C—3a

The extent to which Research Institutes are endowed, and consequently staffed and equipped, naturally bears a close relationship to the importance of forestry and its products in the national economy. It is significant and worthy of particular note that in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark the Forest Research Institutes receive very considerable financial support from private forestry organizations in recognition both of the practical benefits of past research and of the advantages to be gained by continuation of research. 249. The Divorcement of Forest Research Institutes from State Departmental Control is Characteristic of the Forestry Organizations of All Scandinavian Countries.—The Chairman of the Council of the Finnish Forest Research Institute, which consists of senior members of the Institute, is appointed by the Minister of Agriculture on a five-year term. The Swedish State School of Forestry and Research Institute are administered collectively by a representative Board directly responsible to the Minister of Agriculture. The Norwegian Forest Research Institute is administered by a separate Board appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, and has strong private representation. The Danish Forest Research Institute is under administration of a Board (Chairman of which is the Director of the State Forest Service) similar to that of Norway. It is not suggested that forestry research in New Zealand has reached, or is likely to reach for some time, the stage when such divorcement from departmental administration is either practicable or desirable. The responsibility for implementing forestry research in New Zealand must logically rest with the State as the major proprietor of the national forest resources ; Scandinavian countries have, however, recognized the importance of a balanced programme of forestry research, not unduly influenced either by the demands of departmental expediency or the commercial claims of private interests. The onus is on the New Zealand Forest Service to insulate its research organization from such influences. 250. The principle of advisory representation in the direction of Scandinavian forestry research is, however, no less applicable to New Zealand. The Forests Act, 1949, provides for the setting-up of Advisory Committees, and the Forest Service already has under consideration the establishment of such a Committee composed of both private and State forestry interests to advise the Minister of Forests on the activities of the Forest Research Institute. Due regard must, however, be paid to the fact that in Scandinavian countries a much lower percentage of forests are State owned—e.g., Norway, 20 per cent.; Sweden, 25 per cent.; Finland, 43 per cent.—than in New Zealand (where 71 per cent, of the total forest area is State administered), necessitating a proportionately stronger State advisory representation than in Scandinavia. 251. The Value of International Liaison in Forestry Research is Emphasized.—The handicaps of geographical isolation and the tendency of foresters so isolated to be satisfied to remain monolingual give special significance to the above Congress finding. The writer met many research foresters in Europe who spoke English (and other foreign languages) fluently, and was thus able to gain a slight but none the less vivid impression of the scope and nature of technical forestry literature beyond the reach (except in summary form) of most English-speaking foresters ; and it was evident that the majority of Scandinavian research foresters read German and French (as well as Swedish) technical forestry literature to their professional advantage. Believing that long-term action is needed in this connection — 252. It is recommended — (a) That the study of a foreign language be compulsory in any course of higher forestry education which may be provided for New Zealanders in New Zealand or overseas ; (b) That preference be given to German, Swedish, and French in equal proportion amongst students ; and (c) That a bursary be granted at regular intervals to enable a suitable research student to study post-graduate forestry at a German-, French-, or Swedish-speaking school.

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