FOREST SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 2 October 1936, Page 5

FOREST SERVICE

PROGRAMME TO FIVE YEARS SUGGESTED PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. A programme of forest works for the next five years is suggested in the annual report of the State Forest Service, which was presented in the House of Representatives by the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. F. Langstone. The programme comprises the extension of fire-protection methods; a limitation on the further planting of exotics to consolidation and blanking of existing forests; further experimental under-planting of indigenous cut-over forests with exotics; the adoption of working plan management for the major kauri forI ests, portions of the silver-beech forjests of Southland, the rimu pole-type ' forests of Westland, and the mixed rimu forests of the North Island, and the substitution of log sales for block sales of standing timber wherever practicable. Activities of the service during the year ended 31st March last are reviewed in the report. It states that as planting operations had practically ceased in all regions except Rotorua, and were being continued there only on a minor scale, the new planted area of 12,090 acres was the smallest for many years. In round figures the exotic State forests of the Dominion now aggregated 419,500 acres. The quantity of timber cut from all sources, State, Native and privatelyowned land, was approximately 300,000,000 ft., an increase of 50,000,000 ft. over the 1934-35 period. The proportion cut from State forests remained the same as the previous year, 28 per cent. Exports of timber for the calendar year 1935 were the highest for nearly a decade, and totalled in round figures 39,642,000 ft board measure, or 5,000,000 ft more than in 1934. Matai showed the greatest proportional increase, but as this comprised very largely o.b. timber, which was almost unsaleable in the Dominion, the extra overseas demand was of distinct benefit to the milling industry. The timber imported during 1935 exceeded the 1934 imports by approximately 14,000,000 ft. in volume and £165,300 in value, the figures being 31,356,000 ft., valued at £349,400.