RADIATA PINE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28973, 14 August 1959, Page 15

RADIATA PINE

MINISTER STRESSES PINE'S IMPORTANCE

“No tree has greater economic importance to New Zealand than has radiata pine,” said the Minister of Forests (Mr Tirikatene) in a message to “The Press.” “To me the publication of this radiata pine supplement can be regarded as an important step towards obtaining wider acceptance for this versatile timber in Canterbury and so be a valuable contribution to New Zealand’s policy of indigenous forest conservation. “Radiata pine is known to be vital to the welfare and economic development of our country. It has been claimed as New Zealand’s general utility tree and this claim is becoming increasingly true as techniques are being evolved regarding its use.

“JJEW ZEALAND’S timber production for the I year ended March 31, 1959, was the highest on record—--637 million board feet. With timber production running at 597 million board feet for two consecutive years, the industry increased its output for this year by 40 million board feet. “It is significant that the main increase of 35 million board feet came from exotic forests and it is worth recording that the exotic resources produced almost as much timber (318 million board feet) as did the traditional indigenous resource (319 million board feet). "The early policy decision by our farsighted pioneers to plant sufficient trees to ensure this supply can therefore be regarded as successful. This has resulted in a thriving forest industry, which provides building materials for an extensive building programme, supplies a substantial part of New Zealand’s paper and paperboard requirements and earns an increasing sum of overseas exchange by exporting its products. "Of even greater importance is the fact that this supply of exotic timber, mostly radiata pine, saves more than 33,000 acres of indigenous forest every year, and so conserves it both for the future

supply of high quality timber, and for the stabilisation of soil and regulation of water which are so essential for the maintenance and improvements of agriculture productivity. Against this background our exotic forests have played an important part in the conservation of the indigenous resource. “The pressure on exotic forests is increasing all the time through such factors as substitutions of exotic for indigenous timber in-

creased demand for timber due to a growing population, and an expanding pulp and paper and export industry. “The present exotic resources will not be sufficient to cope with this demand for much more than a generation unless the rate of annual planting is doubled in the near future. There is more than sufficient otherwise unproductive land in New Zealand which can and should be used for this purpose. “It has been decided that New Zealand must begin a very long term programme of afforestation at the rate of 20.000 to 30,000 acres annually. This will commence during 1960-61. The present rate of new planting by the New Zealand Forest Service and other land owners is not more than 10,000 to 12,000 acres annually. "Because our forest resources threaten to be insufficient even for local needs by the end of this century the exotic forest estate will have to be doubled by the year 2000 and trebled by 2025. “From the point of view of national development, such a planting scheme will be beneficial in many ways, ’ said the Minister. “It will provide much needed timber supplies for future years, it will greatly assist soil conservation find river control; and, if carried beyond strictly national requirements, will enable New Zealand to increase and diversify her export earnings.”