GROWING OF RED BEECH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27472, 5 October 1954, Page 11

GROWING OF RED BEECH

Extension Of Work At Granville THIRD-YEAR TRAINEES TO BE TRANSFERRED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 4. Granville Forest, 20 miles north of Greymouth, had been selected as the best site in the country for the growing of red beech, said the Minister of Forests (Mr E. B. Corbett) today, when he announced that approval had been given for the erection of additional living accommodation and administrative and general buildings at Granville. With the expected fall in rimu production the various beech timbers would come into increasing use, continued the Minister, and there was

every prospect that beech management would prove as profitable as that of exotic forests. To obtain a timber supply balanced according to consumption requirements it would be necessary to devote part of the national forestry effort to beech. Mr Corbett said that management of the Granville forest would ensure Continuous production of mine props, of which there was at present an uncertain supply to the West Coast mines. It would be necessary to extend nursery operations now conducted at the forest, and those operations would require a field force of about 40 men and supervisory staff for the additional planting of cut-over areas on the West Coast. It was proposed, said the Minister, to transfer third-year trainees under the junior woodsmen’s scheme to Granville from Golden Downs.