lO 



should be considered. What I have felt in the past is the 

 difficulty of getting a sufficient number of foresters. A large 

 number of young men have been encouraged to go to the 

 universities and make a considerable study of forestry, but 

 they have not had, as we know, sufficient opportunities after- 

 wards of getting sufficient practical experience. We hope that, 

 in the future, such men, after they have completed their university 

 studies, will then have the best opportunities for carrying on their 

 work in a practical manner, so that they can become as efficient as 

 the foresters of any other country. I have no fear of the young 

 men. They will, of course, make mistakes, but they will very soon 

 correct them. If we can give our young men proper induce- 

 ments to go into the universities and learn the theoretical side, 

 and can then offer them proper opportunities to follow out the 

 practical side with a career to look forward to, before very long 

 we may become the leading nation in forestry. I think we, 

 as a nation, have certainly as much, if not more, initiative than 

 any other nation in the world. In this northern portion of the 

 kingdom especially, we flatter ourselves that in most things we 

 are tolerably practical. I feel quite confident as to the future, 

 if we get a proper chance. These young men will be full of 

 the keenness which comes from the prospect of a really successful 

 career, and given fairly good financial prospects there are 

 probably very few occupations more interesting or more pleasant 

 than that of the forester. Before I sit down I would like to say 

 that those who have been asked to speak on certain subjects in 

 the course of the discussion have been requested not to exceed 

 five minutes. 



We are also fortunate to-day in having Dr Greig, of the Board 

 of Agriculture, who has been good enough to come to our 

 meeting. I will ask him to be kind enough to address the 

 meeting now, because I understand he is unable to be with us 

 in the afternoon. In again thanking you for electing me, I 

 have only to repeat that I will do the best I can for the Society." 



He then called upon Dr Greig, of the Board of Agriculture, 

 to address the meeting. 



Dr Greig said : — " I have to thank you, in the first place, on 

 behalf of the Board of Agriculture, for giving me the opportunity 

 of attending what, I imagine, will be regarded in the future as 

 more or less an historical meeting of this Society. After the 

 production of this most comprehensive and interesting Report 



