FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 23

FORESTRY COMMISSION.

REPORT BEFORE THE HOUSE. SUGGESTIONS FOR AFFORESTATION. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. July 15. Tho Forestry Commission’s report was laid before the Hous'j to-day. The report says that in order to be efficacious the climatic reserves must occupy a wide area, and they recommend that the following be set aside for that, purpose:— Southland —119,200 acres on the Takitimu and Longwood Range, for conservation of the streams that have their sources thereon ; Westland—s34,6oo acres for the conservation of the headwaters of the various Westland rivers; Ne150n—9,547,000 acres for the conservation of the headwaters of rivers; Marlborough—Bß,3so acres for the same purI>ose; Wellington—93,B2o acres for the extension of the Tongariro National Park, and tho conservation of tho headwaters of tho Wanganui River. Tho commission is of opinion that no scenic reserve should be diverted from its original purpose without there being tho strongest possible reason for so doing. The reserves not set aside for scenery purposes number 518, and the commission recommends that tho following bo added Poor Knight's Islands, on which among other things mentioned are some of tho many birds now almost extinct; on tho mainland—Lake Waikarcrnoana, which is important both from tho point of view of preserving the great beauty of scenery, and helping to conserve the water supply of tho lake; certain reserves in the Rotorua thermal district, in regard to which tho commission recommends that steps be taken to acquire from the Natives about 11,000 acres bordering certain lakes, and that funds for tho purpose be provided by opening for settlement an area of forest bush and scenic reserves that are to be acquired in that district; settlement to bo preceded by the milling of the timber. Tho commission recommends that the Government acquire for preservation all the steep banks of the Wanganui River not already preserved, and where the land is not suitable for settlement the commission recommends that the. Government should acquire for the preservation of the forest all the steep lauds bordering on the Mokau River, and that certain Crown Lands in the Arai district bo exchanged therefor. The commission recommends that the reservation of this forest be lifted, the timber to be milled by the Crown for the people of New Zealand. Also that the whole of the Warawara kauri forest be established as national kauri parks for tho benefit of tho people of New Zealand. As regards milling forests, the commission recommends that the sole jurisdiction should be vested in the Land Boards, and that in regard to the payment of half royalties to local bodies they should only be paid on timber which is conveyed by road.

After careful consideration the commission recommends that there should be no restriction whatever imposed upon the exportation of white pine. Further, in view of the great importance to the State of finding and providing a substitute for white pine for the packing of butter, it considers it advisable that the dairy produce division of the Agricultural Department should conduct an exhaustive series of-ex-periments with regard to the capabilities of various timbers for butter boxes, especially the various kinds of poplar, Oregon pine, the various species of Now Zealand beech, tawa, and taraire.

Under this heading llio commission estimates -that tho amount of timber consumed yearly in New Zealand is 358,C00.0Q0ft, and that in 35 years it will he 716.000,000 ft. On March 31, 1912. the State plantations wore 18.870 acres in extent. At the present rate of planting—namely, 2566 acres in 191112 —the total yield when converted would he 128.300,000 ft, which at the present rate of consumption would last about four months. The commission considers that at least two and a-half times the acreage of 1911-12 should be planted. Turning to the question of financial purposes the commission considers that an acre of pinus radiata would produce 150,00 ft of timber at the age of 35 years. Taking the value of the land at £2 per acre, the figures would work out as follows Expenditure on 10,000 acres, planted at £3 per acre, at 4i, per cent, compound interest for 35 years, £573,360; rental value of the land on the above basis, £73.346; annual maintenance charge at 6s per acre on the same basis, £244,488; —total expenditure, £691.194; 10,000 acres, yielding 150,000 ft per acre, at 2s per hundred, £1,500.000; deduct expenditure (£691.194), £808,806. If these results could bo attained it would mean a profit of nearly £9l per acre, and would allow the timber to bo retailed at from 10s to 11s per 100 superficial feet.

The commission expresses the opinion f hat. given cheap land, economical management, and the right kind of trees to plant, afforestation can bo made a highly profitable investment to the State, and recommends: — (1) That the I’risons’ Department should have a credit note for the value of all work done by nigon labour; 12) that 4j per cent, interest should bo debited annually to the

cost of the previous year’s operations; (3) that the rental value of the land as assessed by the Government Valuation Department, also on a 4 per cent, basis, should bo debited to the forestry account. As to the necessity of afforestation, the commission states that there is but little reliance to be placed upon foreign supplies. Likewise the time may come when it is possible that many countries will forbid the export of their home-grown timber, and there is always the chance of the timber supply being cut off in time of war. In short, if there is good reason for the countries of the old world to plant commercial forests, there is far more need for an isolated land such as New Zealand to do so. As to nurseries, the commission recommends that a central nursery bo established for the South Island near Studholmo Junction, and that the private planter and public bodies be supplied with trees at cost price. Plantations snould bo made in Central Otago, near Ophir, Alexandra, or Clyde; one or more areas on the Mackenzie Plains; on the ancient riverbeds of Canterbury beyond the roach of the highest floods ; on the Culverden Plain; on the slopes of Mount Isabel, Hanrner, near the present plantation; on Run No. 24. near the mouth of the Rangitikei River, 6360 acres in extent, occupied by Mr J. M’Kelvio: on an extension of the present area on the volcanic p’ateau; and several areas in the gum lands. In regard to present State operations, the commission expresses the opinion that mistakes have been made in planting unsuitable trees, and the right trees in the wrong places, and recommends that in future the operations bo placed in the hands of an executive officer at an adequate salary, such officer to be of approved administrative and financial ability, that he should have associated with him an advisory board of paid experts appointed by the Governor, and that the present superintending nurseryman should, under the direction of the hoard, control the operations in flic North and South Islands respectively, and receive remuneration commensurate with the important duties they discharge. The commission recommends that private persons plantmg trees should get them at cost price, and that planting by private individuals should be encouraged by the remission of taxes or otherwise on a certain percentage of the total area of the estate which has been planted to the satisfaction of the Forestry Board. Afforestation by local bodies should also be encouraged. After making interesting remarks on tiro education of cadets and others in forestry, the kind of trees that should be planted, the preparation of a Took on forestry, and so on, the commission recommends that the Land Act should be amended so as to include climatic reserves in addition to the other reserves that can bo made under the Act; that the Wara war a kauri forest of 200 acres, and the Waipoua forest be inalienable national kauri parks, and that a proposition be made for the destruction of noxious animals in scenic reserves.