IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28869, 14 April 1959, Page 7

IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS

Bright Future For N.Z. Pine “The Press’ Special Service ROTORUA, April 13. Pin us radiata seemed destined to play a more and more important role in the economy of New Zealand, said Dr. Edward C. Stone, assistant-professor of forestry at the University of California. in Rotorua. Dr. Stone, who has a Fulbright scholarship, is studying the nhysiology of radiata pine with the Forest Research Institute in Rotorua. He is the first American to undertake such a study in New Zealand. New Zealand could grow an average of two to three times as much pine an acre on good land as could the United States of America, he said. “On volume, an acre,” he added. “I do not think anywhere else in the world can beat you. “I think that here you could probably support a lot more people* on a timber economy than on a sheep and dairy economy We have nothing like it in the United States. “I am sure many people m forestry here realise the position, but perhaps it is a little slow in getting across to the general public.” . There were problems involved, he said Obviously it was necessary to get new markets for timber, which was easier than getting new markets for dairy products or wool. Also it was necessary to know how to get timber products out of the country cheaply Pulp production was just starting, and once this was fully under way the timber industry would be able to use the thin end of logs, at the same time developing high-grade radiata timber for which a good market would have to be found.