Farmers’ Committee To Investigate Silver Pine Issue

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1950, Page 7

Farmers’ Committee To Investigate Silver Pine Issue

Dissatisfaction with the reply received from the Ministei ol Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett) regarding the federation’s request that stands of silver | pine on the West Coast be conserved ! for the future needs of farmers was I expressed by the former president, Mr C. A. Jamieson (Kokatahi-Koiter- I angi)' at this morning’s meeting of West Coast Federated Farmers, when the subject again came up for discussion. The Minister had replied to the effect that it was considered there were sufficient supplies of silver pine for fencing posts to provide the needs of West Coast farmers for many years to come. Therefore, it was regretted that the federation’s request for stands to be conserved could not be acceded to. The Minister said that he would be visiting the West Coast in the near future and would be pleased to receive a deputation from the federation on the matter. Need Was Urgent Mr Jamieson said that there had been almost indiscriminate cutting of, silver pine in some parts of the West Coast, and, while he did not doubt that there were still large stands .ex-, isting in Westland, he did not consider that they were close enough to the areas where they were needed most. He thought it should be stressed to the present Minister and his successors that the need to conserve silver pine was very urgent. “The Minister says he is coming ta the West Coast,” commented the .chairman, Mr H. D. Beckett (Hohonu). “Would you draw up a case to present to him?” The only information the Minister would be able to give when he made his visit would be that supplied by his officers, stated Mr P. J. O’Regan (Inangahua). He suggested that the Conservator of Forests be asked to meet the federation on the matter.

“The department is alive to the requirements of the West Coast and I understand it is making provisions for the future,” he added. “We should not do too much to interfere with the present export trade in silver pine as the present high prices will not last. My experience with embargoes and restrictions is that they have not operated with much success to the province. I don’t think the Forestry Department will allow the province to be totally denuded of silver pine and I will move that the Conservatoi’ of Forests be asked to discuss the matter with us.”

Mr W. Martin (Westport) supported these remarks, but Mr Jamieson said no mention had been made of restricting the export of siver pine or instituting an embargo. All that was asked was that stands of silver pine, adjacent to the areas where they were most needed be conserved. “A Lucrative Market” “Silver pine has provided a lucrative market for many, but I do not think we would be cutting anyone’s throat by asking that areas be conserved for the future needs of farmers,”. he said, adding that he was not opposed to the proposal to discuss the matter with the Conservator of Forests.

The fact that a lot of timber was being sold as silver pine when, in reality, it was not, was pointed out by the chairman.

Mr W. Clayton (Ahaura) said that a lot of people were led astray by the forestry mark on a stick of timber. “It only certifies that a royalty has been paid and does not guarantee that it is silver pine, 1 ’ he said. The secretary, Mr J. Mulcare, suggested that a sub-committee be set up to consider the matter with the Conservator of Forests, and, if satisfaction was not reached, the Minister could then be approached when he visited the district.

A motion to this effect was finally carried and Messrs Beckett, Jamieson and O’Regan were appointed a committee.