Increased Exotic Forest Production

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30270, 24 October 1963, Page 13

Increased Exotic Forest Production

(New Zealand Press Association) . 1

ROTORUA. October 22.

Pr; duotion from exotic forest* an New Zealand would have to be increased three time* in the next 50 to 80 years, said Mr J. Ure, assistant corsservator at forest* in R .torus, at the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Ist R tomia today. “A* this is not 'possible from existing areas, the Gove nment has decided ■» turner 1,000.000 acres will be Planted by the end at the century,” he said. “It is hoped 40 per cent of thia area will be establi lied by companies, local bidjes and individual*, the latter assisted by a Government loan if they wish." said Mr Ure. This increase in production v.-s necessary when allowance was made for export p -tential and dwindling contributions from indigenous frosts. he said. Western Europe was expected to be seriously deftci-

eo< in wood in 15 year* and I a sundar sdtuetton was likelv I to attae in North America I early next century. I It wm certain that Auatrto I Mb would always be a net 1 kmgxvter of wood and wood I products, while Japanese ien- I port-requirement* were ex- I peeled to double in tbs next I 20 year*. I Domestic wood require- I meats were expected to , double suao within 50 to 80 , year*, said Mr Ure. “That eminent economist, j Sir Dougtes Copland. la* sadd the purely term economy, efficient aa it «. cannot provide the bast* for growth in number* and gross national product that is required if New Zeeland is to keep pace with the rate of growth around it” said Mr Ure. He considered exploitation of exotic forest potential , offered one of the best ways ■ of diversifying export*: and J . alleviating the situation. “The signafkfenee of exotic I forest products in the | national economy can be ap- I predated by considering their [ contribution to the gross annual national product in relation to agrtcuteural products on a per acre basis,” said Mr Ure. “Using published statistics for 1957, it is evident toe average North Island acre of farmland contributed £l7 and the ccenparaible exotic forest acre £3l a year to the gross national product” If the annual average ■ growth of an acre of radiata . pine was converted solely to . newsprint the value would . be £l3O. Because forestry did not ' . generally export its process- [ ing industries. the forest and . related industries employed ■ one man tor eadi 96 acres , compared with one man to , : each 197 acres of farmland. i New Zealand was irrevoc- : I ably committed to exotic 1 • forests for future wood sup- ( plies because the slow growth i end refractable nature of in- i i digenous forests ruled this : out as a source of raw mater - • iai, except for special pur- • pose timbers in small quanti- ■ ties, he said.