FOREST CONTROL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19276, 13 September 1924, Page 17

FOREST CONTROL.

A YEAR’S ACTIVITIES. (F sou Oua Own Cobeespondent.) WELLINGTON, September 11. Another record year in profitable forestry operation in the dominion is shown in the State Forest Service’s annual report. The total forest income from all sources was £93,479, while the total operational, protective, and general management expenses were £42,584 (a distributed charge of only per acre), leaving a balance of £50,896. which was applied to capital investment in the State forest plantations throughout the dominion and to their maintenance, protection, and improvement. Another high-water mark has been set during the year in the many advantageous sales of ripe timber made for immediate and local use to State departments, sawmillers, sleeper-getters, farmer’s, and others. A total of £266,388 worth of ripe timber was sold on competitive terms. Special consideration was given to assisting the cooperative sawmilling groups in making it possible for the small operator to secure the raw material on such terms as would permit him to compete successfully in manufacturing and marketing his timber. Approved is expressed of private as well as public activity in afforestation. At least throe sawmilling companies have pledged themselves to definite projects ultimately involving at least 7000 acres, whilst the sum total of new private plantations and shelter belts established by farmers, settlers, and runholders during the year is 5000 acres. A prominent feature was the launching and formation of at least 12 plantation companies organised for the chief purpose of planting and growing timber crops. The establishment of at least 50,000 acres of commercial tree plantations should result in a successful beginning in direct afforestation operations in the “cut-over” bush lands of Westland Province. During the year the planting of the first 140 acres near Hokitika has been primarily successful and augurs well for the future. The total quantity of trees for planting disposed of to settlers, returned soldiers, farmers, runholders, local bodies, and others was 184,000, which constitutes another record During the year 7207 acres of new plantations were established in the Rotorua, Hanrner Springs, Balmoral, Tapanni, and Westland districts, as compared with 2362 acres established in the previous year. This now acreage was formed at a cost of not more than one-half the unit costs of those of former years. The total area of State plantations embraces 51,825 acres. The planting programme for the coming year is as follows : —Hamner Springs plantation, 750 acres; Balmoral plantation. 450 acres; Groenvalo plantation, 500 acres: Nasoby plantation. 100 acres—a total of 1800 acres. In addition, arrangements have been made for the supply of sufficient trees to plant 200 acres at the West Coast experimental area. Tire Director of the Forest Service recommends tho establishmment of a special Stale Forest Account of £500,000, to be used for the anuisition of forests nn,J tho consolidation of permanent State forests. Financial assistance to a recognised School of Forestry is advised. Trained foresters ore sorely needed and ho states that the time is now ripe for the establishment on a modest scale of a Forest Products I>al’»>ratory where research and tho studv of wood problems, timber seasoning, and tho development of uses for our annual wastage of 8,000.000 tons of wood can be earned out. Adequate control of deer calls for early concerted action, ns the present measures have not proved altogether effective.