ILL-ADVISED RETRENCHMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18562, 24 May 1922, Page 4

ILL-ADVISED RETRENCHMENT.

Thb decision of the Government to close the State* Nursery at Ranfurly cannot be viewed with satisfaction by those who are specially concerned about the future of Central Otago. ' There can now be no reasonable doubt that Central Otago is destined for a great future, and the limits of its possibilities are bounded only by the measure of the enterprise of those who have the proper vision and by the extent of the sympathetic assistance of the Government in matters, that appropriately call for State aid. The Ranfurly Nursery,which waa opened by Mr H. J. Matthews, is over twenty years old, and the original grounds for its establishment have been augmented by the development of the district. The intention of its promoters was to use the nursery as a feeder for timber purposes on Government lands, but the change in public policy inaugurated in 1915, by which settlers were supplied with trees for planting shelter-belts, makes the retention of the nursery still more necessary. It may be admitted that the Ranfurly establishment is not in the first flight of nurseries, and that certain difficulties arise in maintaining a high average output. These very difficulties supply the strongest reasons why the undertaking should be continued and extended. Central Otago is largely a treeless country, possessing distinct characteristics of soil and climate. If the mortality rate of the nursery is high the reason may in part be attributed to this fact, but it is much more economical to have' the failures at this stage than after the additional effort and labour have been expended in transplanting on the countryside. It is a well-known fact that the hardier acclimatisation is necessary to successful tree-growing in the district, and consequently trees raised in the region have •a much better chance <Jf success than those imported from a soft cfinite. It is suggested that all the trees required could be procured from other nurseries, and Very jfrobably the demand could' be met in this way. But the sound objection against such a course remains, and the light rainfall, the high winds and altitude, would almost certainly mean a ruinous rate of failure. Trees raised in soft climates , and under a liberal rainfall are not capable of withstanding the rigours of the climate, and those intended for planting in Central Otago should be raised in the district. If the initial expense of propagating trees is high at Ranfurly this cost must he placed against the high mortality rate in trees imported from other districts, and even against the cost of packing and transit. During later years the record of the nursery has not been so good as formerly, and it has been unable to meet the demands of settlers. This fact suggests that a more vigorous policy is necessary, and that instead of being closed down the nursery .should be extended. .When it is pointed out, moreover, that additional "expenditure has not long ago been incurred on buildings, glass houses, and plant, it appears to be folly to close it down. The imam cial difficulty is not a settled condition for the dominion, and retrenchment which renders a valuable undertaking useless is unnecessarily wasteful and is not real economy. In view of the well-merited attention which the Government is now . giving’ to the question of afforestation, combined with its general policy of encouragement to tree-planting, its decision to close down the Ranfurly Nursery is as incomprehensible as it is short-sighted.