THE DOMINION’S TREES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20043, 4 September 1920, Page 10

THE DOMINION’S TREES.

FORESTRY SCHOOL FOR CANTERBURY. Canterbury is definitely recommended for a technical forest training centre in “ Report on Forest Conditions in New Zealand,’’ prepared by Mr Macintosh Ellis, Director of .Forestry, and laid on the table of the Legislative Council. It is advised unreservedly that a forest training centre he established without delay in Now Zealand. This decision was come to, it is staled, after a. careful consideration of the forest problems that must be__solved in New Zealand, and the needs of tho present and future in the execution ot a forest policy. The expenditure of £3OOO a year in establishing and maintaining n (Jhair el Forest Engineering and a. State Banger School at Canterbury ('ollcge (officered by a professor of forestry and an assistant, prolessor) should provide ample facilities for the graduation of live to seven forest technicians a year, and from ten to fifteen forest rangers. Tho Canterbury State Hanger School might ha moved lo the West Coast at a later date, when trained officers are available to carry on instructional work, it was stated, hut lor the lirst lire years tit ere is no reason why all iorcst education work should not f,c earned on in Canterbury. Mr ,1. M’Combs, M.P., writing to Mr I’. B. Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, regarding the mutter, says that tho report is a very voluminous one, bujt unfortunately it has not been ordered to be printed. As the whole question of the future timber supply of the Dominion is a matter of very groat interest to every section of the community, ho thinks the report should be printed. There arc 10, COO limber workers in tho Dominilon, and it is interesting to note that in the scheme of organisation of the industry it is proposed to have workers’ representatives on the Consultative Forest Board. Tho whole question is of very great interest to Canterbury and the Most Coast, because 30 per cent of tho West Coast and Nelson forests are dedicated, and under State freest management, whereas in other districts the percentage ranges from 2per cent to 5 per cent. it is proposed in tlie_report to plant 11.320 acres of trees at Hanmer Springs at the rate of 500 acres per year. This project would require about twentythree years to complete. it is sng. gested that debentures he raised for the amount of £35,000 for a lire to seven year programme.