CO129-568-6 Botanical and Forestry Department- proposed expansion and reorganisation 4-10-1938 - 14-7-1939 — Page 24

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4.

-

Leased Forest Lots In giving figures for outturn and

value it must be emphasized that the results are arrived

at purely by estimation, based on checks of a few lots

carried out during the year and as such must be accepted

with the greatest reserve. The figures are 3408.2 tons (avoirdupois) consisting of timber and brushwood

(branches) valued at $17,177. The difficulty of giving

figures will be realized, when it is stated that the

percentage of brushwood to timber is not at present known. (Experiments are in progress to determine more

accurately the returns from these lots and also, to find out what they ought to produce by correct treat-

ment).

It seems hardly necessary to point out the tremendous

difference between the production from Crown Forests

and that from the leased forest lots.

In addition, it must be recorded that the original aim

of the "leased forest lot" scheme is in danger of eclipse owing to the commercialisation of the outturn

which is now taking place.

(c) Difficulties Encountered These can be summed up as Grass, Forestry Offences and Typhoon-damage. In regard to the first it is considered the most important factor of all and is dealt with at length under (e). In respect of the second, in earlier years these were spasmodic and fairly easy to control. Of late years the position has greatly deterior- iated (arrests by Botanical and Forestry Department and Police Department for 1938 - 2360) and has developed into a question of policing Crown forests together with as much unprotected

In regard hillside as is possible, to avoid heavy denudation. to the third, it has been proved with one plantation (in respect to the more recent typhoons from 1923 onwards) that an undisturbed canopy goes far towards lessening damage from this

source, from which it will be inferred that if "forestry