TIMBER SUPPLIES.

Wairarapa Age, 5 January 1926, Page 4

TIMBER SUPPLIES.

v After the forthcoming ministerial reconstruction the present Minister in charge of State Forests, the Hon. "Sir Heaton Rhodes, will cease to‘ exercise control over that pfiase of activities, but it is to be hoped that his successor will have -equal enthusiasm for afforestation operations to cover the period of ten years. There are 63,600 acres of State plantations, but this side of the Forest Service work needs to be rapidly extended, and the Minis-

tor’s plan provides for an increase in the acreage year by year, until in 1935, the total will be 360,000 acres. Properly organised, it has been proved that New Zealand can provide for its timber requirements, except for the necessary quantity of special woods which have to be grown under different conditions in foreign countries. Our present annual consumption of timber exceeds 81 million feet, and we have to import nearly 20 per cent of the total used. Australia is in even worse plight with its forests, as it has to import 42 per cent of requirements. It has hardwoods in abundance, but the great call is for soft wood's such as New Zealand is liberally planting ia connection with its afforestation policy. Assuming the appointment of a Minister in charge of State Forests as enthusiastic as the present holder of the office,'and the continued realisation by the Government that afforestation is important, the plans laid down will gradually enable the Dominion to become selfsupporting in its timber supply, with an annual cut not in excess of the annual growth. Apart frbih this important economic consideration, there is the climatic advantage of afforestation, and the vitally important necessity of minimising flood damage to farm lands by covering the foot-hills with moisture-retaining bush.