FOREST SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 27, 31 July 1940, Page 13

FOREST SERVICE

ANNUAL REPORT

LOW FIRE HAZARD

The report which has been presented to Parliament covering the operations of the New Zealand State Forest Service for the year ended March 31 last states that the total area proclaimed in terms of the Forests Act, 1921-22, is now 8,450,546 acres, of which over 5,000,000 acres have been permanently reserved; 96,579 acres were added during the year, and 2725 acres were withdrawn. Tree-planting was completed on 6447 acres, bringing the grand total of State forest exotic plantings to 437,110 acres.

A technical staff was appointed and assigned to duty on forest management and silviculture. The preparation of six working plans was commenced, and provision was made for sustained silvicultural treatment of exotic forests and those indigenous forests suitable for management.

The summer season was one of low fire hazard, but even so seventy-four recorded fires menaced the safety of State forests and thirty-two actually penetrated into the forests. Twenty fires were caused by locomotives and seventeen by "burning off," and fifteen were from causes unknown.

One hundred and fourteen timber sales were made, totalling 77,372,710 board feet, and valued at £97,739. The total quantity of timber cut from State forests was 112,000,000 board feet, or about 13,000,000 board feet less than in 1938-39. Rough sawn timber from all sources during the year is estimated to be 325,000,000 board feet, which is, however, 8.000,000 board feet more than the recorded cut of 317,000,000 board feet for the previous year.

At the close of the year the number of recorded sawmills was 598, being 12 fewer than the -preceding year's figures; of these, 337 operated full time, 148 worked part time, and 113 were closed down. Mills cutting in indigenous forests numbered 453, and in exotic forests only, 95.

The quantity of timber exported for the year 1939 aggregated a little more than 13,000,000 board feet, valued at £152.200. The quantity imported was very much the same as for the preceding year—43,ooo,ooo board feet—the major item being Australian hardwoods.

The question of combating erosion is being investigated with a view to establishing demonstration projects in order that the most practicable and economic methods of checking the destruction and restoring a protective vegetative cover on denuded areas may be ascertained.