THE FORESTRY PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 258, 29 October 1921, Page 6

THE FORESTRY PROBLEM.

The point that 'needs further elucidation in the programme of the new head of the Forestry Department, as outlined in his lecture last night, is what he means exactly by thc,*'perpetuation of the use'' of our national forests. That the l'orcstry Department can do a large amount of valuable work in preserving native forest and reducing waste in milling is admitted, but that it can "perpetuate' it in the sense of replacing native trees by native trees is disputed by men who have given years of study to the subject. That is to to say, it is denied that native trees can be cultivated to the milling point within a reasonable time, and it is thereforo urged by this school that the planting of exotic trees should proceed on a large scale. The basis of the working of an existing forest on sound forestry lines is, w D understand, that what is taken out should be replaced. How docs Mr. Ellis propose to replace the native trees that are to be milled in forests controlled by the Department? Partly, he implies, by the "regeneration" of kauri, riinu, totara, etc., and partly by the use of exotics. We are far from being convinced that for practical purposes the place of the felled timber can be taken by other indigenous trees. Possibly the proportionate importance that Mr. Ellis attaches to "perpetuation" and adorestation by planting quick-growing foreign trees will 'be modified as he gains more experience of New Zealand condition. 1 ?, about which he admits there is a [food deal to be learned. He deserves all possible success in his etlorts to arouse interest in forestry, and to place his Department on a scientific footing, but we hope he is not going to curtail to a dangerous point the existing policy of afforestation. The native forests" should receive all possible care, but with this policy must he combined, in our opinion, a programme of extensive planting of exotics. The growth of our native trees is exceptionally slow, while that of imported trees is proportionately fa°t. two facts ivliich form a great part of the basis of }ur forestry policy.