FOREST DESTRUCTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18764, 22 July 1935, Page 9

FOREST DESTRUCTION

DANGERS IN DOMINION INDISCRIMINATE BURNING A warning of the grave danger that ies in the destruction of New Zealand’s forests was given in Christchurch by Mr. L. M. McCaskill, instructor in agri■ulture at the Christchurch Training "ollege, in an address to .the Workers’ •Educational Association. Forests, ho naintained, were being destroyed by leer, thar and chamois; by indiscriminite burning and by milling that was not olanned on a scale that would allow of comprehensive replanting. Whereas countries like Sweden and Finland had 50 to 60 per cent, of their area under afforestation, and even Germany had 25 per cent, in forest, the \ T ew Zealand figure in 1922 was hut 11 ter cent.., though the inclusion of cer'ain scenic reserves would bring the perentage up to 17. In the early days of the colony, destructive floods were ilmost unknown, for in bush-covered "ountry heavy rainfalls could not wash iway valuable soil. Now, . however, foods were almost, the rule instead of he exception. hulling on a profitable basis could be ’arriod out by rotation, with a replant:ng of the milled areas so that the commercial forests could bo made to yield imiter in paying quantities and still be Suilt up again over their whole area. H was a terrible thing when men were allowed, as at Fuhi Puhi, to burn kauri Mrnbev worth £12,000.000 for the sake of the gum, worth a few hundred thousands of pounds. Doer in any number, the speaker con--ludcd, must- constitute a grave menace to the. No x Zealand forests. Also, any bird-destroying vermin, such as the German owl, stoats, rats and weasels, diould be'exterminated.