TIMBER CONSERVATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17327, 26 November 1919, Page 8

TIMBER CONSERVATION.

The appointment of a director of forestry is the first step in the establishment of the special staff necessary to carry out the Government's policy of scientific forest management. The total area of State forests of milling value is approximately only 1,371,000 acres, or with the provisionally proclaimed _ areas about 3,273,000 acres, of which a large proportion has no commercial value. It is estimated that in a very few years most of the forest on private and native lands will have been consumed, leaving the Dominion with a much smaller area of mill able timber than would be sufficient for its requirements. Judging from the experience of Germany and France, which are able to provide only 70 per cent, of their timber consumption, New Zealand requires an area of 13,300,000 acres to satisfy present and future requirements. These figures demonstrate the necessity for economy and conservation, and while the Government has imposed restrictions which will presently prevent the export of timber, it will be the function of the forestry Department, under expert direction, to prevent the destruction of growing timber and the clearing; j of lands which can be used more j profitably for timber-growing than | for agricultural or .pastoral industry. Associated with the new director will be an assistant director, a research officer, six forest inspectors, and a clerical staff.