AFFORESTATION

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 4

AFFORESTATION

. ' •— — .. . PLANS FOR STATE SERVICE COMMISSIONER’S REPLY TO' QUESTION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 20. ■ Regret that there was not greater E revision for afforestation in Canterury was expressed by Mr Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru)' when the Commissioner of State' Forests (the Hon. C. F. Skinner) made a statement on the future planting programme, in a written reply to a question, in the House of Represc .tatives to-day Mr Skinner s?id that at least 10 new forests, with a possible ultimate area of 103,003 acres, would be begun as soon as possible. None of these is in Canterbury. Mr T. H. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton) agreed with Mr Carr's remarks. Mr Skinner was answering a question by Mr A. S. Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki) concerning plans for afforestation. He said plans had been prepared by the State Forest Service for a, number of years past, and preliminary steps to accelerate the plant-ing-rate after the war were well .in hand. “At least 10 new exotic forests will be commenced as soon as the return of personnel to civil life and the availability of plant and materials permit," said Mr Skinner. “The location of the projected forests and their possible ultimate areas are:—North Auckland, three, totalling 36,880 acres;' South Auckland, one, of 20,940 acres; Hawke’s Bay, One, of 11,307 acres; Wairarapa, one, of 3525 acres; West Coast, two (one doubtful), totalling 7275 acres; Otago, three, totalling 23.076 acres; grand total, 103,003 acres.” A start had been made with breaking in land for nurseries on such of these new areas as included suitable nursery sites. Afforestation as a rehabilitation project, for both short and long-term absorption of discharged servicemen, was well in hand, and for this purpose 72,165 acres of land had been purchased, while approximately 100,000 acres were at present under negotiation. These additional purchases and proposed purchases would form new forests, and would extend existing forests. “These areas will give a total of 164,130 acres, inclusive of 103,003 acres of new forests already named. The principal additional areas are; Rotorua, 34,796 acres; Nelson, 17,487 acres; Canterbury, 3104 acres." Immediate Supplies Mr Skinner added that the falling-off in available areas of indigenous timber was offset by the fact that there was an area of approximately 800,000 acres of planted exotic forests, so that the supply for the immediate future need cause no concern. An emergency expansion of timber production, both indigenous and exotic, was now being effected with a view to increasing the North Island production of building timbers from the present level of 120.000,000 board feet to- 170,000.000 board feet by the end of 1945. Mr Skinner said that native forests were being regenerated through the control of fires. Fires had done more damage than all the axes ever imported. Mr Carr said he had been informed by the previous Commissioner that the owners of land in-Canterbury suitable for afforestation wanted too much for it. and that the department must have large areas. Mr Carr said he did not know why they should not plant small areas if they were suitable and available. Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty): It would reduce the fire risk Mr Carr agreed, and said because the department could not do everything it wanted to do. that did not seem a good reason for doing nothing at all. Local bodies in Canterbury had done a good deal of afforestation. If there were more co-operation, a more for-ward-looking policy, and more drive, there would be a load off his mind. Afforestation was Important, not only for timber production, but for preventing erosion and conserving soil, and for providing employment for seasonal