FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 October 1928, Page 2

FORESTRY COMMISSION.

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. VALUE OF WORK TO EMPIRE. (by Telegraph —Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Oet. 8. About fifty Empire forestry dele- ; gates arrived by the Maunganui today. They proceeded to Dunedin to- ’ night to make a fifteen days’ tour of New Zealand forests. ’ At a luncheon given by the Govern- \ meat, when proposing the toast of , ‘ ‘ Our Guests, ’ ’ the Prime Minister, the ' Et. Hon. J. G. 'Coates, said it was a j unique privilege for those present to ' have an opportunity of meeting such L distinguished visitors from all parts V of the Empire. Their presence showed } the importance of the question of ] forestry and more than that —the de- . side t,o* get together and know' the Emj pire. It brought home to them the > necessity of trading within their own - family. v i The members of the delegation ?. might have been surprised at the boisterous welcome they received in the - harbour that morning (laughter), but ' there was an old Maori saying “To i arrive with tears; to leave with > smiles.’’ They in New Zealand were ! proud of the ’ stock from which they ; sprang, and the members of the delega- ■ tion could be assured of a hearty welcome in all parts of the country. The- object of the forestry iconference was to get to know what was liappen- ’ ing- in tho various parts of the Empire and to endeavour to use the 1 forestry resources of the Empire to the best advantage. Forestry questions were exercising the minds of the leading men of all countries at present. It was a matter for regret that Lord Lovat was not present at the luncheon, for _lie was it true Empire ‘builder in every sense of the term, and they were all looking forward to meeting him. , All New Zealanders ./were interested > in afforestation, and much good work - had been accomplished in the direction of conserving the forests and 'convert1, ing them to economic use. The industry ; should be completely and thoroughly i organised, and that involved most care- ; ful investigation of the whole problem, s New Zeaalnd had gone as far as any country in regard to forestry, and they - were hoping for even greater progress - as the result of the visit of the delegation. Apart altogether from strict > business, the Government hoped tihoy would get to know the members better 1 as the representatives of sister portions of the Empire. Speaking on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) endorsed all Mr 'Coates had said. The whole of the people of New Zealand were seized with the importance of the subject of forestry and were proud of the department which was administering it. The department could be assured of the support of all sections of political thought in the - Dominion. Responding to the toast, Lord Olynton assured those present that' the delegation appreciated the welcome extended to them. He was glad to know that all sections in New Zealand were keen on the advancement of forestry. The imperial side of their work could not bo over emphasised, for the matters they were discussing affected the whole Empire and its future welfare. It was essential they should know what was going on in the various parts of the Empire. In England they had only just begun to restore the forests which had been ~ destroyed, but the question wa's a wider one than that. It was essential that every portion of the Empire should play its part and for that reason they were glad to know what was being accomplished in New Zeaalnd. Lord Clvnton paid a tribute to the work of Sir Francis .Bell, whom he described as the pioneer in New Zealand of forestry, the progress of which in New Zealand was greater than 'in any . portion of the Empire. (Applause), lie did not believe a forester could be fully and successfully trained in his own country, and for that reason he thought members of the Forestry Service in New Zealand should be given the opportunity to visit, forests in other parts of the world. Members of the delegation were looking forward « to their visit to various portions of the Dominion. Mr T. H. Linlayson, Director of Forestry at Ottawa, also responded to the toast, and expressed thanks for the welcome extended. He referred to the development of forestry in various parts of the Empire. The New Zealand’s qu'ofa to the conference includes Mr E. P. Turner, Director of Forestry, and about a dozen of the departmental officers.