94 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that the country is no longer self-supporting in the matter of 

 timber, as it ought to be, and the question is realised as an 

 urgent one by many influential people in the country. A Forest 

 League has been formed in New Zealand also, for the purpose 

 of co-operating with the Government in any measures that may 

 be necessary. The Forest League of New Zealand is the 

 youngest society of its kind in the British Empire, and our own 

 society, the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society, is the oldest. 

 On the occasion of our Diamond Jubilee three years ago, the 

 authorities in New Zealand showed their interest in a very 

 friendly manner by sending a representative all that long way 

 to take a part in our celebrations. Most of you will remember 

 Mr Robinson, to whom you gave a hearty welcome, and who, 

 I believe, has carried away with him some pleasant memories 

 of his visit to Scotland. I hope you will agree with me that we 

 might, in our turn, show our appreciation of the work that is 

 now being started in New Zealand by expressing to the Forest 

 League of New Zealand our lively interest in their aims and 

 our best wishes for their fulfilment. 



" I am sorry I have to conclude my remarks by referring to 

 what you have already heard from Mr Galloway, that we have 

 had a double disappointment to-day. We had hoped to have 

 with us both Mr Sutherland, of the Board of Agriculture, and 

 Colonel M'Dougall, who commands the Canadian Corps of 

 Foresters. I regret to say that urgent public affairs have at 

 the last moment detained both these gentlemen, and they have 

 been unable to be with us to-day. We are always glad to have 

 Mr Sutherland with us, and we had hoped to-day that he might 

 have given us some idea of the views and intentions of the 

 Government with regard to forestry. Colonel M'Dougall might 

 have had something interesting to say to us, and, at any 

 rate, we should have appreciated the opportunity of welcoming 

 him here, and of acknowledging our debt of gratitude to 

 the people of Canada for all they have done for us and the 

 way they have come forward to help us in this great struggle. 

 It is unfortunate that neither of these gentlemen is able to come, 

 and I am afraid their absence will take away a certain amount 

 of interest from the programme this afternoon, but I hope in 

 the discussion we shall have on the problems of forestry, enough 

 will remain that is useful as well as interesting for our proceed- 

 ings this afternoon." 



