EMPIRE TIMBER RESOURCES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22135, 3 July 1937, Page 13

EMPIRE TIMBER RESOURCES

LORD BLEDISLOE'S PLEA FOR NEW ZEALAND

PRESERVATION OF TREES FROM VANDALISM

(raoir ouii oun coRP.rsroNiEST.) LONDON. June 12.

Lord Bledisloe attended the annual meeting of the Empire Forestry Association, and sat in the front row of the Empire Society's hall facing the platform where the president, the Duke of Kent, occupied the chair. He listened with interest to the remarks of His Royal Highness recounting the increased use of Empire woods during the last year, and to an address by Lord Stonehaven. But Lord Bledisloe s interest was mingled disappointment. Not once was New Zealand mentioned! No sooner had the Duke of Kent declared the motion for the adoption of the annual report to have been moved and seconded than Lord Bledisloe was on his feet. The Duke, seeing him rise, sat down again. And Lord Bledisloe, having paid a graceful compliment to His Royal Highness, added, "I should not venture to speak had not there been an entire omission of any reference to New Zealand."

As if in further explanation, Lord Bledisloe mentioned that he had lived five years in New Zealand as Governor-General, during which time he had ''particularly watched the development of afforestation in that country." so that perhaps he might be allowed to add a few words regarding that '"very attrattive and highly timbered portion of His Majesty's Dominions."

One Criticism

'"New Zealand has. for her size, carried out more plantation of trees than any other part of the British Empire," Lord Bledisloe continued, now thoroughly happy at being able to speak for his beloved Dominion. "My only criticism in relation to that, however, is that having planted the trees she is not perhaps as careful as wo would wish her to be in maintaining her plantations. That is one particular point I should like to emphasise, for it is one thing to plant trees, but it is another to maintain those plantations after they have been ma_.e. It is clearly uneconomic to plant trees unless care is taken of them afterwards, to thin them out and to protect them against insects and other pests."

Another interesting development in New Zealand was the large use of a number of extremely fine grained timbers for purposes other than ordinary constructional work, to which they had been applied in days gone by. "Some of the most beautifully grained timbers in the world are to be found in New Zealand, and during the last few years there lias developed :i new industry, and I hope it will steadily increase, for using those timbers for what I think this association refers to as 'figured' woods for ornamental purposes/' said Lord Bledisloe. ''lt was from this standpoint that personally I thought it worth while to add a wing to my house in the country in order to have a New Zealand museum where the beauty of these well-grained timbers could be illustrated. "When times are bad and economic depression is rife there is a great tendency to fell the magnificent giants of the forest, which are to be found in no greater beauty and stately grandeur than in New Zealand. I hope that this association, interested as it must be, in planting young trees for future economic purposes, will do all in its power to protect these giants of the forest against the vandalism, which is very tempting in times of economic depression, for the conversion of those fine old specimens of ancient timbei which are so attractive to the visiting public from every part of the world.

"I hope. - ' concluded Lord Bledisloe amid laughter and applause, "that Your Royal Highness will forgive me for making this comment on the report, and, I would add: please remember New Zealand when such reports are drawn up."

Imports Higher

The Duke of Kent, in his presidential address, admitted that he had no claim to anj- special knowledge of the growing of trees or their conversion into timber, but that he did realise the useful and indispensable part that it played in everyday life, the prominent position it occupied in the commerce of the Empire, and the need for conserving and expanding the Empire's forest resources. He mentioned the miles and shiploads of timber that had been used for the Coronation decorations in London, and added that it had come mainly from the Empire. He also said that timber valued at £43,000,000 had been imported into Britain last year, which was an increase of £3.000,000 over the previous year. The president complimented the timber interests in Great Britain, British Columbia, and Australia, which had founded associations for the purpose of educating the public in the better use of timber, and he hoped that the example would be widely followed. He referred to the astonishing increase in the soft wood trade between Canada and Britain in recent years, and made a plea for conserving the forestry resources of the Empire "Each part of the Empire," he declared, "should take stock of the position and develop to the utmost us forest resources."

"Profligate Use of Resources"

Lord Stonehaven said that in the cutting or lumbering and marketing side of forestry, Empire countries had always shown the strongest development. In the preservation, cultivation, management, and scientific utilisation of its woods and forests they had, however, lagged behind, and as a whole, he feared that our race had been rather proflig .,D 1! } 'V 5 U£e of its for est resources. But I do think that in every part of the Empire that phase is passing, and it is becoming generally recognised that forests should be conserved and improved, not only for the raw material they produce, but for the beneficial influence they exert, especially in tropical or sub-tropical areas, on soil, climate, and water supplies," he continued. As evidence of this note mav be taken of the decision arrived at in London last year to set up an Im- £; u • forestry Bureau. When established the bureau should prove a powerful factor in furthering the progress of forestry in the Empire, then too, the Royal English Forestry Society has launched a cam-1

paign to induce woodland owners to manage their propertic ; on lines likely to be more profitable to themselves and of advantage to the State.

"In Canada, also, the Premier of Quebec recently called together a conference of all forest interests to assist the Government, so that through wise legislation and informed co-operation it might do everything possible towards ensuring the permanence of the forest resources of the State and thus guarantee the future stability and prosperity of the dependent forest industries. In Australia a similar movement was inaugurated at the first All-Australia Timber Conference held at Sydney in March., As an outcome an association was formed with the object of promoting the timber industry, including forestry, sawmilling, utilisation, and marketing."

Use of Empire Woods

In the association's annual report it was stated: "During 1936 the sue* cessful use of Empire woods, reported as having taken place in the United Kingdom during 1935, has not only been maintained but gradually increased. In addition to the increased importation of decorative woods from Queensland, considerable quantities of woods suitable for joinery and flooring have been imported from Australia. Much more care is now being exercised bv producers in the preparation of consignments for shipment overseas.

"A greater call has been made for woods from the West Coast of Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, including mahogany, sapele, majore, and mansonia from the former; cedar and olive from Kenya; and mahogany and other woods from Uganda. The shipments of iroko have also been well maintained. From India the constructional timbers, teak and gurjun are in constant demand, while the decorative laurel and silver greywood retain their popularity. Canada's shipments to the United Kingdom have enormously increased in both constructional and general building timbers, as well as figured woods."