33

C—3a

Financial Aspects of the State-forest-extension Programme (Future Timber Situation, &c). Within a generation the wood-consumption of New Zealand will be 1,000 million feet annually, and from what information is available your investigator estimates that the requirements may be satisfied as follows: The Dominion indigenous forests will produce 60 per cent.; the Dominion plantations will produce 10 per cent.; private forests and importations will produce 30 per cent. Discussing No. (1), the execution of the forest-organization proposals as submitted, together with an active and progressive scheme of road and railway extension, energetic research into the utilization of waste wood, &c, and the wider use of low grades by the consuming public, will, the writer is convinced, secure the estimated amount. Discussing No. (2), the following programme with regard to the State plantations is submitted to satisfy the amount stated (10 per cent.) : — The following State-forest plantations to be placed immediately on a maintenance basis: — North Island: Whakarewarewa Plantation, 10,124 acres; Puhipuhi Plantation, 1,306 acres. South Island: Dusky Hill Plantation, 845 acres; Conical Hills Plantation, 3,672 acres; Pukerau Plantation, 628 acres; Gimmerburn Plantation, 425 acres; Waitahuna Plantation, 11 acres; Dumgree Plantation, 903 acres; Galloway Plantation, 420 acres; Omarama Plantation, 1,437 acres; Raincliff Plantation, 207 acres; To Kapo Plantation, 29 acres: t0ta1,'20,007 acres. To be carried out immediately if it has not already been done. The following State-forest plantations to be consolidated and rounded out within the next five to seven years : —

This consolidation to be secured by the issuance of debentures to the amount of £232,300. With regard to certain peculiar regional needs and in the interest of economy it is recommended that definite long-time schemes be established by the State in the following regions :— (a.) The south-western coast of the North Island (sand-dune country) known as the Manawatu West Coast district. (b.) The Hanmer Springs centre, (c.) The Blue Mountains, Tapanui. (d.) The Moutere Hills, Nelson. (a.) Project might be executed on a co-operative basis between the local bodies and the State: a partnership in which the State provides the planting-material free of cost, supervision, and a part of the cost of formation; the local bodies to provide the land, the local management, (fee; the net proceeds to be divided on an equitable basis. (6.) Project should be carried on directly by the State planting 11,820 acres at the rate of 500 acres per year. This project would require about twenty-three years to complete. It is suggested that debentures be raised for the amount of £35,000 for a five- to seven-year programme. (c.) Project should be carried on directly by the State planting 500 acres per year over a period of from twenty-five to thirty years. It is suggested that debentures be raised to the amount of £35,000 for a five- to seven-year programme. (d.) Project should be carried out by the same principle as (a) scheme. The projects outlined are such that definite, concentration may be obtained at certain strategic working-centres. The administration and management of these areas would be very much less than where there are many widely scattered small forests. Surer and more definite results are possible, for the needs of technical management are satisfied. It should not be construed that the State should confine its interest solely to these areas, but its wider responsibilities in respect to the national welfare should be satisfied by this procedure, and other efforts should be initiated and carried on by private enterprise, assisted by the State wherever expedient.

5—C. 3a.

Forest Plantation. Area to be planted. Area formed to date. Total formed Area on Completion of Project. North Island— Waiotapu Kaingaroa Plains West Kaingaroa Plains South Island — Greenvalc Naseby Balmoral Acres. 280 5,000 5,000 Acres. 10,338 7 \ 665* Acres. 10,618 6,800 13,665 4,161 810 3,000 953 1,822 922 5,169 2,760 4,000* Total .. 18,251 21,700 43,012 * Includes roads, fire-breaks allowances, administrative, sites, &c.

Project. Location. i Final Areas to be planted. Cost for Length of Initial FiveFormation Period. to Sevenyoar Period. To plant in Initial Period. Acres. Several thousand 11,820 at rate of 500 Acres. £ Acres. (a.) (&.) Manawatu sand-dunes Hanmer Springs district, Canterbury Blue Mountains, Tapanui .. Moutere Hills, Nelson tie .. £ ct, 1 everal thousand 1,820 at rate of 5 Tier vea.r A generation .. 0 A generation .. 35,000 2,500 (c) .. I .. S per year 15,000 to 20,000 .. Several thousand. . per year 5,000 to 20,000 everal thousand L . 35-40 years .. 35,000 A generation 2,500