CONSERVING THE FORESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 10

CONSERVING THE FORESTS.

The policy of the new Forestry Department was defined by the Commissioner, Sir Francis Beil, some time ago as being the conservation of existing forest areas and the plantation of poor land now bare of forest. His address to the New Zealand Forestry League indicates that he is adhering to that policy with a praiseworthy determination which augurs well for the performance of the task with which he has been entrusted. It is to be, hoped, however, that the Minister will realise that the demarcation which will be one of the first duties of his Department should have two purposes. It will legitimately aim at conserving for timber-growing land which is more suitable for that purpose than for any other use, but it should also aim at releasing land which is suitable for settlement. It may be stated as a general proposition that silviculture should be practised in New Zealand only on land which for one reason or another is unsuitable for agriculture. There is a sufficient area failing under this restriction to grow all the timber, both native and exotic required, and the disposition occasionally manifested to appropriate rich country for afforestation or to keep it under native bush should be r hooked. Provided the Forestry Department docs not set up in competition to settlement it can perform legitimate and valuable work It is undeniable that our forests are being depleted at an alarming rate, and that past methods of milling have been wasteful in the extreme. Almost every civilised country h-;s been guilty of the reckless destruction of its for csis, and most arc now attempt ir.g to rehabilitate their timber resources under skilled direction. Britain is a, case in point. She allowed free play to the axe till only four per cent, of the land was under timber,

and the nation relied almost wholly on imports. This proved an acute embarrassment during the war, and an effort is now being made by a Slate expenditure of £3,500,000 spread over ten years to restore the denuded plantations. New Zealand has happily not come so near a timber famine. Our incomparable native bush is still an asset of incalculable value, and, supplemented by the judicious planting of exotics, can be made to serve our needs for all time. But the point of exhaustion is not so far off as many people suppose and preventive and remeuial action is being taken none too soon.