12 

 5. Is the Material being obtained by the best Sylvicultural Methods 9 



Although this question lies without the fundamental issue of the 

 enquiry it is of very considerable interest to the welfare of the 

 woods of the country. It was anticipated that rises in the price 

 of pit-wood would lead owners to make excessive and reckless 

 fellings, but, on the other hand, the abnormal condition of the 

 market would present a favourable opportunity in some cases for 

 making much-needed thinnings which could not be hitherto con- 

 ducted at a profit. The officers engaged on the enquiry were 

 accordingly instructed to give advice, when requested, as to 

 the best sylvicultural methods of treatment. 



The returns show that in the case of 83 estates (95,560 acres) 

 visited, 25 estates (34,670 acres) were employing suitable methods 

 and 58 estates (60,890 acres) unsatisfactory methods. 



It is of course impossible at the moment to predict the final result 

 on the woods of the country, but it is clear that partial or actual 

 depletion is bound to occur and that the question of regeneration 

 will call for an active policy on the part of the State. 



6. Is the Trade being carried on fairly between all Parties concerned ? 



Enquiries were directed to the following points : 



(.) Names of merchants operating in the various districts 



visited, with a note as to their reliability. 

 (b.) Prices being offered. 

 (c.) General remarks as to trading. 



The information received under this head was generally of a 

 rather vague description. This arises perhaps from the inherent 

 difficulty of the case. The system of trading varies very greatly. 

 As a pretty general rule the crop is sold standing and frequently 

 the vendors have only a shadowy idea of the rate at which they 

 have been paid. It is well known too that the measurements cannot 

 be relied on, and that such measures as a cubic foot or a ton do not 

 always mean the same thing. 



The merchants seem, on the whole, to enjoy the confidence of the 

 vendors : out of a total of 82 reported on, the reliability of only 10 

 is questioned. 



Prices naturally show a wide variation. The approximate maxi- 

 mum and minimum prices for standing timber of which a note was 

 obtained, were (assuming 30 cubic feet = 1 ton) : 



s. s. 



Larch ... maximum 30/- per ton, minimum 8/- per ton. 



Pine 30/- 5/- 



Spruce ... 22/6 5/- 



Hardwoods... 37/6 7/6 



It is well known that some agents are very careless in marketing 

 timber, and the curious variations in price in similarly situated 

 districts suggest that they are sometimes ignorant as well in the matter. 

 It is believed that the visits of the Board's officers may have been 

 of some value in affording a little enlightenment. Generally, prices 

 show an advance, but it is impossible to state in general terms the 



