BASED ON A FALLACY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21952, 13 May 1933, Page 18

BASED ON A FALLACY

RECOMMENDATION OPPOSED STATE FOREST DEPARTMENT. An extract from the presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Foresters, deals with the Forestry Department: “ During the past year the Economy Commission recommended that when, shortly, the Dominion’s State plantations are, to quote the words of the commission’s report, ‘ reduced to a maintenance basis ’ —that is, consolidated and rounded off —the Forest Department be amalgamated with another State Department. Such action would deal a crushing blow to the fundamental aim and object of the institute —namely, furthering the development of technical forestry in New Zealand, for it would destroy the traditions of the State Forest Department. Moreover, the recommendation is based on the fallacy that what is termed the maintenance period of the plantations demands less unified and direct control and less skilful management, whereas on the contrary it is a period in the development of plantations when skilful silvicultural tending and systematic _ management demand no reduction in trained personnel. “ Repeated efforts over a number of years to destroy the United States Forest Service by transferring it to the Department of the Interior were during the past year finally abandoned. After the full criticism to which forestry was subjected in that country during the past few years, forestry has come out on top. Let us hope that technical forestry in New Zealand will be equally successful. “ We must not be disheartened by the present slump conditions; the very fact that in times of crisis men’s minds are unsettled renders them more receptive and adjustable to quick changes for the better, and why not in technical forestry?" r