FOREST LANDS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 151, 20 March 1924, Page 8

FOREST LANDS

RESUMPTION BY CROWN WANTED REQUEST FOR SPECIAL FUND The Wellington Forestry League asked tho Prime Minister, in a deputation yesterday, if the Government would create a fund for the resumption of lands for State forests. Air. D. R. Hoggard (president) said that in the Wellington conservation region, which took in practically half of the North Island, the percentage ot the total area occupied by permanent State forests was only 5.4, and of that over half was above the timber line. The permanent State forest area was thus reduced to 2.4 per cent, ot the whole.' His fear was that tho lower lands were going to suffer from the loss of timber on the higher levels. He did not wish it to bo thought that only 2.4 per cent, was in bush, for there was about another 2 per cent, of provisional State forest area, but that only gave a total of. 4.4 per cent. In reply, the Prime Minister agreed that something in the way of reafforestation was necessary, and said that millions of acres were available for tho purpose. The settlers should be encouraged to plant trees suitable for marketing purposes. Propaganda was necessary, and he was inclined to take it on himself as no one else seemed anxious to do it. He spoke of tho need for growing more white pine for butter boxes, for which there was a great demand from Australia, and stated subsequently that he would obtain a report from the Lands Department with regard to the areas which were available. Knowing Ihe importance of the work, he was quite willing to do everything that was possible, but it must be practical.