FOREST SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 174, 11 April 1923, Page 11

FOREST SERVICE

NOW PAYING ITS WAY COMMISSIONER REVIEWS OPERATIONS “For the first time, the forestry policy of the Government is now selfsupporting,” said the Commissioner of State Forests (Sir Heaton Rhodes), in opening the annual conference of State Forest Service officers yesterday. “All operational expenses, debentures, sinking fund and interest charaes have been met by revenue.” Sir Heaton Rhodes stated that the receipts for the financial year just closed had exceeded all expectations. They had been approximately £63,266, or £32,430 more than the receipts for the previous year. The''expenditure, £86,487, was less by £21,000 than that of the previous year. Between fifty and sixty per cent, of the gross expenditue in each year was capital expenditure. In 1919-20 the gross expenditure had been £66,819; in 1922, £107,582; and in 1922-23, £86,487. The revenue had risen from £8514 in 1919-20 to £30.836 in 1921-22, and £63,266 in 1922-2.3. Several forest fire districts, under jJie.Act of 1921, had begn constituted during the year. Millers, farmers and the public generally had given the service every assistance in carrying out the forest protection policy. ’ There was a steady reduction in the number of destructive fires, and this was due in a measure to the work of the Service, though it was also partly attributable to the wetness of the season. The number of forest fires during the year was thirteen. Research work performed had included strength and crossarm tests of many of the New Zealand secondary timbers, such as silver and red beech, rata, mangeao and kowhai. On the advice of Mr. H. D. Tiemann, the leading international authority on kiln drying of timber, kilns belonging to the Service had been redesigned and improved. New Zealand timbers had been tested for their usefulness in the manufacture of pulp, paper and wooden matches, and kauri distillate oils had been analysed. Reports on the researches had been printed or were ready for printing. That the interest of farmers in tree?lanting had increased was shown by he increased number of trees sold from the State nurseries. During the conference the question of improved spacing in tree-planting and broadcast sowing of seeds would be discussed. There was some prospect that methods would be evolved which would revolutionise the planting work of the Service.