C.—3

Table 2, which follows, shows the distribution by forest-conservation regions of the new areas proclaimed. The major proclamations affected Rotorua, Wellington, and Nelson, and comprised mainly forest high country valuable for protection purposes.

Table 2. —Summary of Areas added to Permanent and Provisional State Forests, 1st April, 1938, to 31st March, 1939.

Table 3 shows the areas withdrawn from forest reservation, and the reasons therefor. The largest area —17,985 acres —was included in Arthur Pass National Park.

Table 3. —Summary of Areas withdrawn from Permanent and Provisional State Forests, 1st April, 1938, to 31st March, 1939.

It may here be recalled that, pursuant to section 34 of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, and subsequent legislation, many large tracts of forested country were proclaimed provisional State forests with a view to the proper utilization of the milling-timber under the supervision of the Forest Service, the subsequent return of control to the Lands and Survey Department of such areas as were deemed suitable for settlement, and the reservation of the remainder as permanent State forests. Since then many thousands of acres have been added to the permanent forest estate —the total last year being 152,891, of which 73,840 acres, mainly high mountainous country, will be conserved for protection forest and 63,856 acres in Catlins River district, Otago, placed under forest management. The impressive record of permanent State forest proclamations listed in Table 4 speaks for itself.

2—C. 3.

13

Permanent State Forests. Provisional State Forests. Forest-conservation „ . , ; Totals. nrrlmnrir National n i. National Endowment. Endowment. . . Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Auckland .. .. 12,346 784 4,881 18,011 Rotorua .. .. 79,126 6,172 .. .. 85,298 Wellington.. .. 82,966 .. .. .. 82,966 Nelson .. .. 56,259 .. 525 1,622 58,406 Westland .. .. 1 .. 122 822 945 Canterbury .. 5,844 .. .. .. 5,844 Southland".. .. 5,799 460 2,096 .. 8,355 Totals .. 242,341 7,416 7,624 2,444 259,825

For Settlement ™ . r» lor Stock .hor School AT , t) \< or bcemc Reserves. 0 0 National .Purposes. Reserves. Reserves. p a rk Forest-conservation m , , Region. . . « . . , T . Totala * Permanent Provisional Permanent Provisional Permanent Permanent Provisional State State State State State State State Forest. Forest. Forest. Forest. Forest. Forest. Forest. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Auckland .. 565 845 .. 382 9 .. .. 1,801 Rotorua .. 18 3,954 .. .. .. 13 .. 3,985 Wellington .. 32 .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 Nelson .. .. 511 .. .. .. .. .. 511 Westland .. .. 834 13 .. .. .. 17,985 18,832 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 6 .. .. 6 Southland' .. .. 402 214 892 .. .. .. 1,508 i • Totals .. 1,126 6,035 227 1,274 15 13 17,985 26,675