FORESTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 38

FORESTRY

THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS. W ELLINGTON, September 23. llie Government’s proposals in regard to forestry are contained in a Bill which was read a first time in Parliament this afternoon, i lie State forest service b to consist of tha Commissioner of State Forests, the Director of Forestry, and the Secretary of Forestry, and such conservators, rangers, and other officers as may from time to time bo appointed as officers of the Sia’o forest service. There will be two bran-ins, professional and an administrative branch, the director being the head of the form, r and ihe secretary of tho latter. The director is to la- appointed for a term nut exceeding five years, but shall bo eligible for reappointment. Provision is made for the appointment of an assistant director, a chief inspector, honorary rangers, and forest. officers. A Forest Advisory Board will consist of the following : —The Director of Forestry (who shall he the chairman of the hoard), the Secretary of Forestry, one member to be appointed as representative of persons engaged aa employers in the sawmilling industry, one member to be appointed as representative of persons engaged as workers in the sawmilling industry, ono member to bo appointed as representative, of persons engaged in ihe distribution or use of forest, produce, one member to bo appointed as representative of any association of persons (whether incorporated or not), whose object, or- one of whose objects, is the promotion of forestry, a person for the time being holding office as a professor of forestry at an institution affiliated to the University of New Zealand : three other persons to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister. Part 2 of the Bill deals with State Forests. Crown lands may be set about as permanent or provisional .State forests, and there may also be areas of national endowment land. There is provision for the purchase of private lands for State forests purposes, and the Minister may carry on industries in relation to forest produce. There are to be working plans for each State forest. These plans shall specify the maximum area from which forest produce may be taken annually, the maximum quantity of forest produce that may be disposed of annually, the operations proposed to be carried out during the currency of the pain and such other matters as the director thinks fit, subject to the approval of the Minister in charge. There are provisions in regard to fi:e districts. Part 4 of the Bill deals with financial provisions, including the raising of loans for the purposes of State forests not exceeding in the aggregate £500,000. Part 5 contains clauses relating to offences, penalties, and incidental provisions. There is a special provision in regard to Alaori forests. Assembled owners of native forest land may, by resolution, transfer control to the State Forest Service.