The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, MAY 28, 1894.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 154, 28 May 1894, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, MAY 28, 1894.

One of Now Zealand’s finest assets is being rapidly destroyed without an effort being made to secure its permanency. We refer to the destruction of forest trees going on .all over New Zealand, it may be, and is, in districts such as ours, necessary that the forest land should be cleared to make room for settlement; but nevertheless there should exist a Government department for the purpose of ensuring the conservation of certain timbers and neutralising the destruction of useful trees in one part by planting in another. From North Gape to Port Nicholson in the North Island the ring of the bushman’s axe tells of the denudation of the forest lands for purposes of settlement. Right down the Island the fine forests of valuable timber that were the envy of our Australian neighbors are rapidly becoming things of the past ; and if the process goes on with as much rapidity in the future, in twenty years the colony will have practically ex- ' hausted its timber supply, at all events I so far as the export trade is concerned. | What is required is a Forest Conservation Dt partment, similar to those in the Australian colonies. In New South Wales the Department is one of the most useful in the State, and i from an insignificant beginning has j extended its operations until it has become one of the most extensive and ! important departments. Care is taken I that where practicable, timber is conserved and planting is carried on all I over the colony. Thu Government \ have an eye to the future development ! of the timber industry, and anticipate | at some futuro date being able to obI viate the necessity of importing any timber. For this hope they have excellent ground, as the experience of South Australia amply demonstrates. In that colony years ago, prior to the institution of the. Forestry I )epartment, a very large amount of imported timber was used. At the present time that Department is one of the most vigorous in the colony, and as a result of the work done most of the timber required is obtainable within thecolony. The other Australian colonies arc following the good example and giving much attention to this matter of forest conservation. New Zealand should not be behind. We have now advantages infinitely greater than those possessed by our neighbours ; but, although we have taken advantage of the circumstances in some degree no real effort has been made to secure the permanence of those advantages. Totara, for instance l , is already becoming very soarco; so is kauri, a timber very extensively used in Australia. A few y< ars must witness the stopp.'u of the export of these timbers and a consequent diminution in the total value of tho colony’s exports. Why should this be when it can bo so easily obviated ? The success of tho Forestry Departments in othcrcolonies has undoubtedly been sufficiently marked to warrant tho New Zealand Government in copying so meritorious an example. If our need is not so pressing our advantages and prospects arc better, and the Government should certainly make the most of them.