FORESTRY DEPARTMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20088, 3 May 1927, Page 9

FORESTRY DEPARTMENT.

A SPLENDID RECORD, fPROVISION FOR THE FUTURE. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON. May 2. Addressing the annual conference of the officers of the State Forest Service last week, the Commissioner Of' State Forests (the Hon. 0. J. Hawken) said he was very optimistic regarding the future work of the department. The sawmilling industry, said Mr Hawken, was experiencing the difficulties of the times, owing to various causes which were now being investigated by tlio Government. Forestry, he remarked, was a long-deferred harvest, and that, in a sense, militated agaitist securing public supjiort for it. The general public was not quick to recognise the result to be gained in years to come from the systematic planting: of trees. Interlocked with afforestation was the utilisation of the waste. lands of the Dominion, and ho was satisfied that much of the land in the country which was at present lying idle should be planted with trees, lie considered that in years to come forestry would take a very prominent place in the industrial life of New just as wheat-growing had become one of tho principal industries of He hoped also that when tho country’s finances improved, up-to-date machinery would be provided for the purpose of furthering treeplanting and tree-culture generally. The forest plantations formed by planting during the past year totalled 20,065 acres, while 2438 acres had been sown by drilling and spot sowing. Since 1921, when the department took control of the forestry operations, 99,018 acres had been planted, which was a State record for the British Empire. Tho objective set down to be reached by 1935 was 300,000 acres. A total of 4,822,000 trees had been sold during the year to private treegrowers, which was also a record for the British Empire. In addition to the work of the service about 50,000 acres had been planted by other interests, Tho small national forest fire losses had again established a record for New Zealand, and for the Empire. Of a total of 7,656,838 acres of State forests only 72 acres of forests were damaged by fire at a monetary loss of £l2. The year ahead, the Minister indicated, would be one of the severest economy, as with other Government departments tho forest service must “cut its cloth” according to the current monetary resources of the State. The principal immediate objectives of the service would bo the formation of 30,000 acres of forest plantation by planting and sowing 5000 acres, and the evolution of ways and means to afforest the 5,000,000 acres of idle Crown waste lands in the Dominion.