EMPIRE FORESTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 10

EMPIRE FORESTRY.

| CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS. DELEGATES FOR AUSTRALIA. WORK OF SIR WILLIAM FURSE. Forestry experts from England and Canada are travelling by the Niagara, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, to Australia, where the third British Empire Forestry Conference, devoted every five years to the study of the renewal of the Empire's timber resources, will be held this month. The conference will be brought to a conclusion in New Zealand, about 30 delegates leaving Sydney by the Maunganui on October 4 for Wellington. Among the delegates is LieutenantGeneral Sir William Furse, the Director of the Imperial Institute, South Kensington, London, which acts as a great clearing house for information from all parts of the Empire concerning raw products, industries and national and commercial services, including forestry. It was in 1926, when the institute was in course of reorganisation, that Sir William Furse, a distinguished soldier with a noteworthy record of achievement in the army administrative field, was called in to direct the institute's fortunes.

"Our duty, as far as afforestation is concerned," said Sir William yesterday, "is to look ahead 100 or 200 years to see that our grandchildren and great-grand-children are not left stranded in the matter of timber resources through any lack of vision on our part. These conferences jf forestry experts bring about a concentration of thought and intellect that doe 3 a great deal of good by directing the attention of Ministers of the Crown to the need of adequate precautions, and make it much easier to obtain Governmental aid and sympathy in dealing with such problems as afforestation and forest fires and pests." "A Permanent Wembley." Sir William Furse has done yeoman service for the nation and Empire trade and commerce in the reorganisation work carried out under his direction at the Imperial Institute. "We have been trying to make it a permanent Wembley for the> benefit of the rising generation," be said, commenting on one side of the institute 8 activities. "By arranging displays representative. of tho life, scenery and proI ducts of the various parts of the Empire we are doing, I havo not the slightest doubt, a great deal of good." Tho sum of £6OOO was recently placed at the disposal of the institute by the Empire Marketing Board for conducting a cinema at the institute. Two performances every morning and afternoon, including Sunday afternoons, are given free to the public, the films shown illustrating the scenery, products and activities of different parts of the Empire. An average of 80 school classes were conducted at the institute each week, thus developing the Empire spirit. "The New Zealand court at the Imperial Institute is the best court there," remarked Sir William Furse. This has been brought about through the immense help I received from the then High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James Allen, whose valuable assistance, enthusiasm and practical help did much to see me through with the project I had before me. Sir James Parr has been helping me in the same way. I have a deep sense of gratitude to both of these gentlemen for their co-operation. With their assistance we have built up a New Zealand court which I have no hesitation in saying is of great interest to public and children alike." Delegates Prom Canada. Sir William, who is accompanied by Lady Furse and Miss Judith Furse, will return to New Zealand in October. Heading the Canadian delegation is Mr. E. H. Finlayson, director of forestry for the Dominion of Canada at Ottawa. He is accompanied by Mr. Roy Cameron, as-sociate-director of forestry at Ottawa; Dr. J. M. Swaine, forest entomologist at Ottawa; Mr. E. J. Zavitz, Deputy-Min-ister of Forestry for the Province of Ontario; and Mr. P. Z.. Caverhill, chief forester of British Columbia. , The delegates will assemble at .Perth, where they will meet the chairman of the conference, Lord Clinton, and will then work eastward through each State, of the Commonwealth, visiting the chief natural forests and plantations. Several days will be spent at Canberra in conference.