FOREST WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 13

FOREST WORKS

A FIVE-YEAR PLAN STATE SERVICE REPORT TIMBER TRADE REVIVAL [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday A programme of forest works for the next five years is suggested in the annual report of the State Forest Service, which was presented in the House of Representatives to-day by the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. F. Langstone. The proposed programme comprises the extension of fire protection methods, a limitation on the further planting of exotics to consolidation and blanking of existing forests, further experimental underplanting of indigenous cut over forests with exotics, the adoption of a working plan of management lor the major kauri forests, portions of the silver beech forests of Southland, the rinni forests of Westland, and the mixed rinni forests of the North lsland ( and the substitution of log sales for block sales of standing timber wherever practicable. Activities of the service during the year ended March 31 last are reviewed in the report. It states that as planting operations had practically ceased in all regions except Rotorua and were being continued there only on a minor scale, the new planted area of 12,(W0 acres was the smallest for many years. In round figures the exotic State forests of the Dominion now aggregated 419,500 acres.

The quantity of timber cut from all sources, State, native and privately owned land, was approximately .'500,000,000 feet, an increase of 50,000,000 feet over the 1934-35 period. The proportion cut from State forests remained the same as the previous year, 28 per cent. Exports of timber for the calendar year 1935, were the highest for nearly a decade and totalled in round figures 39,642.000 feet board measure, or 5,000.000 feet more than in 1934.

Matai showed the greatest proportional export increase, out as this comprised very largely 0.8. timber, which was almost unsaleable in the Dominion, the extra overseas demand was of distinct benefit to the milling industry. The timber imported during 1935 exceeded the 1934 imports by approximately 14,000,000 feet in volume and £165,300 in value, the figures being 31,356,000 feet valued at £394,400.