Waipoua Forest

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1947, Page 4

Waipoua Forest

Sir, —In furtherance of my arguments against the utilisation of Waipoua forest as a managed forest, I feel .sure that economics and politics do enter the picture. Every national undertaking and most private enterprises are influenced by these two things. In the case in point, where labour is the prime factor in gaining timber, a 40-hour week is the basis of computing costs: thus, economics enter, and the theories propounded by learned gentlemen of 30 odd years ago, are somewhat out of tune with present-day times. Their theories on managing forests were based on the labour factor, when labour got very little in comparison with the value of the product. Government policy at the moment is to place the control of all things in the hands of everyone—Socialism, in other .words —and so politics enter the picture. And I again reiterate nothing this Government has done has as yet paid its way, whether it is poultry farming or railways. In fairness to the present Government, one must admit that no other Government has any better record of making its undertakings pay. And Mr Kehoe has very nimbly sidestepped my suggestion that he should produce from a sawmilling company a statement that they would operate such a managed forest and make it pay. The only way, in my opinion, that timber procuring can in the future be considered is by man-planted foiests, so that hundreds of acres are ready for the saw at one time and not just a dozen trees. In managed forests, the mere felling of a tree destroys of necessity small seedlings, etc. on its downward plunge to the earth, unless, as was done 30 and at) years ago in managed forests in Germany and Sweden, the branches were removed while the tree was standing, an undertaking which is slow and so today would be costly. These interesting but ancient theories by present-day standards are outworn and dangerous, for an attempt to follow them and keep pace with modern requirements would result, of necessity, in the destruction of the forest or very highpriced timber. So, hands off that Waipoua forest at all costs. are thousands of New Zealanders who have never seen a kauri forest, myself included, and if this last stronghold goes, our children cei^ lllly never will see one, eithei. Youis, etc ” R. P. CHIBNALL. Grevmouth, August 9.

assist them to get the remaining logs of the raft into the lagoon for reassembly.—New York, August 11.

U.S. Tariff on Wool , Australia would probably acce the United States’ offer of a 25 J?ei cent, reduction of the wool tai ill ol cents per lb, it was officially stated today. This would bring the United States wool tariff down to 25cents per lb. While Australia would accept this offer in principle, it was believed that the leader of the Australian delegation to the Geneva trade conference, Mr J. Dedman, would press for a further reduction. It was known that Australia was anxious to have the tariff' reduced to 25 cents per lb. —Sydney, August 11.

Fire at Pulping Factory More than £30,000 worth of damage was caused by a fire which began late yesterday at the mills of Cellulose (Australia) Ltd., at Snuggery, in the south-east of South Australia, and which is reported to be still burning. Late last night the fire could be seen 20 miles away. It was being fanned by one of the most violent gales to strike the district for 40 years. The main seat of the fire was in a stack of dry firewood used in the furnaces. The production of the factory, which is the biggest producer of pulp board in South Australia, is expected to be seriously hampered, as at least 30,000 tons of timber will be lost. —Adelaide, Aug. 11.