FORESTRY WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 226, 22 August 1928, Page 7

FORESTRY WORK.

DEPARTAIENT’S REPORT.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Aug. 21

In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. O. J. Hawken, laid on the table the annual report of >thc Forestry Department. Mr J. A. Leo (Auckland East) asked if the Minister was taking any steps to protect investors in the treeplanting associations which were being so freely promoted by attractive prospectuses publisliod in newspapers. Air Adam Hamilton (Wallace) suggested that it would be wise to subsidise tree-planting even on private property as a means of assisting unemployed. Mr *G. W. Forbes, Leader of the National Party, asked when the Minister intended to fill tho position of Director of Forestry rendered vacant by Captain Ellis. Tho Minister: We appointed him long ago. , , , Air Forbes admitted that lie had not heard about it and he did not know tho gentleman. He asked if he was one of tho young gentlemen who had graduated from our own schools of forestry. Air Forbes also wanted to know what was being done to promote the wood-pulping industry. Ho also advanced unification of policy in the matter of schools of forestry. There should bo only one school to avoid overlapping. , . , Air R. P. Hudson (Motueka) advocated the 'planting of trees privately or otherwise, and, ho said, every encouragement should be given to this work, especially in coal-bearing districts where thousands of props were required. ' . Mr W. D. Lvsnar (Gisborne) maintained that there was now ample protection for _ investors in treeplanting associations, and it would be extremely foolish for the Alinister to interfere with them in any way.

APPOINTMENT COMMENDED.

Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) commended the appointment of Mr Phillips Turner as Director of Forestry. He was an officer of great experience and lived for his work. Mr J. Horn (Wakatipu) paid a tribute to tire work done in the way of afforestation work in Central Otago, but, he said, that he would like to see more planting done. Mr F. F. Hockly (Rotorua) expressed approval of the Department sending to the United States. Mr A, It. TEntrican to study tlio utilisation oi waste timber products, and he expressed the hope that something would soon be done in establishing tho wood-pulp industry. Tho Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, said that lie understood the Government had decided to close their mill at Frankton oil September loth next. This, he thought, was a fundamental mistake since it would throw a large number of men out of employment, thus increasing the ranks of the unemployed. A great many mistakes had been made m connection with the working of the mill, but these had been to some extent remedied of recent years and lie hoped that the decision of the Government would bo reconsidered and the mill not closed.

NO EMBARGO ON EXPORT

The Minister, in reply, said that the embargo on tlio export of New Zealand timber had been practically withdrawn because its object, a reduction iu tlie price of timber, had been attained. The Government would not refuse a permit to export under reasonable conditions. He did not think trade in mine props alone would justify treeplanting on a large scale. Tho Government did not propose to interfere unduly with tree-planting associations, but legislation would probably be brought down this year which would deal with prospectuses and associations generally. He did not think it 'wise to subsidise tree-planting in small areas on private land, because for success tree-planting depended to a great extent on being done in large areas, and being done quickly. He was looking for a largo block of suitable land in Southland but so far he had not succeeded. In Canterbury they had found such blocks and he was laying it down that tree-planting should take place in largo compact areas and not on small isolated blocks. He did not favour tlie utilising of good land for forestry or the planting of trees where they could not bo protected from fire as fire protection was one of the department’s chief duties. He agreed with tho employment of out-of-work men on tree-planting, and this year they had so absorbed about 800 unemployed. It was not, however, always possible to have trees ready for planting when there was unemployment. He doubted very much whether forests planted by the State would be as profitable as many of the tree-planting companies represented they would be.

WOOD PULP INDUSTRY

He had every hope that wood-pulp working would be practicable in New Zealand, but it was not a business that could he carried on in a small way. It involved considerable capital because the work must be done on a big scale and the paper market was somewhat unstable. He, however, thought that it would bo found that there would' be sufficient consumption in New Zealand to warrant wood-pulp working in a business way. After stressing the prevention cfj fire in State forests, he went on to say

that the department was endeavouring to bring expenses within reason this year. For £300,000 they would plant 60,000 acres at £5 per acre, which was far less than had. ever been done in times past. He thought that forestry was one of the best ways in which the State could invest its money especially if it was used to absorb unemployed labour.