Lecoy. — The Forest Question in Neiv Zealand. 7 



With respect to the leasing of the forest lands it may be asked — why 

 should not any disposition of the Crown forest lands foUow the same course 

 as that ajDplying to any other property ? that is to say — why should such 

 public property be disposed of otherwise than at a price representing its 

 real value, so as to obtain the legitimate profit for the public j)urse ? 



The interest that the present bush licence or leasing system affords to 

 the State is "nil." To the public it affords timber and wood on con- 

 ditions more or less advantageous. On the other hand, the detrimental 

 effects resulting from such leases are great : — First, the forest is generally 

 worked indiscriminately, without any care for its regeneration, thereby 

 effecting every year the absolute destruction of forests which had just 

 yielded produce to the markets of enormous value. 



On that score the lessee may say that it is not his business or duty to 

 select and reserve trees which may be required for the purpose of securing 

 the regeneration of the forest. 



On the other side the public may argue that the law of the country 

 having enacted as a principle that public forests " are to be subjected to 

 skilled management and proper control," the actual destruction of the 

 property through indiscriminate working cannot be considered lawful. 



The period of years for which these leases are granted at almost nom- 

 inal prices, would lead to the idea of an admitted permanent stagnation in 

 the timber trade, which is not compatible with the fact of the incessant 

 progress of the colony, otherwise the leases would constitute a monopoly of 

 privileges, and thereby be an injustice to the people, who all have to contribute 

 proportionately towards the State expenditure, and who are therefore entitled 

 to claim the " jms omnium in omnia.' ^ 



However, all legitimate rights must be recognized and protected, and it 

 is obvious that a new forest administration tending to extend the timber 

 trade to an enlarged sphere of operations, would greatly benefit the lessees 

 of our forests, and they, no doubt, would be glad to join in just and profit- 

 able reforms. 



III. — State Forests : Pkeliminaiiy Observation. 



The establishment of State forests has for its object, not only to 

 provide for a regular and permanent supply of timber and wood, but also 

 to maintain the protection given by nature against the distm-bance of the 

 climatic equilibrium, the occurrence of droughts, the disastrous effects of 

 flood- waters, etc., etc., experience having shovra the preventive or modifying 

 influence, as the case may be, of extensive forest areas. Furthermore, that 

 the conservation of these woodlands, intended for the general interest, should 

 not be entrusted to the management of private persons as pm-chasers of 

 them, because forests, considered from a financial point of view, being almost 



