e.—3

(a) Local Bodies (through Unemployment Board). —The value of the 439,589 trees —viz., £2,425 — was borne by the State Forests Account, less an amount of £338 paid by the recipients to cover lifting and packing charges. (b) Schools. —During the past ten years trees and seeds sufficient to plant more than 13,000 acres have been distributed free to the schools of the Dominion. As the care and maintenance of such an area are certainly as much as the schools can satisfactorily manage, the first step in the abandonment of the policy of granting free trees and seeds to schools was made during the year. Grants of free seed were discontinued, and the limit of free trees obtainable by any one school was reduced from 200 to 100. 5. Recreation in State Forests. Membership of clubs organized for tramping, ski-ing, camping, &c., in our indigenous forests continues to grow, and each year sees the formation of new bodies for these purposes ; at the close of the year the total of such membership was well over 1,000. Indeed, in Wellington Region alone the Service has official cognizance of ten clubs with a recorded membership of 730, and another is at present being formed. A sound forest " sense " inculcated in the minds of the younger generation is the best safeguard for the future preservation and protection of our forest heritage. Subject to certain restrictions, the Service permits the erection of huts at certain strategic points throughout the State forests to recognized tramping clubs, and already several huts have been built in both Islands. 6. Honorary Forest Rangers. This report would not be complete without a reference to the good work carried on so enthusiastically and unobtrusively year by year by the honorary ranger corps, and the public are greatly indebted to these gentlemen for the supervision they exercise, in a strictly honorary capacity, over so many of the State forests of the Dominion. The number of honorary forest rangers is 143, and to all the Service again extends its appreciation for services rendered.

3—C. 3.

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