AFFORESTATION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18431, 11 July 1925, Page 13

AFFORESTATION.

LECTURE BY MR FRANK TATE.

Last evening, in the» Chamber of Commerce, Mr Frank Tate, Director of Education, Victoria, gavo an address, under the auspices of the New Zealand Forestry League (Canterbury Branch), on the Victorian school afforestation scheme, Professor C. Chilton presiding over a good attendance. Air Tate stated that time should bo devoted to the afforestation of the land which tho pioneers had ruthlessly devastated. The lands, which had"been wonderfully endowed by Nature with forest, were now practically bare, and it was our duty to have an eye for tho future and replant these areas. But ho did not suggest that the country should have been left in its virgin state. It might be to the national advantage to keep a country in its present state in connexion with forests, and also to prevent injudicious cutting of trees. They were endeavouring to create a "forest conscience'' in Victoria by teaching tho children the importance of "Arbor Day," ami that movement had borne fruit. The school forest endowment scheme was launched in 1023, and upwards of 50 plantations had been established, and were flourishing. It was a good thins to inculcate into tho boys and girls of the schools an idea of goodwill and disinterested citizenship ior those, following after. But they resolved not to plant unless various interested societies offered to fence off the land against vermin. The result was that district after district put up its £IOO or so mid helped along the, scheme enthusiastically. Tho object was educational, and they also wantei to impress the older people through the children. The only expense the Education Department was put to was the drawing up of a solemn covenant, and framing the same, to tho effect that the land had been granted, endowed, registered, and placed in trusteeship of certain selected gentlemen. The covenant provided for the protection, etc., of the plantations and the continuity of caro of the trees, and was signed by the boys and girls of tho school concerned. _ The Department had done fine workin New Zealand in stimulating planting work, said the speaker. Some young men in certain districts in Australia had gone .in for planting operations for the •benefit of thejr children, and it was proposed to'start a married men's plantation scheme. The idea, of "rowing trees had hot till recent! 7 occurred to people. They had regarded the tall timber as an object in the • way of settling down. "I have seen some dastardly things! done to trees," said the speaker. "It is one's duty to plant for individual profit, .and for "the benefit of generations coming on." Bush fires in Australia ran Tike a hurricane, and did an enormous amount of damage. Tho idea of being careful when out in the bush was being inculcated in both the children and their ciders. "The forest scheme has got the teachers thinking, and when you get the teachers thinking something is going to happen," continued. Mr Tate. He-concluded that people .of Canterbury had a great heritage, and were fortunately endowed.; " The chairman, said that success must come throuiojh the young people, and they recognised that the Education Department had done a good deal for the success of New Zealand afforestation schemes. . . '

Various members of the audience also spoke, Mr G. Lancaster (headmaster of the-Boys' High Schools sayin« that the information imparted by Mr Tate would give them great encouragement. Questions were asked and nnswe-cd, and. on the motion of Mr "R. Nairn, seconded by Mr W. H. Winsor. Mr Tate was accorded a hearty vote of •thanks for 'his interesting address.