REPORT OF THE FORESTRY SUB-COMMITTEE. 95 



10. Summary of the Report of the Forestry Sub- 

 Committee of the Reconstruction Committee. 



For the sake of completeness we give below the eleven main 

 conclusions contained in this report. Three of these have been 

 already quoted by Colonel Stirling in his article (pp. 74, 75), but 

 for reference it is convenient to have the whole in sequence : — 



"(i) The total area under woodland in the United Kingdom 

 before the war was estimated at 3,000,000 acres, the annual yield 

 from which is believed to have been 45,000,000 cubic feet, or 

 about one-third of what it should have been under correct silvi- 

 cultural management. These figures indicate the unsatisfactory 

 condition of British and Irish woods as at present managed, and 

 prove the urgency of remedial measures in the interests of 

 national economy. 



"(2) During the five years preceding the war the average 

 annual imports of timber similar in character to that produced in 

 the British Isles were equivalent to 550,000,000 cubic feet of 

 standing timber. The home production was therefore less than 

 8 per cent, of the consumption. The imports of timbers of all 

 kinds during the years 1915 and 1916 were respectively three- 

 quarters and two-thirds of the normal pre-war imports, and their 

 cost for the two years was ^74,000,000 or ^37,000,000 in 

 excess of their pre-war value. These imports absorbed 

 7,000,000 net tons of shipping, equivalent to approximately 

 14,000,000 tons dead weight. 



"(3) The area of land utilised for rough grazing, but capable 

 of growing first-class coniferous timber of the same character as 

 that imported, is not less than three and probably more than 

 five million acres. Two million acres could be devoted to 

 timber production without decreasing the home production of 

 meat by more than 07 per cent., and if so used would ultimately 

 afford employment to at least ten times the number of men now 

 engaged on that area. 



"(4) Dependence on imported timber has proved a serious 

 handicap in the conduct of the war. The United Kingdom can- 

 not run the risk of future wars without safeguarding its supplies 

 of timber as every other Power that counts has already done. 



"(5) In order to render the United Kingdom independent of 

 imported timber for three years in an emergency, it is necessary, 

 while making due allowance for an improved yield from existing 



