THE FORESTRY SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18879, 29 November 1924, Page 10

THE FORESTRY SCHOOL.

Endorsement of its claim to a Forestry School was obtained by the Auckland University College only after strenuous effort. That first difficult hurdle has been surmounted. The strength of entrenched privilege in South Island institutions made the difficulty very real, but it was overcome. It is gratifying, therefore, to find the College authorities showing both promptitude and vision in arranging for work to begin. To plan for a commencement by the middle of next year is proof of promptitude. The vision lies in the effort to provide courses which should appeal to a large number of people in different walks of life. It has been doubted whether training the forest officers needed for the direct service of the State would provide enough work for one school, let alone two. That argument might have some force if there were any reason so to narrow the application of instruction in the science of forestry. There is no such reason. The University College has recognised very properlly that it can cater lor many others, all those engaged in handling foreot products for one section, those interested in forestry as a cultural subject for another, and, perhaps as important as any, those who are educating New Zealanders born after the old glory o£ the native forest has largely been swept away. Such an interpretation of the functions of a School of Forestry is very fitting in the AuckJand Province, where the native, growth once reached its greatest majesty, and where the planting of exotics has been most fully and systematically developed. No part of the Dominion should take a deeper interest in forestry, practically, sentimentally, and historically. The very beginnings of settlement in this part of New Zealand were cradled in the forest and bound up in the timber industry. For those reasons Auckland City and Province should take an especially keen interest in the Forestry School. There is still another and compelling force to demand this attitude. A special school has been granted to the University College, where virtually none exists. The need for more of them is growing in strength. It is of paramount importance, therefore,, that a success should be made of this one. To that end a very generous measure of public support is essential. Much hangs on this. It is for the whole body of citizens to follow the lead which the University College authorities are giving toward making an unqualified success of the hard-won School of Forestry.