EMPIRE FORESTRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1928, Page 5

EMPIRE FORESTRY

DELEGATES’ IMPRESSIONS. Some interesting irripressions of the Coast and its prospects in connection with the timber trade were' given in speeches by members of the Empire Forestry and Marketing Delegation during last evening’s function at the Town Hall. Before the opening of the programme arranged, occasion was taken by Mr Seddon, M.P., to introduce many of the delegates to members of Greymouth local bodies, among whom were the Mayor (Mr J. W. Greenslade), Mr P. J. McLean (Chairman of the Harbour- Board and Chamber of Commerce), and Borough and County Councillors. Only a few of Greymouth’s citizens attended the function.

The first part of the programme consisted of an interesting film, shown by the Opera House management, depicting the use of aeroplanes in detecting and fighting bush fires in Canada, and the various aspects of the fire hazard in the Canadian State forests. A hearty round of applause was given Miss K. Gieseking, the pianist.' Everyone then adjourned to the Borough Council Room, where light refreshments were dispensed. The Mayor extended an informal welcome to the Delegation. He mentioned that they had gathered to have a talk with local men on matters affecting the purpose of the visit, and he thought that it would be pleasant to include a “little spot” in the conversation. He realised With others, that afforestation, or re-afforestation, must now play an important part in the prosperity of New Zealand, and the outcome of such a Delegation as the one they were met in honour of, would mean much, not only to the Dominion, but to the whole of the British Empire. Efforts to improve the forestry conditions on the Coast had as yet not met with much success, but he felt sure that the advice and help received from a visit by such a gathering of Empire experts would materially improve conditions. It was fine to think that the Delegation included representatives from every part of the British Empire. They were doubly Welcome as blood relations of the Empire to which they were all so proud tb belong, arid he hoped that their visit would be helpful to the othei- Dominions as well as to New Zealand. (Applause). Mr Seddon expressed pleasure ih associating himself with Mr Greenslade’s welcoming remarks. The visitors were as great ambassadors of Empire as .were .they experts in Forestry. The iriforriiation orie could glean by Conversations With the delegates was astbunding. He could have wished for a. better attendance of Greymouth people to Welcome the delegation and show some interest in the rc-affdfestation question. No doubt the delegates Would be surprised to hear that no recourse to hoses was necessary (as in the picture previously shown) in fighting fifes in Coast forests,' where the elements were lenient, fire troubling Coasters little. New Zealand was only groping in the dark at present for a suitable forestry policy, although he Wished to say nothing against the excellent efforts of the Dominion’s Forestry Departriient, and he believed that the Delegation’s visit W’OUld greatly assist everybody connected with the timber problem. The speaker mentioned the Idss by fires in the NOfth Island, Of large tracts of valuable forest lands, and emphasised that ih future more and greater • care would have to be practised in the conservation of the forests left to us. He supposed that the visitors had noticed the great waste in the growing and milling of timber in New Zealand, but he could assure them that the results of a recent visit by a wood pulp expert would put the authorities on the right track to alleviate that waste to a great extent. He did not intend to make a prolonged speech, but was and always had been deeply interested in the timber industry on the Coast and in New Zealand. He thought that the interested people were now on the right track towards the solution of the many problems connected With the timber industry and production. He concluded by extending the delegates a hearty welcome to the Coast, arid expressing the hope that they Would leave with the happiest of memories. Lord Clinton, introduced by Mr A. H. Pritchard, Assistant Commissioner to the British Forestry Commission, wlio in reply to the welcomes of Messis Greenslade and Seddon, stated that, the delegates were being hurried through New Zealand, and so far had fine weather only while travelling in the train. That day they had hoped to see something of the West Coast forests, but the rain had allowed them little opportunity to do so. He really felt like the man, who, for a wager, had consumed a .sucking pig one evening, but had begged his friend not to say a word to “the wife, in case he was not allowed supper. The sincerity of the welcomes they had received from all parts of New Zealand had touched them very deeply, and he believed that they had never felt so much at home during the tour as they did in New Zealand. Although the weather was against them, he thought that they would gain a good deal of information during their journey

through the Doihihion, aneht the forestry and timber conditions, the information given them by officers of the Forestry Department, being particularly helpful. The speaker stressed the tremendous possibilities, in the timber industry on the Coast, and felt sure that the policy now being embarked on by interested people was good. The greatest danger was from possible forest fires, and he hoped that all New Zealanders, would cultivate a spirit of conservation to combat that prevalent spirit of carelessness which was responsible to a large extent for much destruction and waste of valuable timber areas. This part of the Island possessed tremendous possibilities. He did not think, however, that money should be spent in waste land when huge untouched tracts of forest existed and needed exploitation. The way to ultimate prosperity in this great industry would be long, and much hard work was necessary, yet if the officers and the people, co-operated and went in the right direction, the forests would become a great factor in New Zealand’s prosperity and reStilt in progress to the farmer and producer, as well. (Applause). ... The Right Hori. Lord Clinton Who was greeted with applause, mentioned that Mr Pritchard had not left much for him to say. The previous speakers had led their hearers to believe that the weather had been almost wholly bad, but he thought that they had not been quite unfortunate as all that—they had some fine weather, between the showers, and . the trip over the Pass had been done in glorious weather. There was some wonderful bush bn the Coast and a road they had travelled through (to Waiho) was, considering the district traversed, remarkable. He hoped that ultimately, the road would be continued down and through bfie of the Coast passes, to make what he felt sure would be one of the most beautiful, if not the finest, circular toui’ in the world. Mr Seddon had given a hint about a forthcoming election. He did not know Mr Sedodn’s politics, but if his Party’s forestry policy Was in accord with Mr Seddon’s views, then he wuld support him. Nothing more than such ;a policy would satisfy people that a sound forestry scheme was of national importance. The speaker expressed pleasure with the Empire note struck in previous speeches. Greymouth, at the moment, was the .centre of the Empire, and he thought that a more representative gathering of the British Empire than was in the Council Room at that time would not be possible. (Applause). Mr Gay, on old West Coaster, rose in response to repeated requests, and explained that he was a Coaster only in spirit, not being born here. His p'ebple were early immigrants (hiring the gold rush days. He thought that the tour had been Unique from an educational viewpoint. He could, confirm the opinion Of other delegates that New Zealand was on the right lines and had tremendous potential resources in her forests, and hoped that the result of the delegation’s visit would be a growth in interest in Dominion forestry. In coriclusion, Mr Gay thanked Mr Seddon for the chance to respond on behalf of -the West Coast.

The visitors then fraternised with ideal people present, in interesting conversation on Dominion matters.

The Delegation left this morning by special train en route to Reefton and Nelson.