a—3

8

This forest contains a large amount of kauri, and it is proposed to start milling in either this or the Warawara Kauri Forest during the coming year. As the Warawara Kauri Forest contains a large quantity of over-mature trees, and trees that have been much damaged by crude and clumsy "gumbleeding," it should be the first forest to be milled. Director of Forests. During the war it would have been impossible to have obtained, the services as Director of Forests of a person with the highest professional training, but since the termination of the war arrangements have been made for the High Commissioner to advertise in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States for a man who has graduated at a recognized school of forestry, and who has also had experience in the management of forests, to take the position of Director of Forests here. In order that selection may be made as in the case of professors at the University, the office of Director will be excepted from the Public Service Act. In a preceding paragraph it has been shown that the area of forest of commercial value and still owned by the State is very small, and it is therefore of the highest importance that this forest should be managed with the greatest skill obtainable. A Director with the training referred to above and with the, looal knowledge of the officers available here will be able to carry out a system of treatment which all will feel confident is in the best interest of the State. Increase in Staff. To control and manage the forests owned by the State is of course the reason for the existence. of a Forestry Department. Hitherto all forests excepting the plantations of exotics have been managed by the Lands Department staff ; but the establishment of a separate Department entails the formation of a special staff for carrying out demarcation, special inspections, timber appraisements, fireprotection, forest research, milling and sale of timber, and these operations require a central administrative staff. Up to the present time only a Chief Officer has been appointed, but, as stated above, a Director of Forests is to be appointed ; and a Research Officer, six Forest Inspectors, a Chief Clerk, with junior clerical assistants and draughtsman, are now about to be appointed. This staff, however, will be quite inadequate to do all the work that will be required in order to obtain an active and proper management of the forests, and it may be taken as certain that with the extension of operations additional officers will have to be employed in the near future.

PART lI.—STATE NURSERIES AND PLANTATIONS. Trees raised and Area planted. During the year ended 31st March, 1919, 3,213,275 trees were raised in the four State nurseries, and during the same period 4,384,036 trees were sent out to the various State plantations and 453,749 to outside places. In spite of the shortage of labour and a depleted staff, the new area planted was 2,799 acres, which brings the total area planted, since the starting of afforestation in 1896, up to-35,158 acres. The following table shows the area planted prior to the Ist April, 1909, and the area planted yearly since that date : — .

Prison Labour. At the Kaingaroa Plantation (near Rotorua) the average daily number of prisoners employed was 32-9. The total value of the work done by prisoners during the year was £2,793 2s. Id.; and the total area was 1,085 acres. The total value of the work done in the North Island since 1900 is now £49,801 1.55.

Planted before 1st April, 1909. Jorth Island 7,802 louth Island 3,291 Totals .. 11,093 1909-10. 1910 -11. Acres. ' Acres. 1,807 1,575 891 1,025 2,698 j 2,600 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. Acres. Acres. 776 1,288 828 537 1,604 1,825 1914-15. Acres. 1,416 749 1915-10. Acres. 1,913 764 1916-17. Acres. 1,918 846 1917-18. 1918-19. Acres. Acres. 1,633 1,835 1,020 964 Total Area. Acres. 1,664 902 -Acres. 23,027 11,817 2,566 2,165 2,677 2,764 2,053 2,799 35,444