FORESTRY COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 8

FORESTRY COMMISSION

FIRST MEETING OF MEMBERS. A preliminary meeting of the Forestry (Am mission was hela at Parliament jbuildings yesterday afternoon. Tire Mon. \V. I'. Massey, Prime Minister and Minister of Lands, was in attendance and briefly addressed the commission. He wisned the members every success in their labours, which, he felt sure, would be for the benefit of the Dominion generally. The commissioners then discussed methods of procedure and itinerary for the purpose of their inquiry. The meeting was not open to the press, but a “ Times ” reporter was informed that the actual itinerary was not decided upon. The commissioners will leave on Friday night for Invercargill, where the inquiry, so far as the taking of evidence is concerned, will be opened on Monday. The commissioners purpose visiting such country in the neigh, bourhood of Invercargill as lies within the scope of their investigation. They will then proceed northward through the South Island, but their exact route will not be decided upon till members reach Invercargill. The commission meets again at Parliament Buildings this morning, and the precordings, except while in committee, will be open'to the press. No evidence, however, will be taken for the present, and, as Dr Cockayne remarked to a “ Times ” reporter last evening, it was not a commission specially for the taking of evidence. “If we wish, we may take evidence, but in order to save time we are asking anyone who wishes to give ns information to send it in writing, and then we cah consider it at our leisure.” The commissioners are: Mr Hr. D. M. Haszard, F.R.G.S. (chairman), Dr Leonard Cockayne, P.R.S., Ph.D., and Messrs T. W. Adams, S. I. Clarke, P. Y. Lethbridge, and C. P. Murdoch. The order of reference requires the commission to report by April 30th, but in view of the wide scope of the inquiry and the numerous and difficult problems raised, it is considered likely that an extension of time will have to be granted. The inquiry will involve much travelling and personal inspection of various localities where afforestation may be considered desirable. Many remote scenic resorts will also be personally visited. Mr E. Phillips Turner, of the Lands Department, has been appointed secretary to the commission, and Mr Russell, of the “ Hansard ” staff, is official reporter. The commission will sit again in Wellington for the taking of evidence, oral and written, on its return from the South Island.