Forest Policy
Sir, —In the 1920 s the West Coast and Buller districts boasted of 100 sawmillers, producing millions of super feet of timber for New Zealand and Australian markets. But the Reform Government at the time took a hand and made a complete hash of things, and ruined a thriving industry, which has suffered since. These sawmillers, who ran all the risk of a successful issue, paid enormous sums of money in the form of royalty, but not a cracker of it was spent to implement the industry by replanting trees or draining the land until 1952, when a paltry area of 26 acres was treated for reafforestation. Later on, the area under cultivation was stepped up a bit. The question is often asked: where did all the royalty revenue go? Was it spent in the North Island? If the talk by the National Development Conference means anything in the form of action, let reafforestation on the West Coast be priority No. I—Yours, etc., ACtION.
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Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 16
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166Forest Policy Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 16
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