New Trees For Old

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 65, 9 December 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

New Trees For Old

Replacing Vanished Forests Of The Past

SINCE the first Europeans set foot in this Dominion, New.

Zealand has been a timberproducing country. The milling .of her vast natural resources of native timber began with the first settlers. In the course of a single century, the countryside has been denuded of its erstwhile garment of green ( forest. Only an active policy of; afforestation has ensured that fhe t New Zealand of tomorrow will not be a New Zealand bare of timber trees.

Another century and a half will, see the complete annihilation of the country’s indigenous timber re-~ sources, if the present rate of mil;,' ling is maintained. The 500-odd sawmills are still operating mainly, upon native timber. Auckland and the West Coast of the South Island possess the last great natural tim-' ber forests still extant, and there, too, the woods are dwindling fast. Rimu, totara, white pine, kauri, still feed the singing saws.

Fortunately, a far-sighted policy of afforestation has been instituted to establish an exotic timber supply, based upon fast-growing trees? and it is hoped that this will save for posterity the last noble forests of New Zealand’s timber trees. The State Forest Service was established late in 1921—but better late than never. Since that year, over 1,000,000 acres have been added to, the areas under State control.. The total area of State forests is approximately 7,000,000 acres.

Already the production of exotic timber amounts to 15,000,000 feet board measure annually, and fast as, the trees mature the output will bej increased. Already. 80 per cent, of the Dominion’s fruit and dairy pro-! duce is shipped overseas, in exotic; pine timber boxes. Exotic timbers. are rapidly relieving the native supplies for all rough purposes, boxes and scaffolds and concrete boxing.: Later, as slower-growing trees come into use, it is hoped the in-; digenous timbers will be replaced in every type of use.

Had this policy been adopted 70 years sooner, the process of wan-, ton destruction of New Zealand’s) greatest wealth might, have been' averted. The indiscriminate fel-! ling of the bush, as much as its, reckless burning to clear, the land, led to widespread climatic changes! and to the shocking erosion notice-! able in many districts at the present time.

Meanwhile, the policy and work, of the State Forestry Department; is laying by a valuable store of I standing timber against the . day, when our natural resources fail orj must be rigidly conserved —day that, is not far off. It provides employ-j ment for many men at present, and ( the prospect of continuation of their livelihood to those of .the timber, trade who would otherwise see theiv trade come to an eventual standstill. Finally, it promises the generations of New Zealanders yet unborn a heritage of at least a few thousands of acres of virgin native forest spared from the destruction of the century past.