OUR FORESTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 4

OUR FORESTS.

FARMERS FAVOUR PLANTING. At the Farmers' Union Conference last evening (in committee), Mr. E. Maxwell (Taranaki) moved s— "That with a view to encouraging re-afforestation by private enterprise, to supplement that carried on by the State, more particularly with the object cf making tree-planting more general instead oi being confined to a few localities, the Dominion Conference endeavour to promote legislation so as to exempt the plantation for timber and shelter purposes, of over ail acre in extent, from rates and taxes, and to provide for subsidising stioh plantations by grants." Mr. Maxwell urged, that encouragement should be given to those who plantccl_ areas of trees for shelter belts or building timber. Such plantations wer* for the good of the Dominion. Practically nothing was being done to compensate for the depletion of our' forests. Individuals could not afford to set aside large areas for this purpose. He considered that areas of Crown land should be given to anyone who would, undertake the planting. He had been experimenting himself , in planting a number of trees ,to find out the most suitable varieties to grow, but he found that he had to pay rates and taxes on the land so set aside. He thought he should be relieved from taxation at least until the trees became of commercial value. Mr. E. Campbell (Wanganui), in seconding, said he approved the motion. Nothing Was being done to encourage settlers to conserve the bush; indeed, many bush settlers could not now find enough timber for firewood. Mr. R. Evans (Canterbury) said, he remembered at Waikari when settlers were allowed two acres for every acre planted. Mr. Nevins (Te Nui) thought that some remission in taxation should be made. Much care was necessary to protect standing bush from destruction. The motion was carried. The following motion was carried without discussion :— -"That, in view of the depletion of natural forests, the Government continue afforestation dn suitablelocalities."