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has given some of you figures that have set you thinking as to 

 iiow to stop the leaks. Ijut gentlemen, if you do not take adequate 

 care of the forests that cover your water sheds it will take a very 

 much more complex instrument than a current meter to record 

 the alternate periods of flood and drought that in time are bound 

 to follow the opening up of the protective cover. 



Some plantations are of course already doing much in the way 

 of forestry : others might very well do more. Especially ought 

 there to be more and better cooperation between the plantations 

 and the government in the protection of the native forests. It 

 may be replied that it is the duty of the government to protect 

 the forests. So it is. But here at once comes in the question of 

 money, for the government cannot do work without funds any 

 more than can the individual, and up to this time funds in ade- 

 quate measure have not been provided for forest work. 



A possible solution of this difficulty lies, I think, in the proposal 

 that has recently again been brought forward, that the money now 

 received from water revenues from forest reserves be used by the 

 Governiiient for forest work, instead of as at present going into 

 the Territorial Treasury as a part of the general receipts of the 

 Land Office. By turning this money that comes from the forest, 

 back into the forest, the foundations can be laid of a self-support- 

 ing, revenue-producing forest system that in time will be one of 

 the most important assets of the Territory. I urge upon the mem- 

 bers of this Association that they use their influence to have 

 brought about this adjustment of revenues. 



If anyone wants to be primed with an argument, the reasons 

 for this request are these : the continuance of the native forests 

 on the water sheds in good condition, is essential to the main- 

 tenance of the local water supply. Our forests when exposed to 

 grazing and trespass quickly become unhealthy and subject to 

 destruction by insects and disease. The remedy is to maintain 

 the forests in their original condition, or where it is necessary, to 

 bring them back to that state. Essentially this means fencing and 

 the removal of all live stock, followed where this may be required 

 by the planting of blanks and open areas. This is work in which 

 the Government and the plantation should cooperate, because on 

 the right use of our waters, lands and forests, depends the pros- 

 perity of these Islands. 



The second main need in forestry in Hawaii is tree planting 

 on waste land. This is especially and immediately important on 

 the sugar plantations because of the increasing cost of fuel, not 

 to speak of other wood supplies. In view of what has been said 

 so many times in former years, it is not necessary before this 

 Association to enlarge on the advantage of having on each planta- 

 tion groves of trees as a local source of wood supply. I desire 

 merely to remind you that the ofifers of the Board of Agriculture 

 and Forestry are still open : ( O to furnish advice as to what, 

 where and how to plant, and (2) to supply at cost price seed- 



