IMPERIAL FORESTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11664, 31 October 1923, Page 7

IMPERIAL FORESTRY

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND DIRECTOR ON FIRE FIGHTING. THE VALUE OF AEROPLANES. Air E. Mein tosh Ellis (Director of Forestry), who has just returned to New Zealand from Canada, where he attended the Imperial Forestry Conference at Ottawa, informed a “New Zealand Times” representative yesterday that the Ontario and Quebec Provincial Governments and the timber interests in those provinces are taking great advantage of the aeroplane as a means of fire-prevention and suppression. There aro wonderful timber areas throughout the Northern Province, said Air Ellis, and the delegates to the Imperial Forestry Conference witnessed a demonstration which showed the marvellous efficiency of the aeroplane service in detecting and dealing with fires. A fire was started in a place quite unknown to the watchers; but flying over the various sectors, the observers in the “fire-chasers,” as the watching ’planes are called, had detected the outbreak within five minutes. They at once communicated its location to the forest-rangers by wireless; and in ten minutes from the commencement they were on the spot, playing on the fire with pumps, and in half an hour it was completely extinguished. This was the standard practice for fire-protection purposes in North America now; and had proved much more efficient than all other methods, stated Mr Ellis. Last year, he was given to understand, the Ontario Government had spent 125,000 dollars (£25,000) in aeroplane fire-patrol work; and this year it was increasing the amount so spent and using more ’planes.* The Government also used aeroplanes for forest reconnaissance, for the location of valuable timber, for exploring tips hinterland of the north, and even for carrying the Prime Alinister of the province on trips of inspection of the north country. While Air Ellis was in Ontario, the Prime Minister and the Lieutenant-Governor of the province made an extensive tour of the north, | using aeroplanes largely as a means of locomotion. NEW ZEALAND’S GOOP SHOWING AT CONFERENCE. In forestry achievements (added Air Ellis), New’ Zealand, with India, was able to make the best showing at the Imperial Forestry Conference. I was proud to represent the Dominion. The conference was held to consider ways and means of furthering the development of forestry as a national and Imperial asset. It should prove of great value in consolidating and broadening policy throughout the Empire. Besides New Zealand, there were represented Great Britain, the Irish Free State, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, Kenya, Nigeria, the Afalay States, and othei Crown colonies. In actual achievements with regard to forest conservation, planting, and fire prevention, New Zealand was ahead of the other dominions, with the exception of India. Members of the conference travelled through the provinces of Canada in sumptuous private trains provided by the Dominion Government, and hotel accommodation was arranged by the various Provincial Governments. It was stated, and could 'be observed as a fact, said Air Ellis, that Canada’s timbe/ resources were being consumed at an enormous rate by forest fires and by the activities of pulp and paper companies. In the Fast they were cutting mere saplings, four or five inches in diameter. LESSON FOR NEW ZEALAND. In the. United States, the timber industry had worked west to the Pacific Coast, where it was now focussed. Even there it had been estimated by an authority, Professor Kirkland, that at the present rates of consumption the life of the private forests would not extend above 15 to 20 years. The le6son for New Zealand, he 6aid, was the need for consolidating and broadening her forest conservation policy. On thiß subject, Mr Ellis has prepared a report for The Government in the light of the valuable results accruing from the conference as well as of his observations of nurseries and other aspects of forestry in Canada.