The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1927. TIMBER SUPPLIES.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2850, 18 October 1927, Page 4

The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1927. TIMBER SUPPLIES.

A. great deal is being said and written these days re the exhaustion , oi timber supplies in this and other' lands, and the need for afforestation. There can be no doubt that timber supplies in all parts of the world are becoming scarcer, reliable figures showing that the rate of demolition is far' greater than that of afforestation. Therefore, it would appear that, where new forests can bo grown on cheap lands in a favourable climate, these should prove not ,only a wise provision for the future, but an economic venture. It has been proved that soft woods, such as pinub insignis, Douglas fir and other exotic* will mature in New Zealand, under favourable conditions, in from twenty to forty years, while the same class of trees take from eighty to a hundred and twenty i years to grow to the same extent 'in Europe, and from fifty to i-ighty years in America and British Columbia. Under these conditions there secerns no reason why the growing of soft;wooded timber trees, provided the. work is economically carried out, and the cost of the land is hot unreasonable, should not lay the foundations for an important industry in the Dominion. One of the most common ases of soft timber is that for making wood pulp. An enormous demand exists for this class of timber, and the claims of New Zealand timber concerns that this country might well establish a large and payable business in.this connection would appear a reasonable deduction. Experts declare that pinus insignis is oxcellent for wood pulp for paper-mak-ing—equal to Norwegian spruce, recognised as one of the best timbers for the purpose —and as this timber grows in New Zealand at a remarkably quick rate it would seem quite within the realms of possibility that in a few years' time this country will be manufacturing paper from its own trees, in sufficient quantity to supply all New Zealand and Australia's needs in this commodity. The Government has planted a great area of land with soft-wood-ed timber, and one proprietary company has already completed the planting of some 80,000 acres, which, in a comparatively short time, will be-ready for'milling purposes. We have many thousands of acres in this country that will grow splendid forests, but are useful for little else, and if this land is judiciously used it should help in the establishment of an important and profitable industry in the not very distant future. Hard-wooded timbers, such as the eucalypti family, also grow much more rapidly in this country than in most other lands, /plantations in the Cambridge district have already supplied conclusive proof that the Waikato district can supply its own requirements in power poles, fencing posts, etc., which are becoming more scarce and expensive from year to year. The great interest being shown in afforestation is most gratifying, this Dominion comparing most favourably with any other parts of the world in this direction; indeed New Zealand's example is being quoted and followed by other lands. Like other enterprises, afforestation can be carried too far. In this connection it would be a great mistake to plant trees extensively on land that could be used more effectively in the production of primary products year by

year, for land used for afforestation purposes has to lie for years before any tangible results accrue, while the wealth derived from farming pursuits is put into circulation, and keeps the country in a state of prosperity. Thus it would be wise to confine the planting on an extensive scale to the poor lands, such as those in the Putaruru-Taupo districts" that are unsuitable for general farming purpSses.