STATE FOREST SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26933, 19 November 1948, Page 5

STATE FOREST SERVICE

PARTICIPATION IN INDUSTRY PROVISION OF AMENDING BILL P.A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. Authority for the Crown to acquire and dispose of the shares or interests in any company having as its principal object any of the functions of the State Forest Service is contained in the Forests Amendment Bill which was introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives today. The Commissioner of State Forests, Mr Skinner, said that although the State Forest service operated State mills there was no authority at present for the service to participate in industry. A clause in the Bill enabled it to do that.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland: What have you in mind? Mr Skinner said there was no specific project in mind. Had there been power to participate in industry it would have been useful for logging operations with private contractors. Another clause in the Bill authorises sanctuaries to be reserved within State forests for the preservation of indigenous flora and fauna.

There is a clause in the Bill providing for the control of the imports and exports of timber. The clause states that no person shall import into New Zealand any tree, tree seed, timber, or timber product which may introduce any insect fungus, bacterium or virus in any of the life stages of those organisms that may be injurious.