MUNICIPAL FORESTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 7

MUNICIPAL FORESTRY.

Sir, —The latest reports of our Forestry Department, coupled with the public utterances of its; responsible officers as to the serious position of the timber supplies in the near future, make vary alarming reading. The general conclusion of siuch reports and authoritative statements is that the whole world will'shortly ba faced with a timber famine, and to no part of the world may: this or any country look to supply this important need of civilisation. The New Zealand Government ha 3 of late given much attention to forestry, both a<i to conservation and restoration, but much destruction and wasta still goes on, and the energies of the present will by no means overtake the scandalous folly and waste of the past. V I suggest that in addition to a very much extended forestry replanting by the State, all local bodies Bhould forthwith bestir themselves with a view to the acquisition of suitable areas for forestry purposes. In very immediate proximity to this city are wide areas of poor barren wastes. These should be taken for afforestation purposesy and all necessary , loans raised to ;| establish thereon large timber plantations. I would recommend that the City Council combine with other local bodies and form a Forestry Board to administer such undertakings. The immediate expense involved would more than justify iisilf by the results in the comparatively near future. In so writing, I do not wish to in any way deprecate the labours! which hiive already been bestowed on the planting operations of our council—l only desire to express my opinion that such undertakings can be considerably extended. Where we are planting trees as at present by the acre, we should be planting by the hundred acres. Otherwise it will soon be apparent that we are only playing with;the question. ■ ■ Eaeau-sapa.