FOREST POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 17, 20 January 1921, Page 8

FOREST POLICY

THE BROAD LINES

CONTROL OF TIMBER SALES.

Some details of the new forest policy were disclosed by the Commissioner of State Forests (Sir Francis Bell) in a conference with the executive, of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers' Association this week. Speaking broadly, Sir Francis said he believed that,' firstly, forestry areas should be ascertained and retained for forestry, secondly, New Zealand timber should bo limited to the use of New Zealand people, and, thirdly, that part of what had to be done was impossible in the near, future. Some areas should be taken as provisional State forests out of which, of course, agricultural settlement lands might be taken from time to time. This went practically to the limit he had defined for a forestry policy. Provision as to-the gradual reducing of exports was a detail and one which would be dealt with, by the experts. ' ' .' The Minister handed to the sawmillers a statement by the Director of Forestry dealing with the policy generally. In a section of this the Director (Captain L. Macintosh Ellis) said: "A progressive timber sale policy is a vital need .and component part of any broad national forest policy. With some exceptions New Zealand is not receiving -even approximately the market price for her standing timber disposed of to Concessionaires. . ; . It behoves the legislative authority to see that a fair return is obtained from the sale ofl the Dominion's timber resources, at the same time considering the interests of the timber industry and- of- the consumer. The timber sale policy should be. one that gives a fair and just m-teisuTe of certainty to concessionaires, anil therefore stability. It should provide for V more equitable return than under present conditions, (concessions such as sawmill licenses; licenses under mining warden, etc.), and proportionate: increases ; n the future." In going into'detail, Captain Ellis says: "The people aa-e entitled at all times to the full market value of all standing timber sold. This principle is a just one. to all concerned. In order that this may always be' attained, all timber sales should- bs subjected to public competition—exceptions, small sales of nominal value, the limit- to be fixed by the Minister in charge. It is further proposed that no timber should be sold for less than its appraised market value (minimum to be fixea from time to time). *State timber should be sold in the round by one. of "the standard units by measure of the service, namely, solid cubic feet, or superficial measure of IQO feet. . . . It is not desired to sell timber so that any one mill would have a. monopoly, but the amount to be cut from year to vtar should be regulated so that established plants, if successful competitors .' foi timbers offered for sale, can be assured continued operation for reasoiiabla periods. . . .All timber sales should be subject to the following :—(a) Ground rent; (b) royalty; (c) forest fire protection charge' (if desirable); (d) payment of all expenses' iii connection with" the survey, appraisal and advertisement of sale; (c) the furnishing' of a bond or guarantee of performance; (f) time limit of operations; (g) provision for adequate penalties for non-observance of conditions of sale and regulations." (