WAIPOUA FOREST

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1933, Page 17

WAIPOUA FOREST

CONTROL IN THE FUTURE

MINISTER'S ASSURANCE

A deputation representing the New Zealand Forestry League and the New Zealand Society of Horticulture waited upon the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) yesterday in regard to the future control of the Waipoua State Forest. . Mr. F. S. Pope said that the deputation supported the agitation in Auckland that tlioi'oies^ should bo maintained as a kauri- iesorve for all time. They wanted Ministerial assuranco in that respect. Some extravagant statements might havo been made in the course of the Auckland agitation, and the deputation did not support any such statements, though it was strongly in accord with the general principles advocated. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt (Now Zealand Forestry League) said that "Waipoua was the most wonderful forest in New Zealand. They had at first been concerned and suspicious over possible commercial exploitation, but were now satisfied that what the Forestry Department was doing was necessary to the life of the forest. Tho removal of dead trees and milling them was exactly what was needed to preserve the forest' for all time. In one generation Now Zealand had reduced their native bush from 28i million acres to ton million acres. That was enough sacrifice. They wanted Waipoua to bo controlled by the' State Forest Service, as they regarded with trepidation handing it over to a Domain. Board. If legislation would be a further safeguard they would like to see it introduced.

The Minister replied that ho found :it diißeult to understand the necessity for tho deputation, as it had never entered his mind that there would be any other policy than that of doing everything possible to protect and conserve Waipoua for all time. Tho first consideration in tho romoval of dead timber was tho danger to the existing .trees, c,That, process would bo an advantage to tho undergrowth, and any commercial, consideration was quite secondary. Ho had. yet to bo satisfled that tho formation of a National Park Board would be to the adyantagp of the forest, although if additional: safeguards to maintain* the present policy were needed legislation could bo considered. Despite the necessity for economy, his Department was spending a considerable sum in safeguarding tho forest.