FORESTRY PAYING ITS WAY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 8

FORESTRY PAYING ITS WAY

A REVENUE SURPLUS GOOD WORK IN FIRE PREVENTION MINISTER ON FUTURE POLICY The income of the Forestry Department last year enabled it, after meeting all working costs, to devote a revenue surplus of some £55,000 to capital investment. These facts are emphasised in a message from the Minister of Forestry (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) to the executive officers of the Forest Service, who are at present holding their annual conference at Hanmer Springs. Forestry in New Zealand, tho Minister observes, “has safely turned the corner, and is more than j aying its way; it is now going full steam ahead. The total income from all sources —sales of timber, trees, grazing, and minor uses, etc. —was nearly £100,000; whilst the total operational, protective, and demarcation expenses were about £45,000 (a distributed charge of only Ijd. per acre), leaving a balance of about £55,000, which was applied to the capital investment of State forest plantations throughout tho Dominion, and to their maintenance, protection, and improvement. “During the year over 7000 acres of new plantations were established in the Rotorua. Hanmer Springs, Balmoral, and Tapanui districts. As compared with 2862 acres established in 1922-23 ; 3408 acres iu 1921-22; and 1381 acres in 1920-21; this result is indeed encouraging, particularly when it is remembered that this new acreage of 7000 acres was formed at a cost of not more than one-half of that of the unit costs of the other years. The total area of State plantations now in New Zealand embraces 52,000 acres. The total quantity of trees for planting disposed of to settlers, returned soMier farmers, runholders, local bodies, and others was nearly 2,000,000, which constitutes another record in cur history. Small Loss In a Year of Fire Dangers. “During the year just closed tbe forest fire prevention machinery of the service was put to a severe test, and I am happy indeed to congratulate you on your successful efforts in keeping gi-een our 7,400,000 acres of forest domain. The total number of forest fires doing damage to timber in State forests was 43, covering a total area of only 214.5 acres; while a large proportion of tho loss of £2OOO incurred will be salvaged by prompt cutting. This small loss during a year of unusual dryness and high hazard speaks well of the high degree of support and co-operation that we are now securing from the publio of this Dominion in cur efforts to conserve tho forest resources of the country.” By way of comparison, the Minister mentioned that during 1923 the Provincial Government of Ontario, Canada, spent on forest' protection nearly £220,000, employing 12,000 to 15,000 men, yet fire swept over 2,120,00Q acres. “Another high water-mark has been set during the year,” the Minister added, "in the many sdventagoous sales of ripe timber made for 'immediate and local use to State Departments, sawmillers, sleeper getters, farmers, and others. Nearly a quartermillion pounds sterling worth of ripe timber crops was sold on competitive terms in quantities from a few hundred feet up to several million feet. Special consideration was given as usual to assisting co-operative sawmilling groups and to making it possible for the small operator to secure raw material on such terms as would permit him to compete successfully in the manufacturing and marketing of his timber. “It is gratifying to note also the successful beginning of direct afforestation operations in the cut over bush lands of the Westland province. The planting of the first 120 acres near Hokitika has been entirely successful. It augurs well for the future. Time to Recast Policy. After referring to various rc.-earches carripd on by the Department, Sir Heaton Rhodes observed that the time would soon be ripo for a complete recasting of our national forest policy in light of the knowledge and experience gained during the past four years. Our Dominion-wide forest inventory shows us,” ho said, "the timber resources ot the country—where and what they are. We know fairly accurately iVI at lands may be permanently dedicated to timber crop production ; we can gauge our national growth-and we know what may be secured from planting. Now I ask you to consider the problem of formulating a permanent and lasting forest programme, and to come to me in a few months with a definite, exrct, and practical plan upon which can be built our national forest policy for all time —a programme of reasoned use which will ensure to New Zealand her national Safety in plentiful wood supplies; in continuity or water flow and in the widest and greatest use of our forest lands and resources ”