State Forestry.

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 7, 1 March 1919, Page 458

State Forestry.

Urgent Need for Action. , . Native Woods or Exotics? An interesting paper, written by Mr S. I. Clarke, of Auckland, urging the immediate need for adequate steps to maintain and increase the timber supply of the Dominion, was read at the annual meeting , of the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand. The writer pointed out that of the natural products outside those relating to food no material was so universally in use in the daily life of the community as was wood in its various forms and conditions. / Although other materials were being substituted for wood, yet in the aggregate the consumption was daily increasing in volume and value—indeed, in the preparation and distribution of these substitutes themselves wood itself was a necessary element. Failure of our natural forests as a source of supply in the near future was certain unless something were quickly done to prevent it, and it was very fortunate that we were beginning to realise the necessity for the reconstruction and examination of our supplies, and that the subject was too important to be left to chance or the uncertainties of private effort. The State was the only power competent to deal with such a vast proposition on such a scale as would banish all fear of the national disaster which must result if the Dominion’s timber, supplies remained subject to destructive influences only, and nothing were done towards their regen eration or renewal. The folly of trusting to sup plies from overseas had been too clearly illustrated during the war to require further demonstration.

Though it was evident that an adequate supply of marketable timber could only be supplied in the future by State control, the application of the remedy was by no means a simple matter, for the question arose of how best to maintain economy of national resources, and to supplement them with such human aid as would make for stability of

Trade and the national Avelfare. There Avas a tendency to surround the case with an air of mystery, and to pretend that a vast amount of special study and scientific research was a necessary equipment for treegroAving, once it Avas dubbed Avith the charmed name of forestry; but there did not appear to be need for anything more than ordinary business sense in the matter avas nonsense to .assume that, Ave must Avail for elaborate instruction in- elementary work, the success of Avhich Avas mainly dependent on local experience and observation.

. A. point of difference Avas the basis of the forestry —whether it should be the reconstruction of native bush, its transformation by the introduction of foreign elements, or the creation of cultivated forest of foreign origin, consisting of Avoods selected on account of their proA ed Aalue, and their capacity of productionwithiii the bounds of economic success. The question of AAdiat trees Avere likely to be of the greatest use should be submitted to the

judgment and consideration of men of practical and business knowledge of the commercial timbers of the world, and especially of indigenous woods, for serious mistakes might be made as the result of general comparisons and conclusions in tire absence of that particular knowledge upon which the value of those conclusions rested. It had been stated that our trees were practically all coniferous soft wood, the class of forest that supplies ninetenths of all the timber used in the world, but this conveyed a wrong impression. Botanically, a number of our conifers belonged to a tribe of conifers quite separate and distinct from the true pines, spruces and firs of the northern hemisphere, and with the exception of the kauri none of our timbers used in construction work could be taken for the soft woods of the old world; and with one exception they were not on the same level of general utility, for timbers suitable for construction purposes found in payable quantities were few in number, and were vanishing at such a rate as to constitute a cause for serious alarm.

On the other hand, an equal number of exotics could be selected, giving, much better promise in the matter of rapidity, of growth, volume of returns, ease and lightness in working, strength and durability, all important economic factors.

Thus, though we would do well to conserve our natural forests as far as possible for the provision of an expanding trade and an increasing population, our main hope was in a properly equipped and and well managed system of cultivated forests. The writer was aware that this Avas not in accord with certain overseas advice tendered to Nbav Zealand, but he refused to accept the possibility suggested in that advice of a constant stream of profit to the extent of £lO per acre a year, to be made from the groAving of kauri, nor did he accept the suggestion that avc should go to Prussia for inspiration and example. Such authorities as E. P. Stebbing, head of the Forestry Department of the Edinburgh University, and Dr. FernoAv, director of the Ncav York State College ■of Forestry, roundly 'condemned Prussian forestry methods.

After the paper had been read, Mr S. J. Harbutt (Auckland) moved:“That this ’ meeting views AA'ith alarm the lessening of the native timber supply of the Dominion, and the continued rise in the price of timber, Avhereby the industries of the Dominion, both primary and secondary, are being disastrously affected. It is agreed that urgent representations to be made to the Government to place an export duty of at least 5/- per 100 ft. on all kinds of timbers , exported from the Dominion. That this meeting, while appreciating the formation of the Department of Forestry, expresses a hope that most active steps will be taken in establishing exotic softwood forests, comprised of such species as pinus parice, pinus radiata, and others calculated to proAndo the earliest possible supply of timber for the industries of the Dominion. That the most urgent measures bo enforced to preserve the remaining native timber supply. U- ,V ~ v

Mr J. Keir (Christchurch) said that Australia might retaliate against the duty by placing a duty on her hardwoods used in New Zealand. There was no New Zealand timber suitable for use in implement manufacturing, and that industry in New Zealand relied upon Australian supplies; Mr Harbutt, in reply, said the quantity , of timber used by implement makers in New Zealand was nor, great. The best policy, perhaps, Avas absolutely to prohibit the export of timber. Mr W. Stevenson (Dunedin), said that hardwoods could be imported from America if Australia ceased to export to Noav Zealand, . The motion was carried.