FORESTRY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 17720, 22 July 1921, Page 8

FORESTRY LEAGUE

RESTORING THE PLANTATIONS,

NEW ZEALAND’S DEBT TO’SIR D.

HUTCHINS,

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Forestry League, which covnmneoed at Wellington last evening, Sir James Wilson (president) delivered an interesting address.

He said that since they Inst met forestry in New Zealand had sustained a great loss in the death of Sir David Hutchins. “Wo had,” said Sir James, “been groping in the dark as to forests —deploring the destruction, yet not knowing what to do to arrest it. Tho store of. our kauri forests had almost departed, and although. Sir-Julius Vogel in 1875 appointed a conservator of forests, his services were dispensed with in a tit of economy; and in the party race to settle the laud our forests had been depleted at an alarming rate. Our sole, talk was that we must plant exotics for future use. This was the position when -Sir David arrived in 1915, and changed tho whole current of onr thoughts. His gospel was that we might still conserve and use our remnant of timber-bearing lands in such a way 'as to supply our future wants; and in regard to that superb timber, kauri, wc could by judicious management, reservation of existing Crown lands whore young kauris wero regenerating, and the purchase of similar scrub lands (which although comparatively useless for settlement were already replanted by Nature and a crop of kauris growing), repay the whole expenses of the war. Ho pictured an area of half-a-million acres supporting a large and healthy population on land which would bo of much more value to the Sta,to under timber than in any other condition. It should never bo forgotten, too, that he was the originator of our league, and I think we have been more successful than wc anticipated at first iu awakening the slumbering into rest in onr timber lands apd creating an alarm at Urn rapid disappearance of what was left .and ’a determination to arrest this waste. Iu the live years he was with us, lie probably taw mou; of our forests than any New Zealander, and even the controversy which he raised as to the relative growth, under forest conditions, of New Zealand and Eurojiean timber trees, helped to draw public attention to our forest requirements. .During his stay Sir David collected a mass of informal ion on the subject. This information has resulted i’n Iwo valuable works—‘The Watpauu Forest’ and ‘New Zealand Forestry, Part I.’ (which is especially devoted lo the kauvit. It is true that- his style is not that of a text book, and ids calculations have n'nnnod some people ; bid the main, .fact is clear; ho proclaimed that wc could so work onr remaining kauri forests, and (with (lie addition of similar ianrli so restore them as (o leave a great heritage (o future generations.” In 1907, Dr Cockayne, in his botanical report, speaking of lire Waipnua Forest, said; “Before very long, at the rate at which kauri i? being com-mlrd. there will bo no forests of chat- kind, and veiy few examples of (ho trees cither. !i> twenty years’ time, or even loss, there will pass away for over fiom the face of tho earth one of tho noblest of forests and one of the unique attractions of Few Zealand. Our fiords, glaciers, and hot springs have their like, elsewhere; our kuuii forests are nowhere else to be seen.’’

It was tliis feeling of despair that saddened u? all, and the hope that we now have, that our pristine forest may in time bo restored for the future, is due lo the dictum of Sir David Hutchins. 1 do not think that tho debt we owe to onr late friend is sufficiently understood, and I arn glad of this opportunity of recording some slight measure of our appreciation of his services. Do left uncompleted the second part of ‘New Zealand Forestry.' ,-md it is now in the hands of the Forestry Department, and will no doubt be published later.

The league has always realised that the “advance agent” was necessary Ui success. The j'.ublic generally must, be interested in its objects. Public opinion must bo cultivated, so that, when any expenditure in connection with- the Forestry .Department is proposed it will he welcomed by all instead of being-looked at with misgivings. The Forestry ‘Department lias now made a- go'od beginning, and at all times the .league has been anxious to assist it as far as is possible. In pur.-unnec of this wish the council has appointed Mr Lawson as an organiser, and he lias begun his work in Canterbury with success. Our thanks arc due to Mr James Deans, for helping in tin’s work. lie having enlisted the assistance of several enthusiasts and started a branch in Canterbury (which had little native bush when first settled); hence more has been done there than in any. district in the way of planting exotics, and a recent report of Mr Lawson’s shows to what an extent this Iras been done. Wc are still without knowledge as to the area we have in plantation in New Zealand, but there should not bo much difficulty in procuring this. It could be done by adding a column on the cards which the Government Statistician sends out to collect the stock returns, which are supplied annually. In the Auckland province considerable interest lias been shown in forestry matters, and wo are hopeful that our friends there will join up with us. Tire question of the site for the School of Forestry is, unfortunately, being raised. The league lias not expressed any opinion on the subject of -a- site, but recognises that it is essential to progress that we should have a school and “ T-werc well it wore done quickly.” The council hopes that, with Mr Lawson’s aid, a great addition to our members will result, and that wo shall have the assistance of many branches to push on the good work. Sir Francis Bell, together with Captain Ellis and his assistants, have made an excellent beginning with the work of the department. In conclusion, he congratulated Kir Francis Bell on the judicious way he procured by purchase the area of kauri bush next to that reserve which Mr Trounson so generously donated to the public. He was sure ho was speaking for the league when lie asked -that they should not weary of well-doing, but repurchase if necessary, several hundred thousands of acres of suitable land, so as to extend the area of kauri forests yet remaining in the hands of the Crown, which would provide timber for the 'future.