"VERY FINE INDEED."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 7

"VERY FINE INDEED."

LORD CLINTON IMPRESSED.

CLOSE MANAGEMENT NEEDED.

"The forestry work done in New Zealand is very fine indeed. Close management and proper cultivation is necessary, and that will come in time," said Lord Clinton. He was most impressed, he said, with the plantations of exotics at Kaingaroa, and everything appeared to have a healthy appearance. The magnificent indigenous forest in West land, where areas cut 60,000 ft to the acre, also aroused the admiration of members of the party, who were familiar with the best stands in other countries. They were looking forward with keen anticipation to seeing more native trees in North Auckland, and it was of importance that they should be preserved.

"New Zealand is contributing its shar* to Imperial forestation," he added, "and it is probably doing more than any other part of the Empire. Of course things are in their infancy as yet. It takes time for forests to develop, but the planting seems to be along the Tight lines. We hope that the valuable indigenous forest may be preserved. They are too valuable to lose. There has been colossal waste, but we cannot blame you for that." Continuing, he explained that there had been no State afforestation in Great Britain till after the war. Every state in the Empire, however, was now taking some steps for the preservation and continuation of forests. An Empire forest policy was being evolved, and each unit had to do its share. There was no doubt that New Zealand was playing its part in this connection in soft wood cultivation. Referring to indigenous forests, he said a great deal had still to be done in taking out trees with care, so that the forest could be continuous. While the miller had no further interest in land once cleared, the State should certainly adopt the conservation principle in working its own forests.

Questioned concerning the utilisation of waste timber, Lord Clinton explained that, unlike Sweden, where waste was used extensively. New Zealand did not have a big firewood demand, which was an important thing to cultivate. A pood deal of waste went in pulp making in other countries, and of course that might come to the Dominion in time, but a continuous supply of material was required. Lord Clinton was not prepared to suggest any scheme for replanting in New Zealand, and he pointed out that only the Government could say what was necessary in that direction.