FORESTRY POLICY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 71

FORESTRY POLICY.

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER. WELLINGTON, August 26. Resolutions passed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Forestry League were replied to by the Commissioner of State Forests (Mr 0. J. Hawken) in a letter received to-day at a meeting of the council of the league. The policy of gradual purchase and consolidation, said the commissioner, was being, and had been, pursued for some years. Naturally, there were limitations to finance, but the council could rest assured that no stone was being left unturned to maintain in full use the policy of steady acquisition of forest lands throughout the Dominion wherever public interest was served thereby. With regard to the suggestion by the league that the Waipoua forest should be preserved in the meantime and maintained in its entirety for at least a period of years with a view to its preservation as a national monument, Mr Hawken said that nothing would be done to jeopardise the true conservation interest of the great forest wealth with which this forest was so richly endowed. So far as the control of forest insect pests was concerned, Mr Hawken said the matter was now engaging his attention with a view to evolving satisfactory methods.