AFFORESTATION IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21710, 18 February 1936, Page 12

AFFORESTATION IN NEW ZEALAND

NEW ScftjTH WALES MINISTER’S INTEREST [THE PRESS Special Service.]

AUCKLAND, February 17.

"New Zealand probably leads the world in its successful development of miotic trees for afforestation purposes," said the Hon. R. S. Vincent, Minister for Mines ahd Forests in New South Wales, who arrived at Auckland by the Monowai on a short visit to New Zealand. He is accompanied by Mr E. Swain, Commissioner of Forests in New South Wales. None, of the Australian states had pursued as' vigorous an afforestation policy ,as that adopted in. New Zealand, Mr Vincent continued. However, the work being done was principally in the nature of t planting native timbers, comparatively little attention being paid to exotics. He understood that the slow, growth Pf some of the best New Zealand trees militated against their use for afforestapurposes, but in some European countries where efforts were being made to build up depleted forests, slpw-growing trees were planted for use generations ahead.

“1 hope to inspect some of the recently developed afforestation areas In the North Island,” Mr Vincent said, “My principal interest in this direction will be the work of your State Forestry Department. I should like to visit the kauri forests in the north, but I am afraid time will not permit, although I hope to see some kathis near Auckland.”

Mr Vincent will leave Auckland shortly, and will visit various North Island districts, on his way to Wellington. Ho will leave on his return to Sydney on March S.