British Forestry and the Development Commission

Abstract

IT is more than two years since the Development Commission obtained its fine grant of 500,000l. yearly for five years. There have been Parliamentary grants in addition; thus 900,000l. was available the first year. Said The Times: “The Development Fund is a remarkable departure from the laissez-faire policy which has so long dominated the proceedings of British Governments.” It was early announced that one of the chief objects of the Development Commission was British forestry, including the purchase and planting of land. One small piece of poor ground in Scotland represents all the land that has yet been acquired in Britain; and foresters are beginning to inquire if we have really broken away from the bad traditions of the past. British forestry has never had such an opportunity as this half-million grant. Will anything practical be done before it is too late and the grant come to an end, because nothing practical has been achieved? It is true that there have been useful educational grants; and promises of loans for forestry, on liberal terms, to “local authorities or other responsible bodies”: but this, without State forestry, is putting the cart before the horse. As is well known, the communal forests on the Continent carry a class of forest inferior to the State forests, and they are only kept up to this standard by either State supervision or their management by State forest officers, combined with the stiffening effect of the better managed State forests in their midst.