KAURI FOREST

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 99, 20 January 1933, Page 6

KAURI FOREST

Preservation of Waipoua

POLICY OF GOVERNMENT

A determination to protect and conserve the Waipoua kauri forest in North Auckland for all time was expressed by the Commissioner of State Forests, Hon. E. A, Ransom, when replying to a deputation representing the New Zealand Forestrv League and the New Zealand Society of Horticulture.

Support for the Auckland agitation that the forest should be maintained as a kauri reserve for all time was expressed by Mr. F. S. Pope. He sought an assurance from the Minister to that effect. The deputation did not subscribe to certain extravagant statements which might have been made during the Auckland agitation, but it was strongly in accord with the principles advocated. On behalf of the New Zealand forestry League, Mr. A. L. Hunt said that they had at first been concerned and '.suspicious over possible commercial exploitation of the forest, but they were now satisfied- that what the Forestry Department was doing was necessary, to the life of the forest. The removal of dead trees and the milling of them was-exactly,what was needed to preserve the forest for all time. It was the desire of the deputation that Waipoua should be controlled by the State Forest Service, and they regarded with trepidation the handing of the forest over to a domain;board.

In his reply, the Minister said; he found it difficult to understand the necessity for the deputation. It had never entered his mind that any other policy would be pursued than that of doing everything possible to conserve .Waipoua for all time- He remarked 'that the first consideration in the removal of dead timber was the danger to the existing trees. He had yet to be satisfied that the formation of a National Park Board would be to the advantage of the forest.' If additional safeguards to maintain the present policy were needed the question of introducin’ - legislation could be /considered. lils department was doing everything possible to safeguard the forest, and in spite of the need for economy was spending a considerable amount of money.