AFFORESTATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 26

AFFORESTATION.

AIMS OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. WASTE LANDS UTILISED. By W. J. Keyes, B.A. The rise of commercial afforestation is without • doubt one of the marvellous achievements in an age which has grown accustomed to wonderful happenings. Less than half a decade ago, the word which heads this article was unknown to the general mass of the public. Governments, making wise provision for the future, had, however, realised the necessity of reforesting land deprived of treegrowth. Indeed, 30 or 40 years ago, Government* of the day laid down a splendid forestry policy for the Dominion, of which full advantage has been taken by the State at the present period. As a result of early forestry planning, the State to-day possesses forests which have been estimated tc be worth not less than £35,000,000 sterling. Nevertheless, according to the ptatement of the Director of Forestry, there are some 760,000 acres of idle waste land within a 70-mile radius of the city of Auckland. Vast areas are also available for afforestation purposes in the pumice country of the North Island which is generally conceded to possess the best tree-growing country in ,the whole world. Pumiceous country ig unsuitable for most agricultural purposes, and its natural use seems to be the growing of essential softwoods which thrive under a rainfall of 60in a year in the Putaruru region and adjacent districts. Evidence of the marvellous tree-growing properties of the pumic' land was provided recently at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibit whe; a section of a sprue tree grown in Norway, 45 years old, was exhibited in comparison with a similar tree grown in thig Dominion. The Norwegian tree could be measured in inches, while the New Zealand tree was several feet in diameter. This exhibition of the relative tree-growing ability of the two countries attracted much attention. Afforestation has received great impetus from the fact that the world at the present period is suffering from a serious shortage of many varieties of timber, and more particularly of essential softwoods. rise of the artificial silk industry, which is based upon the wood product, has resulted in the cutting out of huge forest areas in the older world. America, which is the greatest timber exporting country, has adopted a suicidal policy for many years in respect to its natural forests. Timber concessions to exploit the great resources of the natural forests of America have been given to companies which have ruthlessly ravished magnificent tracts of country and have made no provision for future planting in denuded areas. Woodpulp mills, running night and day to meet the ever-increasing demands of the newsprint and general paper industry, have also made a serious inroad on the standing forests of the United States. To-day, however, America is beginning to realise its position, and a belated but sincere effort is now being made to replenish the wasted forests. New Zealand has been an object lesson to the whole world, and commercial afforestation was pioneered in this country. Foremost amongst European countries in forestry conservation, we roust, of course, not overlook Norway, Sweden, Finland,, any Germany, bat these countries dealt with the forestry position from a strictly national viewpoint, and no effort was made by them to give the general public an opportunity of Investing in the forestry resources of the country.

The great interest which has been aroused in commercial afforestation, since private enterprise entered the field, in New Zealand, is striking evidence of the belief which the public possssses in the natural advantages of the Dominion. Private enterprise has shown conspicuous initial time in establishing a new industry, that of seating vast man-made forests. The reputable afforestation companies have made adequate provision for safeguarding the bonded capital of investors. Accord* ing to recent statistics made available by the Government, some 25 companies have been registered in New Zealand for the purpose of carrying on afforestation operations. Great tree-planting activities have been reported, and one company has over 60,000 bondholders and possesses nearly a quarter of a million acres of pumice country between Putaruru and Taupo. This company might justly claim to be the largest commercial afforestation organisation in the world. Private enterprise, undoubtedly, is providing a great deal of employment at a time when it is vitally necessary to absorb surplus labour; and, apart from labour units actually engaged in planting operations, impetus has been given to machinery and motor trades, for private enterprise requires a large number of tractors, motor lorries and all sorts of farm implements for the work in hand.

A great volume of capital has come into the country since private enterprise entered into afforestation activities. In propaganda, private enterprise has carried the fame of New Zealand to every portion of the civilised world, and the greatest of all the private companies engaged in afforestation, has an Empire-wide organisation which distributes a vast amount of literature of advantage to the Dominion. From a publicity point of view, private afforestation enterprise is putting New Zealand upon the map in the older countries of the world, and is ably co-ordinating, although in an unofficial capacity, with Government publicity work in increasing the status of the Dominion in foreign countries. One company recently produced a remarkable motion picture, which introduced in its scenerio many magnificent scenic grandeurs of our country.

No argument can be adduced against afforestation. One of the world’s vital necessities is timber. Trees are the arms of mother earth. Trees reflect the Divine majesty of the great Architect of the universe. Where they are, beauty dwells; where they are not, the land is ugly, though it be rich, for its richness is but greasy fatness, and its gaudy raiment, though it be verdant and pleasing to tho vision, is only a cheap imitation of forest finery. Trees are the shelter of man and beast and of the birds of the air. Trees furnish the roof above us, the shade about us, and the nesting places of love and song. They are the fittest ornaments of wealth and the inalienable possessions of the poor, who can enjoy them without having any legal title to them in the plan of manmade laws. Threes provide the timber that are the masts which fly the flags of all nations and the sails of the seven seas. Trees provide the timbers that bridge forbidding streams, that bear the wires of the world’s intelligence, that 1 Id the rails that carry the pulsing traffic M continents. Trees provide the pleasant furnishings of a home and from trees comes the timber which cradles the young and coffins the dead. The Prince of Wales recently referred to the fact that afforestation would have to be taken more seriously throughout the Empire. The British Isles imported 9.800.000 tons of lumber last year, valued at 47,000,000 sterling, of which only 10 per cent, was Empire timber, and recent official statistics give evidence that 1,200,000.000 acres of forest land throughout the Empire ought to supply a greater share of British imports of essential timbers. Scandinavian countries have maintained their forests and their paper and pulp industries upon an average annual increment of only 24 cubic feet of w r ood per acre per year. Canada and America hope to perpetuate the same industries, upon an average annual increment of 58 cubic feet per acre per year. New Zealand, under proper afforestation methods, initiated on the most conservative plan, will have available an average annual increment of no less than 250 cubic feet per acre per year. Afforestation hi.s a distinct Empire significance. The time is now at hand when the Empire must produce its own paper, and this particularly applies to Australia and New; Zealand—countries which are at present importing enormous quantities of paper, to keep the printing industry going. Recently. Mr Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, referred to the tremendous nature of British war debts. This involves a charge of £33,000,000 at the present period, rising in eight years to £38,000,000. That is to say, nutting it mildly, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, and his successors in a long line, will have to pay about £IOO,OOO a day every day* for more than three generations, and this is to America alone. Think of the other debts which Britain must also meet; of the manner in which Britain sustained the whole of the Allies during the greatest of all wars, and it will be realised that anything which can be done to improve our financial position, find work for the workless, and cut down our heavy imports is vitally necessary. Afforestation is a magnificent conception, and as the years go bv it will come to be recognised in a grander manner. As Britishers, and individually as members of a great corporate commonwealth, in an Empire family, based upon democracy and justice, we feel a thrill of pride at the enterprise of afforestation pioneers. TTiese men behind tho afforestation movement have gone into the highways and the byways, with their eyes ever steadfastly. set towards the beacon lighting up the highway of progress. They are planting mighty forests for the future; tho are working for the consummation of a grand idea. Afforestation is for them a guiding principle. They have created a forestry sense, and they are nurturing a natural asset in the broadest interests of our race and of our far-flung Empire.