WAIPOUA FOREST POLICY: NO DECISION REACHED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 3

WAIPOUA FOREST POLICY: NO DECISION REACHED

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, July 23. The report of the select committee which spent a considerable time in the recess investigating the present policy and the future of the Waipoua kauri forest was debated in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The result is that the committee's recommendation that the petitions be referred to the Government’s favourable consideration was “talked out.” The motion can only be revived with the Government's approval and nothing more is likely to bo heard of the matter this session, although the keen interest taken by Ministers in the subject suggests that Cabinet will not delay in coming to a final decision regarding Waipoua. Should Be National Heritage

The debate showed unanimity that Waipoua should be kept intact as a national heritage and the majority opinion appeared to be that the management should be in the expert hands of the State Forest Service rather than the creation of a national park involving control by a board.

Though Mr. E. B. Gordon (Oppos., Rangitikei) declared that it was obvious that the Government was out to commercialise Waipoua, he gave credit to the State Forest Service for the work it had done there.

Mr. G. H. O. Wilson (Govt., Palmerston North) pointed out that the petitions were conflicting. Though everybody agreed that Waipoua should be preserved, some part of the area would have to be planted in exotics. Other parts would have to be nursed and it was undeniable that the Forest Service was the most capable in that respect.

Natural Protection

Mr. F. Langstone (Govt., Roskill), a former Minister of Lands, said that New Zealand bush scaled rtself, low foliage trees growing around to protect the larger trees. The State Forest Service, while preserving growing and selling timber, could also protect it.

Mr. D. C. Kidd (Oppos., Waimate) condemned the uncompromising attitude of the Minister in charge who insisted on his own policy. He hoped that 14,000 acres, not the 7000 recommended by the Minister, would be preserved. Mr. A. C. Baxter (Govt., Raglan) replied that the Minister had shown an appreciation of the committee's opinions by moving a modification of the original proposals. He admitted that the report was indefinite on points raised in the petitions as to whether Waipoua be under the State Forest Service or should be made a national park. Mr. D. M. Rae (Oppos., Parnell) suggested that the great body of scientific opinion favoured a “hands of!” policy, and if experiments in the regeneration of the kauri forest were to be undertaken they would be done in other areas for fear of a failure which could not be retrieved. Folicy Previously Endorsed

The Commissioner of State Forests, Mr. C. F. Skinner, said the present policy regarding Waipoua had been endorsed by previous Governments. It was proposed to reserve 8000 acres, including 2700 acres of good kauri.

1 A number of local bodies in the north, members of Parliament, prominent scientists and others who knew Waipoua supported the State Forest, Service's plans and the committee had expressed satisfaction with what had been done. The motion before the select committee was that the department should continue to extract dead timber for about five years, and then the policy should be again discussed by Parliament. They should, it was contended, extract both dead and dying trees to get the forest into a healthy state which would be the position if Waipoua was properly managed.