TIMBER TREES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929, Page 7

TIMBER TREES

NATIVE AND EXOTIC

ADDRESS BY MR. J. DEANS

In an address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand-' Forestry League last evening, the president (Mr James Deans) dealt at some length with the visit of the Third Empire Forestry Conference to the Dominion. Mr Deans attended the sittings of the con tralf b°th ln AW Zeatand and 1SJ'\r h6 jlmP,ressi(m o£ the committee On New Zealand forestry," said Mr Deans, "seemed to be that wo are not devoting sufficient time and study to our native and indigenous forests, and this point of view, though no new one, will nnd a great deal of support 'throughout the country. There is no question that we in New Zealand are endowed with a most wonderful collection of timber trees, and that we should do all m our power to look after them, and if possible to evolve some scheme whereby we can perpetuate these forests so that they may bring in a constant x and increasing revenue This should be possible by the use of better sylvicultural methods, and as it has been done in practically every' other country that has efficiently managed New StLa7 a nyd^OUlaitnOtbedOlle * Members of the conference were surprised at our growth of exotics, particularly m the Eotorua district, and were of opinion that we should uo t concentrate _on attempting to make- annual planting.records, but should do more to look after the trees that had already been planted. They stressed the wisdom of thinning wherever feasible, and doing all we could to find a market for our thinnings. Mr. Deans said it was pleasing to note that the Government was continuing to place large numbers of unemployed on the work of tree-planting, sample plots of native timber trees had been planted by the Forest Service for observation purposes. Such planting, urged the speaker, should be extended, and would have to be carried on for many years to make sure that the conclusions come to were reliable. Mr. E. Phillips Turner,. Director of Forestry, said it was important that the Dominion should, in respect to forestry, prepare for the future, and he urged local bodies to assist in this matter. An interesting lantern lecture on wood pulping in America was given by Mr. W. Ward, M.Sc, of the State Forest Service. The election of officers of the Forestry League resulted:—President, Mr. James Deans; council, Messrs. A. Seed, A. L. Hunt, A.. Atkinson, W. B. Hoggard, E. Phillips Turner, E. V. Saunderson, F. S. Pope, and E. M. ' Edwards. The report of the Council outlined the activities of the organisation during the past year. The report stated:— Akatarawa Forest.—lnvestigations as to the policy of the Water Conservation Board have been carried out, and strong representations made to the chief controlling body—the Wellington ■ Ci+v Council—against the granting of mii ■ ing rights and against the policy of buying forest lands on which milling rights had been granted. The replies indicated that contracts had been entered into which could, not be abrogated, but gave assurance that the future policy would be on lines recommended by the council. m I Lakes Guyon and Tennyson.—lt is satisfactory to report that the request j to the Government to set aside these lakes, with a chain reserve around

them, as scenic reserves has been ac? ceded to. Though at present thesi lakes are somewhat inaccessible, they are certain to be of great value in the future. Franz Josef— Glacier Eoad.—On. reports supplied to the council the attention of the Public Works Department was drawn 'to damage caused by fire on this roai, and though it was found impossible to sheet home the blame, our protest had a good effect. We wouia express our thanks to Messrs. Newman. Bros, coach proprietors, for their hearty offer of assistance in our endeavour to safeguard this scenic road from destruction, Waipoua Forest.—Acting on a report that there was some danger of milling part of this forest, your council took up the matter and received the assurance of the Minister that there was no intention .at present to mill any part of the Waipoua forest. _ Goats in Nelson District.—The- attention of the Government was directed to the prevalence of goats in the Nelson district, and the council received an assurance that some organised plan was being prepared to deal with this pest and that our representations would be considered as soon as possible. Forest on Te Whaiti to Waikaremoana Eoad.—The council gave cordial support to a proposal to preserve the forest along this popular highway, and also the forest on the higher levels and prepared a lengthy report for the Press describing the proposal. So far no action has been taken. - ■ ' Pelorus Sound Eeserve.—Acting on information received, the council wrote to the Eeserve Board protesting against the grazing of goats on the reserve, and as a result, the goats were removed. Mr. E. F. Goulter, of the Marlborough branch, was asked to visit the reserve, which he did at his own expense, and he reported that no serious damage had resulted, and that since the removal of the goats new growth was coming up.