FORESTRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 19 July 1923, Page 2

FORESTRY.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

LEAG L"E

The seventh annual meeting of the New Zealand Forestry League- was held last evening inWellington, Sir G. Wilson presiding. The t>restnant's annual address stated, inter alia: — "I need only refer to iorestry in general terms. 1 can scarcely omit an illusion to the membership and branches of the League. It is true that we have no administrative powers in connection with forestry; it is only those who are enthusiasts m forestry and nature study in general that lorm the membership. It is well known—evidence can be seen wherever one goes by the plantations which are growing up—that there is a widespread desire tk>_ grow timber trees for use on t%e farm. This is corroborated by the fact that the Forest Service has announced that there is a very great increase in the number of trees which they are distributing, and that applications continue to grow- Yet ou-r League is much, in need of more members. I would urge that even a few of both sexes should meet privately and appoint an honorary secretary, and decide to make an effort to form a branch; the executive will give all help and information to assist. There is something; inherent in tiie human family which impels us to love the forest and its inhabitants. It may be dor-mant-and .require cultivation," but it is there if one would but- encourage it. The public know that oiforts must be made to grow timber, and if only a tew enthusiasts will make a beginning, there should be no difficulty in having branches dotted all over the Dominion. We must remember the grain of mustard seed. The planting of trees is brought forcibly before us every day now that Elecjtric Power Boards are daily entering into contracts for poles. !Not a day should be lost in making a start to plant trees suitable tor thJs purpose. We have only one native species which we can use, viz., silver pine, but it is scarce and does not stand the same strain as the euoalypts used, although quite suitable for general purposes. It is, however, scarce, ti-ud fihat of the West Coast of the South Island is almost worked out. The State, in this matter, should be the pioneers. It is doubtful if the climate oi: much of New Zealand is suitable for the growth of the best species for pole purposes, but there must be a large area in the north suitably and only awaiting planting. Ihere have been so many disappointments when imparted Australian poles have been used that the utmost care is neoessary to ascertain the proper -varieties to grow. Our progenitor, the late Sir David Hutchins, -in his report, advised that E. Corymbosa should be planted north of Auckland to supply sleeper*, but its habitat,"l have heard, renders it unsuitable for poles, though extremely durable. There are others which are Uvgonrmemied\ but these three species (E.^.niculata, Ei.: Crebj'fl, and Hi, SideropWoia) stand out on their &«'li - for strength and durability. If tW (ioyernmeiit would procure seed time- to name* and plant a plot for demonstration purposes, many would no doubt follow suit. Given suitable land and clunuitand a successful plantation, is 20 or 3Q years from planting it is certain that' such poles would be worth £1 .a~pieee.^ Tofn^- 6 feefc a Part' tli6re would te lilO d:ees to the acre. The advice to ; plant pears far your hoars might be paraphrased into: "Plant eucalypts as an endowment for every child when born," and it would beat all possible insurance investments. i "It would be well if the Forestry Service were to make careful investigation as to the best timbers to grow for this purpose in Australia, in conjunction with the Forestry Department m the various States, While those mentioned are undoubtedly suitable, the supply of these, owing to the great number we require, will soon be scarce. In accordance with their usual habitat, they may require to be grown in the warmer districts in New Zealand Already many poles have had to be renewed after a very short service, and there are signs that many more will Boon have to be replaced. The only drawback io £he encalypts is that in some districts they are attacked by ascale which has done great damage on the West Coast, but it's natural enemy, the lady-bird, has been liberated in the plantations, and it is hoped will be able to cope with the pest—as it has already done in the South Island. ' "The question of the export of timfc*r is now in the hands of the forest, Department, and while the League in general is in favour of New, Zealand timber for New Zealanders, Ihere may bo some special cases in which the relaxation of the rales might be politic so as to enable the poorer classes oi timber which otherwise might be wasted be-Jig classed as exportable. The sawmillers have t given us cordial support and have worked well with the service We should at all times give their interests full consideration. Another point which more and more will become important when privately-owned timber areas are out out, is the question of royalties. As royalties go up owing to the scarcity of available forest, so must the price of timber rise and tke addi-, V?*u •** Passed on to the user Although no doubt more and more use will be mada of concrete for building purposes, there must ever be a demand tor t:/mber. The Forest Service, which in a couple of decades must be the holders of most of tho millable timber, should be chary of unduly raising the royalty. They have not shown any indication of this; but ft is a point which must be kept in view. A matter which the League deems very important and bearing upon the encouragement of private planting is taxation. When a farmer fences off a-part of his farm to form a plantation the land in use is taxed upon the unimproved value of it at the same rate as his adjoining land, from which he re ceiyes— or at least hopes to receive— and there have been many cases of disappointment in this direction recently —an annual return. The trees will return nothing for many years, and this discourages many from planting. It is most certainly to the advantage of the State that tree planting should be encouraged, and it is hoped that some fairer basis of taxation will be arrived at. Even if the areas were tax free it would be no serious loss to the State, and I are. sure would result in much more planting being done. Already we have seen the great increase in planting which has taken place owing to State assistance by way of young trees being supplied for shelter and timber purposes, but when they find they have to pay an annual tax upon the land devoted to this purpose their enthusiasm wilh to say the least of it, be damped. Whilst it undoubtedly is a wise thing for local bodies to plant any reserves otherwise unused, there are few authorities which have any land for this purpose. They find that the requirements of making and keeping the roads in order already more than absorbs the funds at their disposal, and the experi.

ence of those districts which c«me und«r my "ken" is that any increase of rates is much objected to. I believe, however, that in some districts New Zealand local bodies, 'where they had reserves suitable for the purpose, have wisely planted them with useful trees. ! which are already giving good, service! j I am quite sure that most local bodies j realise the importance of planting for t timber purposes, and we all wish that those who are in a position of having J reserves will take the advice of the Laird of Dambiedykes to his*son, which has been so often quoted, j Even the sand dunes, of which there are, I understand, some three hundred odd thousand acres on the west coast of this Island, are either under private ownership or State-owned; but if some of these were handed over to the local bodies I have no doubt they would make a great endeavour to see that they were planted. I should like here to place on record that the first person who suggested that they should be used for this purpose was the late Thomas McKenzie, of Carnarvon, son of one of our pioneer settlers in Rangitikei, and ever since he made the suggestion there has been continued interest taken in furthering the .object. Before the war the Lands Department took the matter in haiid, and an official was sent from Kotorua to begin the work. 1 He was a zealous officer and would soon have mad© headway had not the war intervened and the work stopped. There ■ are, however, a few trees still standing to show the bginning of the work. Fortunately, it was the paradox of th* unfortunate unemployment caused by the war. This, work has now been ■undertaken by the Forest Service, and we all trust that the Service will not weary m well-doing, but will continue this work con amore. There is no need to fear but that this class of land will grow good trees, for there are many examples that it will do so, notably one on the main West Coast road between Sandon and Foxton, where about 65 years ago the Railway Department, m order to stop the encroachment of a sand ridge over the railway, planted a considerable strip of land, "and most have succeeded. The pinus radiata have grown into enormous trees, but the larch and the eucalvpt-s have not done so well. This is rather strange, because a little further away, at the Oroua Downs homestead, the gums have grown remarkably well, and the Manawatu County Council were able by permission of the owner, Mr. Hammond, to secure a well-grown gunnii and have it cut into sleepers, one of which was sent to the Public Works Department, and Mr. Furkert has kindly undertaken to keep a record of its properties. If it proves to be durable tor this purpose it will be very, satisfactory, for this species stands'almost any frost we have in New Zealand, and 1 have seen oiite growing qujfcfe W6 ll in tho late Sir John Hall's plantation at xiororata. The State Forest service, under Sir Heaton Rhodes, himself a true lover of trees, now administers about seven and a-half million acres of forest, but there are still largo areas of native-owned and Crown forests which it is essential m the interest of the State should be brought mid&r the control of the Service. Most .of ginj'h areas are, indeed, only mountain forests of little' direct commercial value, but they are of the .highest importance, from the fact that tney function in the direction of mini- • raising floods on the valuable agricul- . fcural lowlands, erosion, denudation, and the silting up of streams and harbours. They also provide recreational resorts for tho people and have a definite effest in moderating climate. Theso mountain forests in some cases nmy be gradually converted to commercial forests, but in any case they require expert management to protect them from fires, trespass by stock, game poachers, and destructive wild animals rhey should therefore be administered by the State Forest Service. Many of our members are much interested in the National Park which is now quite easy of access, and it is gratifying to note that a board has been set up and generous sums have been donated for its use. The area has been largely extended, but it should be the duty of the.State to provide a sufficient sum to allow the board to establish a hostel for visitors. Since we last met, a Native Bird Protection Society has been formed, for birds are provided by nature to assist forestry. No doubt most of you are members. When I came to New Zealand there were thousands of pigeons, parakeets, and kakas, but I haven't seen one for many years. One of the sights of New Zealand at the time the Manawatu Gorge bridge was being built—and to me more pleasing than the scenerywas th© thousands of pigeons fluttering like^so many buttejjfiies on both sides of the river. Even^he kingfishers are now extremely scarce, and the society is established none too soon. I am sure that the society has our cordial support. In conclusion, I have to express the greatest regret that I have been able to do so little for the league; but circumstances, and the fact that I am a long way out of town, have been the cause. The executive have, however, been continuous in their work, and I will leave them to speak of the work of the veai