THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1890.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8989, 14 May 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY).

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1890.

With which are incorporated the ireilingtoi. Independent, established 18i5, and the Ntv Zealander.

We have many times dwelt on former oceasionsupon theexigencies

STVTE , FOEESTET.

of forest conservation in this Colony, and' urged the adoption of reasonably expressive measures to prevent the waste of forest resources, whether through carelessness or culpable recklessness, for present profit. But the removal of timber goes on much the same. It is true there are a few State forests under quasi-supervision, but as was demonstrated last year when miles of valuable forests were devastated by fire, . no protective measures worth the name have been adopted. We are aware of how much is in the way of rational and sufficient forest legislation, and also that the Government is doing as much as it can in that direction with means at its command, Parliament having, virtually, thrown up the sponge in connection with forest conservation when it countenanced the suppression of Sir Julius Vogel’s measures for estab-

liahing a department of forestry. The department existed and that was all, and yet, as we observed at the time of its decease, it was one of the better measures introduced by Sir Julius and deserved a better fate. It promised fairly, too, under the able direction of the proposed Inspector, Captain "Walker. At the same time it is questionable if it was comprehensive enough. Indeed, how could it be at the price, for only £IO,OOO was voted for its maintenance. The cost is really the obstacle in the way of establishing a proper department of forestry. The area of foresl land in the Colony is still very great, and it is difficult to make the general run of people understand that there is any serious necessity yet for protecting the forests. But it is a fact nevertheless that an excess of timber goes to waste every year, and that timber is too generally regarded as a superfluity, and therefore above waste. To this of course there can only be one reply. Superfluity of timber has no existence in this Colony; there is not a tree too much. The Colony’s timber endowment is one of its most valuable assets, and cannot be too carefully guarded. We have pointed out more than once the almost impossibility of lefforesting the country with indigenous timber oh account of the latter’s abnormally slow growth.' But we have never held two ideas as to the wisdom of making a commencement to provide for the future by planting areas with suitable young trees and strictly preserving them. There has been enough legislation in this branch of the subject in the Forest Trees Planting Act and its amendments; how the Act was extended to embrace, local governing bodies such as County Councils, Highway Eoad Boards and boroughs. By the Amendment Act of 1879 these bodies were enabled to take advantage of the provisions of the original gives liberal encouragement to tree planting. But it has not been taken much advantage of. Tree planting is not regarded as a vital necessity, at least not yet. But it soon will be at the rate deforesting is going on, and then, when it is too late, there will be bitter regret that a commencement had not been made earlier. The fact is, the question is one more for the people to take up than the Government to -dry nurse. What is chiefly wanted is intelligent public, interest and attention in it and to it. Attention to both deforesting and efforestiug should be bestowed ungrudgingly and closely by settlers high and low. All, in fact, that make use of the Colony in any wav whatsoever should entertain some concern for its glorious timber, which is so rapidly being improved off the face of the land. Some authority has been set up we know. There are forest rangers here and there, and large reserves, but the first are in inverse proportion to the last. The Vogel New Zealand State Forests Act of 1885 is still on the Statute book, and is an admirable measure which fell into disuse when the Forestry Department was sacrificed to the exigencies of economy. It went by the board with other things. Bixt the Act can be vitalised at any time, and the sooner the better. A fresh department is a necessity now, and is something the Colony ought to afford. A penny-wise and pound-foolish policy now means a future when the State will be compelled to provide an extensive and costly department of forestry to save what little there may be left,and make despairing efforts to repair past wastefulness and destruction. And with such a probability plainly in view it must be confessed that the present generation is not very seriously considering what is due to those who come after it, or more care would be bestowed upon forest areas. As we pointed' out only the other day, local governing bodies should encourage tree-planting by appointing “ arbor days” on which school children might play important parts. Here in Wellington a commencement might be made by planting sections of the town belt. It would be a move in the right direction, because it would excite interest in a subject that would command increasing attention every year if it were properly promoted and fostered. '

Forestry is commanding notice all oyer, the world, where the wealth of the trees has found recognition. The alarming rate at which the deforesting of the world is proceeding compels attention to the subject. Last March a most able paper on “ Forestry in the Colonies and India ” was read before the Eoyal Colonial Institute, London, by Dr Schlich, who had held the position of Inspector-General of Forests in India, and is now Professor of Forestry to the Eoyal Engineering College at Cooper’s Hill, England. The Doctor gave an exhaustive account of the forests of India, and what excellent results had accrued upon the establishment of a liberallyendowed and conducted department of forestry there. The destruction of Indian forests bad been proceeding at an alarming rate for 700 years, but especially so with railway construction. However, conservative steps were taken, law after law was passed, and now there are 55,000,000 acres under the control of the Indian Forest Department, which is just 10 per cent, of the British territory, while 15,000,000 acres more are to follow. It is estimated that to meet requirements, local and other, 20 per cent of the entire territory should be devoted to forest conservation. It is believed that the difficulty has been met in India, but it is quite the other way in Australia. There, but especially in Victoria, the destruction and waste of forest treasures is simply appalling. In 1887 there was only 2 per cent of the entire

area of the Colony in timber. Dr Schlich quoted the report of Mr Vincent, an eminent authority on forestry, who had inspected the Victorian forests, and its tenor is lamentable. Wanton destruction and waste was everywhere, to make up for which 100,000 acres ought to be efforested, every year. A variety of causes antagonistic to proper forest conservation are at work in Victoria, and the outlook is gloomy in the extreme. New Zealand may take warning from this and put her forest-house in order in lime. A little and often done now will avert constant and enormous labour in the future.