Survey of the Work, ^'C, of Victorian Agricultural Department. 807 



is sufficient to show that the State is getting far less t'or the produce 

 of the forests than is fail" and reasonable. 



I find that in a number of cases well timbered land has been 

 alienated. The State in these cases received 15s. per acre on long 

 terms, and the happy settler has been able to sell the timber without 

 any trouble or labour on his part for sums amounting sometimes to 

 several pounds per acre. This, however, is not the most serious loss 

 sustained by the State by improperly alienated lands. On account of this 

 alienation there is, sometimes, no means of access to portions of the 

 State forests, except through private property, and sawmillers have 

 to make ai-rangements with these proprietors, by paying amounts for 

 easement, which is more like blackmail than fair value, before the 

 State timber is available. 



I found that the executive officers of the Forestry Branch had 

 done all they could, with the limited powers at their command, to 

 preserve the forests. 



The foresters have more work to do than can possibly be done 

 thoroughly, and two inspectors cannot possibly supervise the work of 

 the forests. What is wanted is more revenue, which would provide 

 for the employment of a sufficient staff vested with greater powers to 

 prevent the waste of the present timber and protect the young forests 

 for the next generation. 



If the protection of the forests be taken in hand at once there 

 need be no fear but that there is in the magnificent forest areas of 

 Victoria sufficient good timber for present requirements and forests 

 enough to provide timber for future generations. 



There is no truth in the statement that we will be coiiipelled to 

 import in the near future. As time goes on a few small railway 

 extensions will doubtless be necessary, and some of the forest areas 

 near several of the mining centres will require to be temporarily closed. 



Gum forests are easily managed and cheaply re-constituted. There 

 is generally sufficient seed to produce a new crop of timber, and where 

 this is wanting it is only necessary to collect the seed, scatter and 

 scratch it in on country suitable to the production of the variety of 

 timber required. Much can be done in young forests by thinning 

 out useless varieties of timber and giving the more valuable a chance 

 to occupy the ground. The laborious and expensive system of 

 planting necessary in other countries is not required in Victoria. 



With proper conservation of the forests Victoria can look with 

 complacence upon the future, and with the full assurance that there 

 is enough timber for the present and future generations. 



Labor Colony. 



During the last financial year one of my duties has been to 

 superintend the Labor Colony. As a rule this establishment has cost 

 the country £4,000 a year — £2,000 was always provided on the 

 Estimates and an additional £2,000 or thereabouts was provided on 

 :the Supplementary Estimates. 



