NEW ZEALAND FORESTRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 227, 19 June 1920, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND FORESTRY

Sir—The letter of Sir David Hutching, published in Saturday's Dominion, calls for a reply and correction of the many misleading statements therein contained.

I' I am not adverse to forest protection nor blind to- the importance of the national side, considered'from tho viewpoint of healthful occupation for a largo .number, of workmen. However, Ido consider that many of Sir IDavid's theories affecting New Zealand trees, their growth, and the results to bo expected from their treatment under forest conditions, are absolutely misleading and incorrect. Your correspondent now confines his remarks on reafforestation ..witji New Zealand trees to Mho success to bo secured with the kauri, but the few instances on record of the successful growth of this tree are not sufficient to warrant tlw general statements made and, fact, the weight of evidence is decidedly against tho theory of its rapid growth under forest conditions. As regards results obtained from milling plantations of pinus insignis, your correspondent's figures require considerable adjustment. I would refer'him to C. V. Valder, Esq., managing director •• of Ellis and Burnand, Ltd., of Hamilton, tho largest sawmillers in tho North Island, whose firm lias cut from a single acre of insignis as much as 300,000 superficial feet and whoso average each for somo considerable time has been over 200,000 superficial feet (o tho acre. The plantations referred to are only of thirty to forty years' growth, and lhes6 figures show what wonderful results can be accomplished from planting with imported trees and under satisfactory conditions. If the Government, assisted by the farmer, would plant only 3000 acres per annum, that is, suitable land and with tho right trees, we would linvo a yield of .about 000 million feet per annum in forty years' time, Which would bo .considerably more than 100 per cent, above the quantity of timber at present being produced and should cover New -Zealand's • needs on a population basis. /Sir David will have to revise both his acreage output, also his capital cost, which ho persistently puts at the absurd figure of .£800,000,000. With tho assistance of several practical men,i all having over fifty' years New Zealand fixperience, I feci sure tho Government can be convinced of tho iriistako of trying to get-satisfactory results from Now Zealand bush treated und.er forest conditioM,

Experience in New Zealand forestry '< counts far more than theory or knoi .! ledge gained in forestry in other cow* 1 tries, aiid it is in this respect that Sir 1 D.ivid Hutching is so obviously lacking- ' —I am, etc., i J. PEOUSE.

CITY POWER SCHEMES

Sir,—l notice that an interesting controversy has been carried on as to the relative merits of alternative schemes for bridging the electrical needs of the cifcy between now and the time Mangnhao will be available. In this connection it seems that the City Engineer and Tramways .Manager (Mr. W. H. Morton) has after once reporting in favour of extensions at Harris Street, has since reviewed his judgment and reported favouring a new 6tation altogether at Evans Bay. In view of that attitude, and in justification of the adverse stand taken up by-the Assistant Electrical Engineer and Manager (Mr, G. Lauchlan), it is intensely interesting to see what Mr. Morton had to say on tho point only 6ome t'vrre years ago. In the courso of. an interview with tho then Minister of Public Works, on February 21, 1917, Mr. Morton is reported to have spoken (on this identical subject) as follows:— "Mr. H. W. Morton said that the City of Wellington was probably the firs* city in Australasia to adopt electric lighting. They made arrangements with a private company to do the work, but subsequently tho electric tramways were inaugurated as_ a municipal undertaking, and the electric light business was then purchased by the city. The power station of both those undertakings were now practically utilised up to the full extent. They ted another generntot on order, and'when that was put in there would be no more room on {he present site. When the lighting undertaking was purchased the number of consumers was 3GOO, while tho city was now supplying 13,549, so that the number had quadrupled. If they were compelled to continue to use coal to provide power they must combine the two stations, scrap most of the present plant and put in new; and the city did not wish to incur the very large capital cost involved if r 'thia Government was likely to begin their scheme, It wag essential that they 6hould know the Government's intentions, so that no wastage of public money Bhould take place. It would be simply a waste of time and money to consider any additions to steam plant when there was a possibility that, even within a number of years, the water scheme might be adopted. The country had immense sources of power running to waste, while its "coal measure's were limited in quantity and quality, and the depletion of these at an undue rate was a ' great waste. Another very important consideration was that the introduction of the hydro-electric power 6chemo would tend to minimise labour troubles, which ;.occurred chiefly in regard ito coal mining and shipping. The public interests required that these difficulties should be reduced to an absolute minimum." •

A careful study of the above statement will prove that Mr. Morton strongly advocated in 1917 what Mr. Lauchlan, is urging now, yet the latter finds hini6elf placed in a position utterly opposed to the present-day views of his chief. 'Tis a topsv-turvy world!—l am, etc., JACK POINT.