WAR-DEBT AND STATE FORESTS, 3 
early known. It is not conceivable that any form of French Government 
would have tolerated that incredible waste of natural resources that has 
been going on unchecked in New Zealand for a hundred years in the 
destruction of the Kauri forests. There has been a national obsession 
in the matter for which it would be hard to find many historical parallels, 
Perhaps the behef in witcheraft may be one! 
Some one said Kauri grew slowly, as some one always does say 
valuable trees grow slowly. It took seventy years before any one put 
the matter to the test, and Cheeseman’s investigation is still not generally 
known, Forty-one years ago Captain Campbell-Walker said categori- 
cally, “‘ Kauri is a fast-growing tree.’’ But (to quote from a book of 
sober statistics that has had a steady sale in New Zealand for the last 
eight years), ‘‘ In spite of all warnings and expert advice, New Zealand 
has continued this policy of national profligacy with little remission 
up to the present day. Half-hearted attempts have been made to arrest 
it.”’ (‘* New Zealand in Evolution.’’ Whitcombe and Tombs.) 
SraTtTE FORESTS TO PAY THE Cost oF THIS War. 
The world-wide calamity of this war has been thrust on both English 
and French. The heavy after-burden has to be borne, and the Dominion 
can no longer afford to disregard the public asset of national forests. If 
we do not succeed in making our enemies pay for their war, the next 
best thing to do is to take a leaf out of their book and pay for the war 
eventually with State forestry in New Zealand. Says the occupant of 
the Chair of Forestry at the Oxford University, my old friend Sir 
William Schlich, ‘‘ It is most depressing to hear of the rapid destruction 
of the Kauri forests of New Zealand. . . . Surely it 1s great extra- 
vagance to destroy a source of revenue like that derivable from the 
Kauri forests.”’ (‘‘ Manual,’’ vol. 1.) That is true, but it is not diffi- 
cult to see how this extravagance, this disregard of the future, came 
about. When the Kauri forests were first worked under an ordered 
Government nothing was known of scientific forestry outside France and 
Germany. The great national forest estates now pouring their millions 
yearly into the State coffers of those countries had small beginnings. 
Much of the timber was valueless for want of roads; that which could 
be put on the market actually only averaged about Id. a cubie foot 
after logging and bringing to a roadside! (U.S.A. Bull. 83.) State 
forestry offered little promise of surplus millions in those days. But 
France and Germany persevered. They made small profits, but they stuck 
to the forest ‘‘ working-plans,’’ which themselves pointed very clearly to 
better times ahead. Then the other European nations joined in. It was 
a gradual process. The national forests paid their way, supported a large 
population on the soil, and were popular. They found the healthiest of 
work for the needy, the best of sport for the leisurely. They were ever 
slowly improving. Wherever the forest officers saw an opening for a 
new market they made a new road and paid for it with the timber 
got out. Gradual as was the improvement of the forests, it never 
flagged. The net forest revenue per acre per year of the Kingdom of 
Saxony increased sevenfold in ninety-six years. Thus there was no 
startling discovery about State forestry in Europe, a discovery which 
could reach New Zealand and arouse attention. Again, home rule, 
which practically stopped the alienation of good forest in South Africa. 
had, alas, no such effect in New Zealand. 
1* 
