CASHMERE AND ITS FORESTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 69

CASHMERE AND ITS FORESTS

Cashmere has a splendid and most valuable asset in its forests, winch yearly previaq (says the “Pioneer”) a large surplus to swell! tihe general revenues oi the fState. Last year this surplus amounted to nearly 5,380,000 rupees and during the 12 years of the present administration the total profits have amounted to over 62£ lacs, otr an average of nearly oj lacs per annum, whale if the revenue from grazing dues were added, instead of being paid to the Revenue Department, the total profits of the forests for the 12 years would be very little below a crore of rupees. Every year the surplus is in excess of the sanctioned estimate, and there is every prospect that the successful record of the* last 12 years will continue. But, it is very doubtful if the Durbar is not adopting A PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH policy in regal'd to it® forestry. The report contains many hints that, the department is absurdly undermanned, and that very insufficient sums are spent upon conservation and improvement. Efficient supervision is a cardinal principle of good 1 forestry; and while indiscriminate fellings may mean large immediate profits, they suggest a danger of denudation to which the Durbar will do well to pay attention m good time. It seems quite impossible that the present superior staff can adequately control the work of the department, and even the subordinate staff is not as large as it should he. The report state® that the whole establishment is becoming far too small as the work becomes intensified, and when working plans are made it will be quite impossible to cony out the work properly unless there are more officers in the higher grades. As an instance of under-manning, the Baluuibar district, containing nearly 145 000 ACRES OF FOREST, is managed by four foresters and one head guard, and the result is that the forest® cannot be properly cared for, nor can the demand® of the villagers for building timber, etc., be met. It is stated that the kind of men required cannot be obtained, as none but Statehorn subjects are taken into tlie department, except in very special cases. It looks ias 'though the special! cases would have to be multiplied largely if one of the most profitable branches of the State administration is not to be injured very seriously.