FORESTRY PROFITABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 22 August 1928, Page 8

FORESTRY PROFITABLE.

BEATS SMALL FARMING.

OPINION OF COMMISSIONER. VALUE DOUBLED IX 15 YEARS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON", Tuesday. Answering the requests of members that their districts should receive atten- [ tion in afforestation, the Minister in charge of the Forest Service (Hon. O. J. Hawken) stated that, on examining the whole position, he found that forestry must be tackled in a businesslike way on comparatively large areas, which must be planted rapidly. Some of the old forests had cost far more than they were likely to return, and he felt that there had been considerable losses before the war because the work was not done in a bus-inesslike way. The objective of the Department was to plant a considerable area rapidly, and then leave it in charge of the fire guard. "I am of opinion," said Mr. Hawken, "that giving more than 30/ per acre for afforestation land is inadvisable. Good land should certainly not be used." He said that up till comparatively recently forestry had been carried out in New Zealand on a more or less experimental basis, but during the past two years a balance had been struck between overhead expenses and revenue. It was unquestionable that many of the methods of the past had been faulty. This year there was £280,000 on the estimates in respcct of forestry, and another £20,000 would come from another source. It was estimated that 60,000 acres would be planted, at a cost of £5 per acre, and it was anticipated that we might even touch the 70,000 acres' mark. The sum of £20,000 would be spent on purchase, and money was required to pay interest charges on areas already planted. The expense of planting had to be cut down, if the return was to be profitable. In European countries, forestry paid only about three per cent. It had to be remembered, said Mr. Hawken, that the value of forests doubled itself every 15 years. In 45 years an acre that cost £5 to plant was worth all of £40. To the Minister's mind there was no better way that a State could invest its money than in afforestation. Even at 5 per cent it paid. Though royalties might return only a comparatively small percentage, it had to be remembered that afforestation provided a great number of men with work. It was estimated that on an average a man employed in sawmilling turned out about 40,000 ft per year. If an acre produced 50,000 ft of timber, it would be seen how profitable forest work would be. "Indeed," said the Minister, "it may be said that a forester is better paid than a small farmer." Mr. R. W. Smith (Waimarino): That is not so at the Kariori Estate, where married men are employed on relief rates. The Minister: Those men are on the unemployed list. Forestry work will have to be used in that way in the winter time, as long as distress prevails.