AFFORESTATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19846, 20 July 1926, Page 7

AFFORESTATION.

US POSSIBILITIES ABOUT DUNEDIN. USE FOR POOR LAND. PROPOSALS FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last night affirmed that the possibility of using large areas .of waste land about Dunedin to good advantage tor purposes of afforestation is deserving of careful expert investigation. The matter lias been the subject of a striking report by Mr J. B. Waters, to the chamber, a report which has been sent on to the town clerk. . ■. , The following is a summary of the report; — Referring to the discussion at a recent meeting of executive, I beg to submit for consideration a brief statement in regard to afforestation in relation to Dunedin interests. Our Unproductive Environmonet. — If you compare our city with most other New Zealand centres yon cannot fail to be struck with the large area of unproductive or only poorly productive land in our immediate neighbourhood. Northwards for nearly 20 miles the railway runs round or through barren country. Southward from the railway line to the sea as far as the Clutha River the coastal lands can only be described as poor grazing country. Westward we have the slopes of Flagstaff and the Silverstreara and Whare Flat, which is practically all a city reserve and of little value even as a grazing proposition. The unproductive nature of all these lands is clearly demonstrated by their comparatively low price and by the scanty living obtainable from them in spite of their proximity to the city markets. I have for some years been convinced that these areas, or at least a large part of them, could be most profitably utilised for the purpose of establishing commercial forests. In support of this I beg to direct your attention to the following points:— 1. The time is opportune. Otago bush areas are being rapidly cut out. The importation of foreign timber is increasing, but the world supply is fast diminishing, and prices must rise as supplies decrease. , Therefore it is necessary to take a. long view and provide for the future. 2. Poor land under forest gives a bettei return per acre than under any other form of cultivation and will by this me(ms eventually support a much larger population i than by any other method. 3. The afforestation of lands already served by road and rail and in close proximity to a manufacturing and shipping centre is a very much easier and better proposition than the afforestation of areas in remote districts 4. The establishment of large commercial forests in conjunction with _ hydro-electric energy, good transport facilities and a city population must eventually result in the development of local manufactures natural to timber producing centres. Such manufactures would enjoy the advantage of an immediate domestic market, with a shipping outlet for any exportable surplus. 5. Com mere! til afforestation on scientific lines is permanent. It is not a wasting asset as in the case of native bush or coal mining, and connotes the establishment, of permanent industries under the most favcurable social conditions.

Investigation.—ln the foregoing 1 have assumed that the poor lands and waste lands round Dunedin are adapted for tree culture. I think the admirable progress made by the City Council in planting certain areas, notably at Whare Flat, is sufficient proof of this, but even putting this experience aside, the general arguments in favour o f afforestation as applied to the environs ol Dunedin are sufficiently cogent to warrant a very full examination of the proposition. I suggest, therefore, that this chamber should initiate a thorough inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining Jrom the best expert advice (1) whether afforestation in the Dunedin district on commercial lines is a sound and venture; (2) what areas are suitable and if suitable (3) which present the greater ■advantage*. In making such inquiry I further suggest that, the chamber secure the co-operation of the City Council, the Otavo Exnansion League, the Manufacturers’ Association and the Amenities Society.

Development of Afforestation. —The respective merits of development by means of privets or public enterprise would also reouire close consideration. Personally. I favour the latter, either by the expansion of the Municipal Forestry Department or by the creation of a special hoard for the purpose. I suggest that there need he no delay in prosecuting inquiries, and if these are satisfactory that representatives of the bodies already named be asked to cooperate with ns in the elaboration of plans for tree-planting on a large scale. I believe that with a sound scheme there should he no difficulty in securing funds by debentures at current rates, and if it be necessary to make these more attractive, such debentures might carry a special bonus contingent on future profits. 1 believe that if. say, the City Council, with the backing of the Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers’ Association, and the Expansion League, were to put such a proposition before the Dunedin public funds would be promptly forthcoming which would enable ns to find immediate work within easy distance for all unskilled labour, and that until the greater part of the poor lands surrounding the city was converted into a most valuable asset, the ultimate development of which would enormously increase the productive industry of this centre. The secretary, Mr P. Hercus, reported that the report by Mr Waters had been approved by the executive and a summary of it sent to the town clerk. A reply had not so far been received, and no doubt it had been referred to n committee. The Chairman, Mr F. M. Shortt, said th'* executive desired the approval of the council in this matter. They proposed to send copies of the report to the Expansion League, the Manufactures' Association, and the Amenities Society. The report was read by the secretary. The Chairman said they all agreed that Mr Waters was to be congratulated on this rC jlr Waters said it had recently been renorted in the Otago Daily Times that the°Citv Council had now some 4,000,000 trees. ‘At Whare Flat there were 300 acres planted, and the council owned 0000 kcres there. The value of unproductive land was so greatly enhanced by afforestation that there was decidedly a case for careful investigation and for obtaining reports from experts. He took it they required a survey of all the productive lards in the neighbourhood of Dunedin with reference to their suitability for afforestation. He was satisfied if they could increase their production it would eventually solve all their problems of shipping. Though they might not see the results themselves, those who came after them would have reason to be grateful. He referred to the increasing difficulty of obtaining coal from the Kaitangata mines, and suggested that there was much land about Kaitangata the planting of which would provide useful employment for the men who might be thrown out of employment by the decline of mining. It was, however, with the lands close at hand that he was chiefly concerned, and he thought the case was sufficiently strong to demand the full consideration of the council. , The action of the executive was approved, and it was decided to send the report on to the bodies mentioned. Mr Waters added that the State was clr.inv a good deal of afforestation, but the nos of it was in the North Island. They already had a considerable income from this source. , , ~ The Chairman said it occurred to him that an afforestation scheme of this sort would largely solve the unemployment problem in the winter. .... , The matter was left in the hands of the executive to prosecute.