FORESTRY AND TIMBER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18549, 26 November 1925, Page 11

FORESTRY AND TIMBER.

"Forestry is a key industry," asserted Professor Corbin, of the Auckland Universal}-. in his address to members of the Auckland Rotary Club, "for the products of the forest are as essential as wool, wheat, water, or air." There was a definite shortage of forest products, and this was a matter of concern to the community as a whole. A. timber shortage was not felt simply by those who wished to build houses, but was reflected throughout most industries. It was estimated that the world's supply of timber would las,l. another twenty or thirty years. So far as New Zealand was | concerned, it was not a matter of the future; j the shortage was with us now, for our importations last year were, it is said, valued j at £1,315.703, while the value of our own | timber used was said to be £3,182.99!'. I Sources of timber suppiy in New Zealand ; were, twofold. First was tbat available j from natural forest. Tins presented many ; problems, and it w*s not possible at pree- j ent to determine even approximately the | possible quantities derivabie from this source j in continuity. Secondly caine planted lor- | est*. There were, it - • reported, from ! 60,000 to 70,000 acres planted in the Do- ! minion, of which 40,000 were m the vicinity of Rotorua. These areas must be largely increased if the noee>sary timber supply was to he obtained. and the responsibility was one thnt belonged to the community as a whole. ■ The ultimate ".im in all forestry work was ertii-icricy at every point, in order to supply cheap umber. In this respect the speakei paid a high tribute to the work that had been done at demonstration areas at Waiotapu and Rotorua. Reverting to the question of increased planting areas. Protessor Corbin said he had been immensely attracted by the possibilities ot the pumice country. Here were millions of acres whose present productivity was nil that could be used in trefe production. Already some of the best soft-wood trees were growing on. this class of land, apparently quite satisfactorily. - In promoting forest building, they should, wherever possible, co-oper-ate with ihe modern industry of hydro-elec-tric power utilisation, for water power and the timber industry were natural partners, that should he used co-operatively to man's advantage.