School of Forestry.

Progress, Volume XVI, Issue 2, 1 October 1920, Page 41

School of Forestry.

Auckland’s Claim Urged. Special Facilities Admitted. The claims of Auckland to the School of Forestry were urged upon the Prime Minister and other members of Cabinet by a representative deputation from Auckland. While unable to give a definite answer upon the matter, the Prime Minister admitted that Auckland did possess special facilities for the school.

Professor A. P. W. Thomas explained that the University Senate, which was representative of all the colleges, had decided that each college should specialise in some particular subject, and had agreed that Otago should have the Medical School, Canterbury the School of Engineering, Wellington the Law School, and Auckland the School of Forestry and the school of Agriculture. He went into detail concerning the special advantages of Auckland, dwelling particularly on its forests, and the fact that it was a great timber centre, in which the whole process could be studied.

Mr. A. B. Chappell, Registrar of the Auckland University College, conveyed the eagerness of the Auckland Harbour Board to co-operate in the work of the school, and to throw open its bush for research. As regards college facilities, he gave details to show that the institution was thoroughly up to date. Incidentally he mentioned that a great deal of forestry research had already been undertaken by the local biologist.

Mr. J. Butler, of the Kauri Timber Company, said the time had come to look at forestry from the economic point of view. He stressed the great possibilities for research in the Auckland Province, and maintained that it was the only area in which the seed could be watched from its generation until the tree reached the saw. There were admirable forest lands and the best of waterways upon which to transport the logs. The Auckland sawmillers would do their utmost to assist the school and, if possible, would establish logging scholarships.

The Hon. E. Mitchelson said the matter was one which affected the whole Dominion, and from that point of view he was quite convinced the right place to put the school was Auckland.

Mr. W. B. Leyland, of the Ley land-O'Brien Timber Company, promised hearty co-operation iri the work of the school, and said he was sure that one, if not two, scholarships would be provided by the millers of Auckland.

Mr. S I. Clark, of the Auckland Industrial Association, said the practical side of the work must not be forgotten, and, in that respect, Auckland had all the natural facilities for instruction. He thought, however, that each district should have its separate demonstration area.

Mr. J. H. Upton, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, said the greatest weight should be given to the opinions of the expert timber men. Nature herself, he added, had decided where the School of Forestry should be situated in New Zealand. The North was an area of trees and forests.

The Prime Minister said he and his colleagues were giad to see the great interest which was being manifested in the establishment of the school. Forestry was becoming increasingly important, and the only pity was that the matter had not been got under way sooner. The Dominion to-day would give anything for the timber ruthlessly destroyed 25 years ago. Referring to Auckland's claim to the School of Forestry, he said he knew that Auckland possessed special facilities, not the least important of which were its magnificent waterways. The Ministry recognised that it was its duty to provide for the timber requirements of future generations, and steps in this direction had already been undertaken, but now that the war was over more must be done. It would be the business of Cabinet to decide upon the most suitable locality for the purposes of the School of Forestry, but he could not commit Cabinet today. What he could say, however, was that Cabinet would undoubtedly select what appeared to it to be the most suitable for the Dominion as a whole.

It is not so long since beech timber was looked on as of no value, except for firewood; but in consequence of tests conducted in Australia comparatively recenrly, a wonderful demand has sprung up for this class of wood, which when thoroughly seasoned, is being used extensively in the manufacture of pianofcrtes and billiard tables. Besides, several other articles are being steadily manufactured. The waste pieces are now being used in the manufacture

of cheese crates and beer barrels. A gentleman connected with the timber industry, who gave these ;facts to a reporter (says a southern exchange), stated that beech was of no use unless it was thoroughly seasoned, but when so treated it was recognised as having the greatest resistance of any timber now procurable in quantities. When varnished and polished, he declared, beech greatly resembled oak. The demand for beech may be gathered from the fact that two Southland mills alone turned out from 12,000 ft. to 16,000 ft. per day.