WarnkER.—State Forestry: its Aim and Object. 201 
being felled at all seasons of the year, and utilized at once, without season- 
ing. As Mr. Kirk writes in his report on the durability of New Zealand 
timbers in constructive works :—‘ The disadvantages attending winter work 
in the bush have led to the anomalous fact that by far the larger portion of 
timber used in New Zealand is felled during the spring and summer 
months, and this has given rise to the erroneous idea that some of our best 
timbers—the kauri, totara, and others—season imperfectly, contracting in 
length and breadth long after they are used. * * * Exactly similar 
results would attend the use of the best European and American timbers 
under similar circumstances.” I admit that serious objections may be 
raised against some of the species, both as regards durability, shrinking, 
ete., and I confess that there are some conditions, both as regards the 
supply and demand, commercial value, rate of growth and reproduction, 
which I have not as yet fully mastered, and with regard to which, so far as 
I can learn, no reliable data are on record. Speaking broadly, however, I 
repeat that I have formed a high opinion of the New Zealand forests, and I 
think, if the public will permit us, we shall make a very valuable property 
of what we reserve, and secure a fair and steadily increasing revenue from 
what we dispose of. It has, I am aware, been argued by some that the 
£10,000 per annum appropriated under the existing “ State Forest Act ” is 
inadequate for planting purposes, and that, as the colony cannot afford to 
supplement it, or even to spend that sum, the whole thing had better be 
dropped. Now, I am very glad to have the £10,000 appropriation for the 
first few years as a reserve fund to draw upon, but I don’t intend to 
trench much upon it, and any scheme which I may bring forward will be 
based on the principle that the forest department should be entirely self- 
supporting, the revenues derived from existing indigenous forests in the 
hands of the Crown being made sufficient to cover all expenditure for 
establishments and working, gradual formation of plantations, ete., ete., the 
surplus, after defraying all the above charges, being Colonial Forest Revenue. 
This is the system whieh we have gone on in India, where we took over a 
forest property in a much more dilapidated condition than that of New 
Zealand, and burdened by the immemorial rights and privileges of a native 
population, numbering upwards of 200,000,000 ; and have nevertheless, I 
am proud to say, paid our way, formed extensive plantations, and already 
secured an annually increasing surplus of revenue over expenditure. I 
wish especially to guard myself against forming or expressing Utopian or 
too rosy views on this subject, and I can have no interest in over-estimating 
the value and importance of-the forests, as it is very improbable that I shall 
be able to remain as conservator, even if the Government and the House 
should wish to retain my services beyond the year for which they are at 
Zz 
