AFFORESTATION
IMPORTANCE STRESSED
In the course of his address to electors at the Public Hall, Wainui-o-mata, last evening, Mr. W. Appleton, the Independent candidate for Otaki, gave a survey of the position as regards- afforestation in the • Dominion. Mr. W. Stevens presided..
At March-31, 1934, said Mr. Appleton, the aggregate area of State Forests was nearly eight million acres, representing' approximately 12 per cent, of the superficial area of the Dominion. There would probably be another four million acres under private control, so that the total area of outforests was approximately twelve millions, less than half of what it was a hundred years ago, said the speaker.
The candidate claimed that the future afforestation policy should envisage two purposes—the maintenance of climatic soil and water equilibria, and the supply of timber and other forest-products. Owing to its influence upon agriculture,-the former objective, namely conservation of the protection forests was of the greatest national significance.
Mr. Appleton advocated.the greater development of an afforestation policy on the. part of the State, and pointed out some of the weaknesses that exist under present conditions. He stated that 80 p.er cent, of our remaining virgin forests are over-mature and there is no net growth, new growth being offset by decay. "It is evident," said the speaker, "that current timber demands within the next fifty years will deplete the virgin and. indigenous forests at such a rate that without proper, provision being made an adequate supply of timber will not bs available in the future. The establishment of exotic plantations to supplement the existing forest resources is therefore of great importance, and the candidate complimented Sir Francis Bell and other members of the Reform Party who had had the foresight to plan an afforestation policy some years ago. It was necessary, however, that this policy should be rigorously pursued and extended.!'
At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Appleton received a vote of thanks.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 11
Word Count
319AFFORESTATION Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 11
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