North Canterbury’s turn as organisers

Press, 18 May 1982, Page 23

North Canterbury’s turn as organisers

The North Canterbury branch of the Farm Forestry association, which oranganised this year’s national conference, was formed in 1956 with a membership of 45. The area covered by the North Canterbury branch ranges from the Ashley River to Kaikoura and membership is now 188. A total of 27 branches have been formed throughout New Zealand with a combined membership of over 3000. Other branches in Canterbury include Canterbury (Central), Ashburton, and South Canterbury. The North Canterbury branch organises several field trips each year for members. Places visited recently include the fibreboard factory at Ashley, debarking plant at Leithfield, Ashley and Balmoral forests, and shelterbelts, woodlots and amenity plantings on several farms. The New Zealand associa-

tion was formed about 1957 by a group of tree enthusiasts who realised that there was a lot to learn about the successful growing of trees but few people able to teach them. Groups of tree enthusiasts getting together to look at each other’s properties and discussing problems led to the formation of the association. One of the association’s objectives is to encourage the planting and use of trees. Some members are interested in woodlots and larger forests and others in shelter for farms and homesteads, soil conservation, and combined forestry and grazing units.

Branches throughout New Zealand were formed mostly with farmer members, but in recent years membership has been boosted by people from other occupations who have bought land for tree planting

as an investment or hobby. Benefits of membership include having access to the knowledge and experience of other members in planning and managing trees. Members can co-operate in the organisation of labour, equipment and expertise, collective marketing of wood, and promotion of forestry. The present officers of the North Canterbury branch are: Chairman, Mr G. Jamieson (Culverden); secretarytreasurer, Mr D. Rutherford (Hawarden); committee, Messrs J. Douglas and R. Ormond (Amuri), T. Childs and A. Hyde (Cheviot), P. Fox and R. McMillan (Waipara), B. Rodie and A. Metherell (Ashley).

The chairman of the conference organising committee is Mr A. Hyde (Cheviot), the secretary is Mr D. R. Eaves (Amberley), and the treasurer is Mr M. Henderson (Scargill).