Interview with David Viles

David Viles was born in Feilding in 1949. Talks about growing up on a small farm and being the second of six children. Notes that his father also did labouring work. Comments on his mother's important role within the family. Talks about living conditions. Describes attending Feilding Agricultural High School and winning a scholarship to go to Forestry School at the University of Canterbury. Recalls lecturers and life at Forestry School. Comments on the rivalry between foresters and rangers and the problem of two separate training programmes streaming into one occupational group.

Describes a strong camaraderie among the labour workforce in the Forest Service in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Talks about the forest camps, communal living in single men's huts and the effect of the PEP programme on these camps. Recalls being a forester at Ashley Forest and his work advising on planting, pruning and thinning. Comments on the role of the regional Conservator, the lack of local flexibility in terms of decision-making and the bureaucracy of Head Office. Notes that Andy Kirkland was beginning to make changes, including implementing the amalgamation of foresters and rangers, when corporatisation happened. Explains some of the reasons for corporatisation including the demand from Treasury for greater efficiency and the pressure from environmentalists opposing multiple use of forests.

Describes becoming District Forester at Masterton where the emphasis was on recreational use of forests and soil protection of native forests. Talks about shifting to Golden Downs, a large exotic forest, before becoming Principal Forester at Head Office. Mentions Director General Mick O'Neill and Ministers of Forestry including Colin Moyle, Venn Young, Jonathan Elworthy and Koro Wetere. Comments on a plan to amalgamate the Forest Service and the Department of Lands and Survey and the potenital clash between the preservation oriented Lands and Survey and the multiple use-oriented Forest Service. Talks about his current position as South Island Manager of Timberlands.

Venue - Christchurch : 1988

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Mair Astley House, Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001895; OHC-001896; OHC-001897

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 297.

Search dates: 1949 - 1988

Alternative form available: Listening copies available OHLC-002619 - OHLC-002621