FORESTRY IN N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1946, Page 5

FORESTRY IN N.Z.

MANY MEN NEEDED Commissioner Outiines Prospects P.A. WELLINGTON, May 16. The need for men to enter the timber industry, also the need for suitable men to 4111 vacancies existing in the State Forest Service, were emphasised by the Minister of Rehabilitation and Commissioner of State Forests (Hon. C. F. Skinner) in a statement to-night. “Forestry as a rehabilitation opportunity: for suitable ex-servicemen is well worth considering,” said Mr Skinner. “Apart from the men required to go into the bush and bring out the timber so vitally needed, there are openings for those wishing to make a career of forestry itself. By doing so they will not only be acquiring an interesting, specialised vocation, but will also be making a creditable contribution to the preservation and regeneration of one of the finest assets any country can have.” Forestry offered • as many inducements as most other occupations. A trained forester had a wide variety of employer’s jobs from which to choose. There was an urgent need for men to be trained as leading hands’. These would be required mainly in connection with the establishment and development of afforestation schemes involving the large employment of labour.

Applicants selected would be given a varied field of experience in forest work for the preliminary training period of from three to six months. Those showing sufficient aptitude would then be offered a .-jhort course of instruction. Should they pass this course, they would be given immediate promotion to leading hand status. The prospects for the men selected would thus depend directly 'on the impression they made. This also applied to the prospects of advancement beyond the status of leading hand. The normal sequence of promotion would bp: Leading hand, forest foreman fourth grade, ranger. There also was an opening for men with previous experience in New Zealand native bush for training as timber measurers i.n indigerious forests.