SCHOOL OF FORESTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20333, 14 August 1929, Page 14

SCHOOL OF FORESTRY.

Sir, —In a recent issue of the Herald a correspondent questioned • statements made at a meeting of Auckland sawmillers, to the effect that Aucklard University College is the most suitable location for the Dominion School of Forestry J Your correspondent noticed an obvious error in the report of that meeting, and for the benefit of your readers generally I wish to state what actually was said relative to the respective areas of forests in North and South Islands. Mr. McArthur said that, of the Government and private "planted forests" (exotics) in ?

New Zealand, wero in Rotorua and North Auckland districts. This statement is quite correct and proves that Auckland is the centro of gravity of the future supply forests of the Dominion. The relative areas of indigenous forests in the two islands did not enter largely into the discussion- by the sawmillers, who wero of opinion that tho greater scope for scientific forestry lay in the development and utilisation of tho new forests. Nevertheless it is a fact that the production of sawn timber and ojher products from our indigenous forests is much greater in the Auckland Province than in any other province of the Dominion. The lecturer in forestry at Canterbury College, in a paper read at a meeting of (he Philosophical Society in May last, indicated tho samewhat negativo character of tho research work so far done in the indigenous forests of tho South Island. 110 did not speak very hopefully of the future results of research in those forests, particularly regarding regeneration. It seems to mo that '•regeneration" is largely a matter cf sentiment rather than utility. From, an economic standpoint, our future supply of timber and other wood products must undoubtedly come from tho plantation or exotic forests. For the study of forestry both indigenous and exotic forests arc necessary, and both are available close to Auckland, the rain forests of the Waitakercs providing nil the species of trees which are grown in the South, iind in addition many others of a sub-tropical character not grown outsido Auckland Province. In this connection the Auckland Forestry School has already' established a forestry station with excellent camp building and equipment, where valuable research work is being carried on, j;nd these advantages already in existence could not bo reproduced elsewhere and would bo entirely lost to the students if tho school wero removed from Auckland. I understand tho number of degree students now at Auckland Forestry School is three to four times tho number at Canterbury school, which is sufficient evidence to show where students look for the best training in forestry science. Tho professor ol forestry at Auckland University has been enabled to co-operate with tho forestry companies and others engaged in tho industry as technical advisor. In all modern universities the policy is to encourage the staff to become useful to outsido interests, thus bringing tho work •of (ho university into closer touch with outside practice. Tho decision as to tho location ol the Dominion Schooi of Forestry rests with tho Minister of Education. I havo no doubt ho will have full investigation mado into the. relative merits of tho two existing schools and that ho will carefully weigh the evidence submitted both by (ho specialists m his department and by those engaged in the industries which will givo employment to tho students when trained.

A. E. Odlin, President Auckland Sawrailiers' Assn.