DOMINION’S TIMBERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1075, 23 July 1924, Page 6

DOMINION’S TIMBERS.

CONSERVATION SUGGESTED

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 23.

The necessity for conserving not only the building limbers of New Zealand, but also of locally grown supplies which arc used in connection with the pastoral industry, was stressed 'by a deputation from the National Dairy Association, representing the dairying interests of the North Island, which waited on Sir Francis Bell this morning. The deputation asked the Government to take into consideration lhe question of ! prohibiting the export of white pine or kahikatea from the Dominion. A sympathetic reply was given by Sir Francis Bell, acting-Commissioncr of State Forests during tho indisposition of Sir R. 11. Rhodes. Air A. Morton, chairman of the Association, said he hoped the position in regard lo the dwindling supplies of white pine would bo relieved by the importation of timber suitablo ’for packing. The Forest Service estimated that at the .present rate of cutting the local white pine resources would be exhausted within 15 years. The demands of the industry were increasing and as production increased it would soon be double or treble the present figure. Sir Francis 801 l said ho hoped that none imagined lie desired to see tho timbers exported. When he was Commissioner of State Forests- he had placed restrictions upon the export of white pine, but he found himself against the difficulty that ho could not prevent the settlement of kahikatea lands which were being burned' off in large areas in the northern districts. It was impossible to prevent those aieas being cut and burned. “I will have the matter carefully investigated,” said Sir Francis Bell, “and see if we can define tho areas which the Lands Department will agree should be preserved from settlement in which cutting will he restricted.” He said he was informed that 34 million feet of white pine was exported last year against 53 million feet in 1914. He would be glad if the Dairy Association could suggest means to the Forestry Department whereby kahikatea could be preserved for their own purposes without retarding settlement, Sir Francis 801 l remarked at the conclusion tliat they might imagine they were up against the sawmillers. but that was not the case; they were up against the settlers.