New Zealand in evolution, industrial, economic and political; . 5,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 Otago 16,038,000 2,300,000 1,900,000 Total 66,394,000 20,370,000 12,130,000 This was very startling evidence of the activity of acommunity of whites who numbered a few thousands in1840, and only 300,000 in 1873. Since much of therichest agricultural land was covered with certain speciesof bush, these figures indicated quite plainly what theprogress of settlement meant to the resources of thecountry. Sooner or later, if a rigid check were notapplied, the whole of the fine forests of New Zealandwould disapp
New Zealand in evolution, industrial, economic and political; . 5,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 Otago 16,038,000 2,300,000 1,900,000 Total 66,394,000 20,370,000 12,130,000 This was very startling evidence of the activity of acommunity of whites who numbered a few thousands in1840, and only 300,000 in 1873. Since much of therichest agricultural land was covered with certain speciesof bush, these figures indicated quite plainly what theprogress of settlement meant to the resources of thecountry. Sooner or later, if a rigid check were notapplied, the whole of the fine forests of New Zealandwould disappear without yielding anything like a dueeconomic return to the wealth of the country. Vogel realised at the beginning of the seventies thatthe active settlement policy which he was advocatingwould in all probability entail a more energetic onslaughtthan ever on the standing forests. His versatile mindtook cognisance of the danger, and he outlined in 1874a scheme for the establishment of what he called forestsettlements. So far as the forest was concerned, the. FORESTS AND PROFLIGACY 51 idea was to prevent any further wanton destruction oftimber, and to ensure that the felled trees would notbe sawn up until they had been properly seasoned. Heintended to settle the pioneers in localities towardswhich railways were moving, and to employ them inthe construction of roads and tracks. The felling of treesby the occupiers of sections was to be absolutely pro-hibited. During the proper season selected trees wereto be felled under the supervision of competent overseersand sold to the mills when they were seasoned. Theland itself was not to be sold until it was cleared oftimber, and then the occupiers were to be encouragedto spend their earnings in the purchase of their sec-tions and to replant. Exactly what encouragement thisscheme offered to the establishment of sawmills andtimber factories is not clear. The history of sawmillinghas been on very different lines with regard to the source
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectnewzealandeconomicco
