FOREST POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 12

FOREST POLICY

MINISTER DISCUSSES ROYALTIES I | HEALTHY LABOUR CONDITIONS [FaOit OOH PARLIAIIEKTARI REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, October 18. A number of interesting afforestation questions were raised during the discussion of the State Forest Service estimates, and were dealt with by Mr Taverner (Commissioner of State Forests) in his reply. As for the war on deer, he assured members that it was a very difficult operation. The animals were too clis-

criminating to take poison, and when they were hunted they retreated,- only to come back when conditions were safer. In view of the plan to take on a largo number of men for tree planting, he had instructed two competent officers two months ago to visit all the planting .camps in the dominion to report on conditions and any remedial measures they could suggest. The result had. been that all the camps were in line in regard to good sanitation. They weje properly provided with incinerators ahdhaths, with a hot water supply.

j The setting aside of land for I afforestation was done in a systematic I manner, and no land suitable for pasj toral or agricultural production was being used, the areas for afforestation ! purposes being subject to the approval !of the Department of Agriculture, i Areas which had been reserved as a provisional State forest bad been released for agricultural purposes as the result of these investigations. TIMBER ROYALTY POLICY. As for timber royalties, the Minister pointed out that the State was not the controlling factor. In 192 G, out of 353 million board feet of timber produced, the State Forest Department was only interested in seventy-nine millions. 'The average production from tbo State forests during the last four years had been 18 per cent, of the total, so that tbo depart-

meut did nob by any means control the timber royalties’ position. The South Island was_ enjoying cheaper timber than the North, for the average royalty in the South was 1.5 s 9d per . 100 board feet, compared with 20s 8<1... The department did not get all the royalties, as local bodies received a share. The department, he. concluded, was extremely, anxious, to see the timber industry; ag;un '..QJV W. prosperous .basis, and '.it, was .not. .desirous .of keeping royalties ■uii. to Tr; point ' which would ‘press'- heavily cm "those iit’ the’trade.