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“Green Gold”

(Continued from page 15.)

Garden of Eden, a natural and open air hothouse for arboriculture. We can safely look to our annual timber crop of the future as our passport to national riches.

There is something more I would like to say. It is of course quite late enough, but we have managed a measure of anticipation of the rest of the world in artificial afforestation. We are equipped now with a vast body of experience in the planting, nurture, care and culture of trees and the technique of plantation management. We have a trained army of experts, and a host of experienced workers in every part of the field. I was struck on my visit to the property under review with the evidences on all sides of prudent administration, profound knowledge, and wise foresight. Everything is planned and every contingency anticipated. Probing questions provoked direct and unequivocal answers, but when I waxed enthusiastic myself I got no encouragement to be wordy. It was all so “New Zealandish,” so competent, and free of pretence or glowing predictions.

Here, I thought, is a scheme which is wholly sound. It seemed to partake of the wholesome healthy trees that formed its material wealth. I did not see a sick tree in all those mighty battalions, nor can I see an invalidish symptom in the whole enormous afforestation movement which is going on in New Zealand.

In the years to come, the world's attention will be focussed on our country as the world's best timber farm. I felt sad, coming home on the Main Trunk, to see on the skyline, denuded ridges, and bare hill sides. Tall timber on them would mean such inexhaustible wealth. If we had started a generation or more ago, we would possibly now have no national debt.

Here is a proper use for our special Heaven-sent gifts of rich terrain, mild airs, sunny skies and ample rain. I have called this article “Green Gold,” and the title is genuinely applicable.