League Will Press For Forestry School

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 17

League Will Press For Forestry School

Although the Minister of Forests (Mr Gerard) does not consider the time is right for the establishment of a school of forestry at a New Zealand university, the Canterbury Progress League is to continue pressing for establishment of such a school at the University of Canterbury. In a letter read at the league's meeting last evening. Mr Gerard said that establishment of a school of forestry had been under consideration for many years, but the time was not right for it yet. He said that he would be pleased to meet the chairman of the league's land end forestry develonment committee (Mr H H Deans) when he was in Christchurch to discuss the matter Mr P. M. Mac Shane said he did not think the league should be satisfied with Mr Gerard's reply. Now was the time New Zealand should be training persons in forestry. because now was the time that forests should be planted. "One only needs to look at New Zealand's record in exports in recent years to see that. The export of timber and forest products, and the potential for export, are very great, and exports play a major part in our economy Canterbury has some particularly serious problems m forestry, erosion. and re.aff restation.'' Mr Mac Shane sa id Difficulty Seen Mr A Buckingham said that it would be difficult for the league to obtain a school of forestry as part of a university There had been a school at Canterbury Univershy College about 30 years 'ago He had been a member of a deputation which had presented a case for re-establish-ing a school of forestry some 20 years ago. The case had been made through Canterbury University College to the New Zealand University Senate Canterbury University College had “lost out” in the Senate, and Auckland University College had been chosen for the school “However, that was not the end of the matter The then Director of Forests insisted that the school be at Rotorua, for reasons obvious to the State Forest Service The University Senate re-

fused to budge, and the Forest Service now has a training school at Rotorua, not part of any university “I am afraid that you will strike the same difficulty in now attempting to re-estab-lish a school at a university." Mr Buckingham said. A member said that there were now many men at the head of the State Forest Service who had been trained

at university schools of forestry in Australia and elsewhere. The attitude of the service might well be different from that of 20 years ego

“We should put pressure on the Minister to get the Forest Service out of the rut.” said another member. “Good Precedent” The establishment of e veterinary school and an animal diagnostic station at universities was a good precedent, said another member, and both had gone to the North Island “Now seems the right time to establish a school from an economic point of view." said Mr H E. Radley. “Why wait for a boom period when prices for buildings and equipment will sky-rocket New Zealand business could do with a shot in the arm now." The president (Mr B. J Drake) said that Mr Gerard's answer to the suggestion that a school be established at the University of Canterbury had been a double-barreled one He had said the time was not right, but had said he would like to meet Mr Deans On the motion of Mr Drake, the meeting decided to write to Mr Gerard s secretary and ask when the Minister would meet Mr Deans and the land and forestry development committee to prepare a case for Mr Deans to present to Mr Gerard. “I hope the Minister is at home tonight and watching the river sweep past his station. rising 18 inches an hour and carrying down silt that would grow trees,” Mr Deans said.