DISCUSSION ON REPORT OF FORESTRY SUB-COMMITTEE. I 27 



since I brought this scheme before the Society in a paper 

 published in the Transactions. I had the curiosity to look at 

 it, and I see that it was almost word for word the same scheme 

 that the Reconstruction Committee has now put forward, and 

 which I am very glad to know is being furthered by the Board 

 of Agriculture. I may say, personally, that I think this is a 

 thoroughly sound scheme. Forestry is a difficult matter, but 

 I think the best solution is in the endeavour to secure co- 

 operation between landowners and the State in forestry, and 

 I am myself recommending this wherever I have the 

 opportunity." 



Sir John Stirling-Maxwell. — " What about planting ? " 



Sir William Haldane. — "That brings me to this point. Sir 

 John seems to think that the Development Commission itself 

 can plant. We cannot plant a single tree, we have no power, 

 and never had the power. Parliament drew up the scheme 

 under the Development Act putting the whole executive powers 

 in the hands of the different Government departments. All we 

 have to do is to recommend financial advances on applications 

 coming to us. We can, as we have done repeatedly and 

 constantly, urge on the departments certain lines of progress, 

 but it is entirely for the departments to say whether they 

 will follow out these lines or not. In those cases to which 

 I have referred, the departments had to decide the matter for 

 themselves, no doubt under the influence of Parliament and 

 the influence of public opinion. Public opinion is now aroused 

 to such an extent on the subject of forestry that it looks as 

 if now at last these proposals were going to be given practical 

 effect to by the departments. We have to-day a most energetic 

 Secretary for Scotland, who is throwing his interest into this 

 subject in a way I think I may say none of his predecessors 

 have done for a long time, not that they were not interested 

 also. I think to-day we may look for real and substantial 

 progress by the Scottish Board of Agriculture on the lines 

 on which apparently we are all agreed schemes of afforestation 

 should progress." 



Sir Hugh Shaw-Stewart.—" I think Sir William's speech forms 

 an admirable argument for the Development Commissioners 

 being superseded by a Central Authority." 



Colonel Fothringham of Murthly, speaking on how Scotland 

 will be affected if the recommendations of the Forestry Sub- 



