TUNG OIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 12

TUNG OIL

DOMINION PROJECTS OFFICIAL SURVEY CONDITION OF TKEES MANY WOKTHLESS ACHES [by telecraph—own CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Tuesday An official investigation into the state of tung oil plantations in New Zealand discloses that there aro 55 acres of apparently satisfactory trees, 733 acres of unsatisfactory trees, and 37G0 acres of worthless, dead and dying trees. This information is given in the December issue of the Journal of Agriculture, which states that an inquiry was undertaken as tho result of conflicting claims concerning the growth of the trees. "During the past years," the journal states, "10 companies have attempted to grow tung oil trees on a plantation scale in various parts of tho North Auckland Peninsula. As nothing was really then known regarding the possibility of growing tunc in New Zealand, the undertaking was undoubtedly one of a speculative character. Some Companies Cease "Because of the conflicting nature of the claims made concerning the growth of the trees, investigations have been undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Tho position revealed is approximately as follows: — "(1) Parengarenga Tung Oil, Te Paki; Australian Plantations, Limited, Rangiputa; Northern Tung Oil Company, Lako Ohia. These plantations were a complete failure, and the controlling companies have ceased to operate. "(2) Parapara Development Company, Parapara. There are about 10 acres of apparently satisfactory trees, with an additional small area of very unsatisfactory and worthless trees. Waitangi Plantation "(3) Tung Oil Securities, Matauri Bay: Trees apparently satisfactory, nil; trees unsatisfactory, 26 acres; trees very unsatisfactory, nil; trees dead and dying, 314 acres. "(4) Empire Tung Oil, Waitangi. No map has been made of this property, but the whole of the area planted has been inspected and the position is approximately 40 acres to 50 acres of unsatisfactory and very unsatisfactory trees, with a similar area of dead and dying trees.

"(5) New Zealand Tung Oil Corporation, associated with New Zealand Tung Oil, Limited, and Kaikohe Tung Groves: (a) In Kankapakapa most of tho trees are dead and the company has ceased operating here and transferred activity to Awarua. (b) In Waipapa many trees are removed, the remainder are practically all dead, the company has ceased operating here and has transferred operations to Awarua. (c) Awarua: Block 1, trees apparently satisfactory, 15 acres; trees unsatisfactory, 244 acres; trees very unsatisfactory, 106 acres; trees dead and dying, 404 acres. Block 2, trees apparently satisfactory, eight acres; trees unsatisfactory, 192 acres; trees very unsatisfactory, 190 acres; trees dead and dying, 390 acres. Block 3, trees apparently satisfactory, 14 acres; trees unsatisfactory, 149 acres; trees very unsatisfactory, 60 acres; trees dead and dying, 401 acres. These three blocks comprise the largest plantation in New Zealand. The summary of the position to-day shows apparently satisfactory trees, 37 acres; unsatisfactory trees, 585 acres; worthless, dead and dying trees, 15*51 acres. Failure ol Large Portion "(6) Tung Oil Plantations, Limited, at Mamaranui. Trees apparently satisfactory, nil; trees unsatisfactory, 52 acres; trees very unsatisfactor}', 14 acres; trees dead and dying, 266 acres. "(7) Tung Acres, Te Arai. The whole area has been inspected, but the maps prepared are not at present available. Approximately 500 acres have been planted, of which over 90 per cent of the trees are in i a dead and dying condition, and the remainder are quite unsatisfactory. « "(8) Tung Oil Debenture. Trust, Pukapuka. Trees apparently satisfactory, seven acres; trees unsatisfactory, 20 acres; trees very unsatisfactory, 24 acres; trees dead and dying, 201 acres. "To summarise over the whole of the 10 plantations, tho position is approximately as follows: —Apparently satisfactory trees, 55 acres; unsatisfactory trees, 733 acres; worthless, dead and dying trees, 3760 acres; total, 4548 acres."