COURT FROM THE CAPITAL GOVERNMENT OPENS NEW WAY FOR FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34084, 23 February 1976, Page 12

COURT FROM THE CAPITAL GOVERNMENT OPENS NEW WAY FOR FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

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CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

WELLINGTON, February 22.—Deep concern for the future of NewZealand’s timber resources has prompted a restructuring of the system of working parties linked with the Forestry Development Council, one of the 14 consultative bodies now advising the Government through the National Development Council.

The National Government has undertaken to widen planning for the use Of our forestry resources and skills “as a basis for developing wood science and utilisation, including chemical-based technology.”

It was partly because of this that the three working parties previously operating with the Forestry Development Council have been replaced by two new ones, covering environment and recreation in the one group, production and planning in the other. The move to restructure the permanent working parties has largely come from

the discussions of the forestry development conference of 1974-75. This conference made 138 recommendations. the implementation of which have been urged. The new working party on environment and recreation has the simple instruction that it shall act as a group for discussion and planning in the broad field of forestry, environmental and recreational matters. Its terms of reference are:

(1) To follow up and advise the council on implementation of recommendations from the 1974-75 conference impinging on environmental and recreational issues. (2) To advise the council on all aspects relating to protection of forests.

(3) To provide the council with comment and analysis on forestry, environmental and recreational issues that may arise at national or regional level for both state and private sectors. (4) To work and co-operate with the environmental council on matters of mutual concern. (5) To advise the Forestry Development Council on desirable developments that should be undertaken in the forestry sector to improve and protect environmental features of the forest resource. (6) To advise the council on public relations matters concerning environmental and recreational issues in forestry. (7) To advise the Council on any environmental or recreational matters as it sees fit, or as may be referred to it from time to time. (8) To coopt additional members as necessary, and to . establish shortterm committees or study groups from within or without its own membership — remembering to so advise the council. This working party has

the following permanent members: Mr R. Cleland (chief ranger of the Mount Aspiring National Park Board), Mr A. S. D. Evans (Federated Mountain Clubs and New Zealand Deer-stal-kers’ Association), Mr J. E. Henry (New Zealand Forest Products), Mr B. H. Jones (King Country Regional Development Council), Mr A. Kirkland (New Zealand Forest Service), Mr A. Leslie (School of Forestry, University of Canterbury), Professor R. S. Lister (Otago University), Mr C. K. McMahon (Environmental Council), Mrs M. W. Melbuish (environmentalist) and Dr W. J. Mitchell (Tasman Pulp). The chairman is Professor F. J. Newhook (Auckland University).

Economic planning The working party on production and planning also has an eight-point table of reference. covering the direction that it shall act as a group for discussion of economic planning of all matters impinging on future development prospects in the forestry sector. In particular it is expected:

(1) To provide the Forestry Development Council with such projection of production of raw and processed wood materials as may be required; (2) To discuss with the Government planning advisory group the production of expected performance statistics. capital and labour requirements. data on costs and returns, and expected trends of industrial processing; (3) To review and suggest alternative opportunities for the utilisation and marketing of existing and potential forest resources over the next 30 years, and in particular to assess the relationship between total production and expected export availability; (4) To provide the Forestry Development Council with analysis and comment on regional forestry development plans; (5) To review and make recommendations on future national and regional planting programmes in the State and private sectors; (6) To review as necessary the education, training and manpower needs for the production and planning aspects of the sector;

(7) To co-opt members or establish short-term committees. always advising the council of the purpose and membership of such groups; (8) To advise the Forestry Development Council on any matters it sees fit. or as may be required by the council. The permanent members of this party are: Messrs B. J. Allison and A. C. Blomfield (New Zealand Forest Products), Mr H. D. Chambers (Winstones. Ltd), Mr D. J. Duggan (New Zealand Workers’ Union), Mr R. C. W. Hamilton (Treasury), Mr B. A. Henry (Fletcher Timber Co. Ltd), Mr A. T. Jewell (Fletcher Holdings, Ltd), Mr C. J. Kerr (Tasman Pulp and Paper), Messrs G. M. O’Neill, R. W. Williams and W. R. J. Sutton (New Zealand Forest Service), Mr G. A. Town (Ministry, of Works and Development). and Mr E. P. Wilding (Southland Regional Development Council). Mr O’Neill is chairman.