that Government interference in business is both wasteful and inefficient. This has been proved the world over, and especially since the war. To (mote a trite saying, the more business we can put into the Government, and the less Government we have in business, the better for the nation. In New Zealand the State Forest Service is successfully competing with private nurserymen in the sale of forest-trees. It has been asserted that the State can afford to, and do, sell trees below cost. Responsible officers assure us this is not so ; they pay the same wages as we do, and the retail side of the Service is a profitable business. I consider it the gravest indictment that can be levelled against any business to say that a Government Department is successfully competing with it on level terms ; it says very little for the efficiency of the business." (Extract from a paper read by Mr. Kingsland, forest-tree nurseryman, of Wakefield, Nelson.) Forest-extension. The reporting year has set a new record in the areas of tree-plantations, wind-breaks, shelterbelts, and wood lots established by interests other than the State. It is now nationally accepted that "To plant trees and grow money " is good business. The Service has given its services freely and without stint to effect this end. The tree and seed sales for the year indicate only a portion of the trees used, for other sources of supply have been from commercial nurseries and' from privately owned gardens.

2—C. 3.

Forest Plantation. N % b i e a r n?ed TreeS New Area planted. Total Area planted in Trees, 1896-1924. Whakarewarewa* Waiotapu*f Kaingaroa Plantation")" Puhipuhi Conical Hills l'ukerau Dusky Hill Greenvale Gimmerburn Naseby Hanmer Springs Balmoral RamclifE Westland Forest Experiment Station Experimental group!. 3,931,415 7,000 23,975 323,600 Acres. 5,614-00 7-25 340-00 Acres. 8,037-00 7,010-00 20,590-00 1,200-00 3,533-50 572-75 745-75 2,050-75 88-00 2,217-75 3,412-25 1,796-50 206-00 140-00 224-00 183,500 339,215 398,445 67-00 498-75 540 00 85,250 140 '00 Totals 5,292,400 7,207 51,824-25 * Discrepancies with areas shown in previous reports were disco' f Kaingaroa West and Kaingaroa Plains Plantations have been amalgau portion of the Waiotapu Plantation has now been included in Kaingaroi 29 acres) vested in Mackenzie County Council. cred during a surve; atod as " Kaingaroa , Plantation. y made in 1922-23. Plantation," and a Te Kapo Plantation