FORESTRY DELEGATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 13

FORESTRY DELEGATION

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. IMPORTANCE TO EMPIRE. WORK IN DOMINION PRAISED. | BY' TELE Gil Ant. —OWN COrniESrONDENT.I WELLINGTON, Monday. About 50 experts in forestry from practically all parts of the British Empire arrived by tlie Maunganui from Sydney this morning. Tlicy arc visiting New Zealand for 15 days in continuation of tho conference which was opened at Perth on September 21. Tho New Zealand quota to tho conference includes tho director of forestry, Mr. E. Phillips Turner, and forestry officers from all parts of tho Dominion. During the 15 days the delegates are in New Zealand every endeavour will be made to enable them to see as much as possible of the Dominion's natural forests, reserves and plantations. As was tho caso in Australia the primary object of tho tour will bo not to see the scenic features of tho country, but to gain first-hand knowledge of the forestry conditions, a knowledge which will greatly assist tho conference in its deliberations. Itinerary of the Party. The Railway Department has made complete arrangements for tho itinerary. Members of the couferenco go South tonight, to Dunedin, where they will stay until Wednesday afternoon. Returning to Christehurch that evening the party will travel on Thursday to the West Coast, visiting Ilokitika, llori Hori and Greymouth, and proceeding thence to Nelson. Wellington will be reached again next Saturday evening, and on Sunday a special train will take tho members to tho National Park. During the following week the thermal district will be visited, tho delegates spending several days at Rotorua, and a visit will subsequently bo paid to Auckland and Dargaville in order to seo New Zealand's unique kauri forests A State luncheon was tendered to tho delegates to-day. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, presided, and associated with him were members of the Legislature and the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A Troup. Proposing the toast of "Our Guests" tho Prime Minister said their presence showed the importance of forestry, more than that, a desiro to know the Empiro It brought home to them the necessity of trading within their own family. They in New Zealand were proud of the stock from which they sprang, and the members of the delegation could be assured of a hearty welcome in all parts of tho country. Object of the Conference. The object of the Forestry Conference was to get to know what was happening in various parts of tho Empire and to endeavour to use the forestry resources of the Empire to the best advantage. Forestry questions were exercising tho minds of the leading men of all countries in the world. It was a. matter for regret I that Lord Lovat was' not present at tho luncheon, for he was a true Empiro builder in every sense of the term, and they were all looking forward to meeting him. Mr. Coates said all New Zealanders were interested in afforestation. New Zealand had gone as far as any other country in regard to forestry, and they were hoping for even greater progress as a result of the visit of the delegation. Speaking on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., endorsed all Mr. Coates had said. 1 lie whole of the people of New Zealand were seized with the importance of the subject of forestry, and were proud of the department which was administering it. Tho department could bo assured of the support of all sections of political thought iu the Dominion. Lord Clynton's Views. Responding to the toast, Lord Clvnton assured those present that the delegation appreciated the welcome extended to them. He was glad to know all sections of New Zealand were keen on the advancement of forestry. The Imperial side of their work could not be over-emphasised for the matters they were discussing affected the whole Empiro and its future welfare. It was essential they should know what was going on in the various parts of the Empire. In England they had only just begun to restore the forests which had been destroyed, but the question was a wider oue than that. It was essential that every portion of the Empire should play its part, and for that reason they were glad to know - what was being accomplished in New Zealand. In this connection, Lord Clynton paid a tribute to the work of Sir Francis Bell, whom lie described as the pioneer of forestry in New Zealand. Tho progress in Now Zealand was greater than that of any other portion of the Empire. , \ The speaker did not believe that a forester could be fully and successfully trained in his own country, and for that reason he thought members of the forestry service in New Zealand would, be given the opportunity to visit forest,s in other parts of tho world. Members of the delegation were looking forward to their visit to the various portions of New Zealand. Mr. E. H. Finlayson, Director of Forestry, Ottawa, also responded to the toast.