THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1929. FORESTS AND FARMING

Wairarapa Age, 20 March 1929, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1929. FORESTS AND FARMING

In the minds of those who have given any thought to what a policy of forest conservation means and is capable of meaning to this country, uneasiness is likely to- be awakened by a recent statement of the Commissioner of State Forests (the Hon. W. B. Tavern®T)- A ’ s , he is rc J? orced , the Minister said that, the Government desired that every possible effort should be made to increase primary production, and he trusted, thej would shortly be in a position to give details of a land policy which would enable increased settlenwiut on small holdings. This would, however (he added) involve a comprehensive classification as between Jands- suitable for agricultural aud pastoral pursuits and forestry. The State Forest Service would, there.jkre, confine its fu--ure activities to areas which were aot suitable for settlement. erton t V at s-V- affUe talt > but “ extent to which it carries a meaning it I not calculated to inspire confidence. There undoubtedly should be a demarc- 1 hn! M !i, O i ."?• and asrric’Jltoal lands, bur. the last thing to be desired in the present and future interests of the Dominion is that there should be any atu'c rU3h c the P roce « of demoroation before the Accurate data on which it should be. based has been obtained. This country presents examples innumerable of the wasteful devastation of forest lands and the incidenital imposition of a lasting amid burdensome handicap on farming industry, but the extension of settlement certainly is not being hampered, or impeded by anything that is being, done to conserve the remnants of .forest we still possess. It is only within the last ten years or so that any regard has been paid in this country to- the. economic value and importance of forests. Previously, forests had been destroyed heedlessly .'. nd in many ci.ises without being made to yield a vestige of immediate profit. forests that to-day would be worth many millions went up in smoko, an-d

great areas of land devastated in this, way are now carrying nothing but noxious weeds. Moreover, the flood problems that are involving an ever-, increasing annual expenditure over a great part of the Dominion are due very largely to the heedless deistruction of watershed forests.. On these facte, it would evidently he a policy of

wisdom to exercise strict caution in allowing further forested, lands to be cleared in this country, unless, of course, it is demonstrated that they are well suited for agriculture. The problem should be handled with due regard to the fact that great areas clear ed for settlement in rhe past undoubtedly would have Peen better left in forest. In all cases where an element of doubt exists, an accurate and detailed survey and examination, taking full account of all economic factors, should precede further demarcation. Those

who think that too much land is being left in forest in this country should consider that France, Germany and ? other countries in Europe in which intensive cultivation- is the rule maintain approximately on-c;fifth of their total land area in forest. The State forests of New Zealand constitute less than one eighth of its total land area, and of these State forests, three-fourths ’ are dedicated l only provisionally. AID THAT IS WARRANTED r The Borough Council is to be eon- . gratulated unreservedly upon its action la-st evening in making a grant of £lOO to the Mastertoll, branch of the Plunket Society. Since there was no discussion when the gaat went through, it is to be assumed that councillors were unanimous in approving it, and this, of course, is as it should be. The members of the Plunket Society are carrying on a service of inestimable value to the community, and- while it : s necessary that they should do a certain amount of begging in order to preserve the freedom and initiative of their vlunteer organisation (which would be lost if the society were supported wholly out of public funds), it is certainly neither fair nor right to ask them to do more begging than is, necessary. There are some people who think that a borough council is doing' wrong if it spends the money of the' ratepayers on anything else than I streets and drains, but in our opinion', very few peopl will be found in Mas ) terton to endorse this painfully limited I -estimate of municipal responsibility.' The greater part of the direct revenue] of the borough of course must go. as it |does, in maintaining and improving the I .streets and carrying out other necessiary improvementa of a more or less re-': lated kind. The. present Mayor council have from this point of viewi a particularly good record and one thatwill bear exa.mina.tiom. There is img in the slightest degree inconsistent with that record, or with the policy of prudent economy it connotes, in making such a grant, as was made last evening to the Plunket Society.