C—3

The following minor forest produce was removed under permit: —

Indigenous and exotic timber extracted by the Forest Service itself is dealt with in Chapter VI, Section (1). Soil Conservation At the present time when the Forest Service is embarking on extensive schemes for the production and utilization of timber from exotic forests, there is a tendency to overlook the less spectacular but equally important work which is being undertaken in connection with protection forests. The use of vegetation in stabilizing soil and regulating stream-flow has long been recognized ; and the management of forests on the steeper hill country, primarily for protection purposes, is regarded as one of the major responsibilities of the Service. Out of a total of nearly 9,250,000 acres which comprise the forest estate, it is estimated that over 6,000,000 acres can be classed as essentially protection forest. Much of this land consists of mountain-tops and precipitous and inaccessible back country where extraction of timber is impossible ; and the value of such forest lies in the protection which it affords to the highly productive farmingland below. In some instances, however, extraction of milling timber, where may be permitted on a restricted scale if there is no danger of accelerating erosion. The chief enemies of these forests are fire and browsing animals ; and the judicious removal of mature trees, where this is possible, does not adversely affect the valuable properties which are associated with protection forests. All timber-sale proposals on State and Maori-owned lands are subject to careful scrutiny from the viewpoint of possible erosion. Where erosion is likely to follow felling and extraction, the proposal is either refused or modified in the case of State forest areas, or made the subject of strong representations to the Maori Land Court or Maori Land Board respecting Maori-owned land. The Forest and Rural Fires Act, 1947, which was sponsored by the Forest Service, provides adequate means for the prevention and control of fire on protection forest areas ; but the position with regard to animal pests gives cause for grave concern. In Southland Conservancy, where ecological research is being carried out in the indigenous beech forests, evidence points to the ultimate disappearance of the forest unless deer can be brought effectively under control. This conclusion has Dominionwide application and merits very careful attention. Damage by opossums and goats

20

— 1948 -49. 1947 -48. 1946 -47. Indigenous. Exotic. | Indigenous. Exotic. Indigenous. Exotic. Number. Number. Number. Number. Number. Number.. Poles 10,300 9,600 5,000 Strainers 23,300 21,000 17,600 Posts and stakes 565,700 430,600 357,600 16,000 Stays 13,700 8,100 7,300 Sleepers 14,100 20,000 17,000 8^400 House blocks and pole blocks 17,700 14,300 5,900 Battens 1,164,800 1,136,100 9,300 982,800 Bridge stringers 40 10 170 Survey pegs 500 Firewood (cords) 900 50 600 " 30 360 j ' 260 Mining timber (pieces) 55,000 9,700 61,400 12,700 54,600 3,700 Rails 240 Chopping-blocks 100 1,200 100 Tomato-stakes 1,400 38,600 Shingles 184,500