FOREST POLICY OF GOVERNMENT IS EXPLAINED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18547, 22 August 1928, Page 4

FOREST POLICY OF GOVERNMENT IS EXPLAINED.

(Special to the “ Star. ’’) WELLINGTON, August 21. Answering requests of members that their districts should receiA-e attention in afforestation, the Minister in Charge of the Forest SeFA-ice, the Hon O. J. Hawken, stated that on examining the whole position he found that forestry must be tackled in a businesslike way on comparatively large areas, which must be planted rapidly’. Some of the old forests had cost far more than they- Avere likely to return, and he felt that there had been considerable losses before the war because the work Avas not done in a businesslike way. The objective of the department was to plant a considerable area rapidly’, and then leaA’e it in charge of a fire guard. Recently 21.000 acres had been bought on the banks of the Waimakariri at 30s per acre, and this came in Avell to proA’ide an opportunity for the relief of Christchurch unemployed. This Avas the type of operation they preferred instead of a policy of planting a small area, here and there. Mr Forbes: Have you done anything in North Canterbury? The Minister: There is an extension of area around Balmoral, and, of course, at Ilanmer. Balmoral had been planted over an area of 16.000 acres in ’five years, but at Ilanmer, Avhich had been under operation for twentysix or twenty-eight years, they had only finished planting 9000 acres and there was no doubt that work carried out on these conditions could not be payable. “lam of opinion,” concluded Mr Hawken, “ that giving more •than 30s per acre for afforestation land is inadA’isable. Good land should certainly- not be used.”