THE FORESTRY LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10634, 6 July 1920, Page 3

THE FORESTRY LEAGUE

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS POR ANNUAL MEETING. In an interesting presidential address to bo delivered at tho nnunal meeting o£ the New Zealand Forestry League in Wellington to-morrow, dir James G. Wilson points out that after battling for several years a separate Forestry Department has been established _ through the good offices of Sir Francis Dell. Those interested are glad to welcome Captain Mclntosh Ellis, a trained torester, as the head of the department under Sir Francis Bell, and Mr E. Phillips-Turner, as secretary. Sir James U'iljpon tracssl ;che slept* which- were taken to secure the presence in the Do* minion of Sir David Hutchins who, early, had impressed upon them the necessity of taking active steps before it was too late, to work the remaining forest lands so as to have an annual crop instead of the hitherto destructive system of milling some of the finest timber in the world. The coming of Sir David Hutchins and the consequent awakening of interest in forestry had been, indeed, most opportune. Many had viewed with alarm the depletion of the forests, while the only remedy suggested was planting. The demarcation ot the remaining forest lands wag practically unthought of, and any preservation was left to private individuals. Nor had there boon realised the potential assets of the Dominion of the great areas of poor land, which, if held by Govern in on Us would, in after years, bo valuable forest areas of the finest timber in the world 1 , planted by Nature, The practical outcome of bir David Hutchiu’s address was the Forest League, and it was to him thah they owed tn«v idea of a Forestry Department separated from the Lauds Dexiartment, and to-day an accomplished fact. And they hoped now for a new- era so tar as the forests of the Dominion are concerned. Sir James goes on to say that if the first part of 'the programme has been -gained, there is still much more for the league to do. He urges the taking over by .the State ot the lands which will form the great kauri forests of tho future, and an immediate examination of tho various lands, idlo as far as preseat use is concerned, that have young trees already growing on them. Having emphasised the great value ot kauri timber, than which there was no moro valuable in Uie world. Sir jamea Wilson, in his report, stresses tho need for a school'in which to-*train men lor forest purposes, with an oxamimnCf body to give either diplomas. oV degrees to those who qualify in this work. Frovision should ho made to enable lads ot intelligence to be trained at the public expense. The report goes on to reler to certain typical beauty spots which should bo in tho hands of tho btate, and refers to England’s experience Ja tM great war in tho matter of the lack ol timber supplies. Sooner or later, too. Now Zealand would have to have the raw material from which to manufacture paper suitable far newsapers. 1“° timber to make such pulp had yet to be grown. ~ , It is recommended that tho league should press for tho planting of trees on the groat areas of sand dunes available, and there was also to ho considered tho growth of timber for sleepers and perhaps bridge-building. In this direction stress is laid on the need for the growing of certain eucalypts to the north of Auckland, where the climate ia eo suitable.