REPORT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. I 27 



The Society further desires, on the recommendation of the 

 Council, to confer upon Mr Acland the Honorary 

 Membership of the Society, in recognition of his 

 successful discharge of the very onerous duties which 

 devolved upon him in connection with the promotion 

 of the Forestry Bill and its passage through Parliament." 

 He said : — " I do not intend to say very much in moving 

 this, because I believe that Colonel Fothringham is going to 

 speak on behalf of the Commissioners, and we will be very 

 glad to hear any information he has to give us. It was thought 

 desirable that the Society be asked to express its appreciation of 

 the efforts of those gentlemen who brought about the formation 

 of the Forestry Commission. Of course it had been a matter of 

 debate in the past as to the best way in which this should be 

 done and there was much difference of opinion, but I think now 

 that the Forestry Bill has become an Act of Parliament and has 

 passed into law, we are all at one in the object of making it as 

 great a success as possible, and also I think of having as much 

 done in Scotland as possible, because we rather flatter ourselves 

 we are a little better off than other countries in having suitable 

 land. Whether that is so or not we still remain of that opinion. 

 "There has been a great deal of work and trouble in preparing 

 the Bill and getting it through. It has not been such plain 

 sailing as some people think. Apart from the needs of forestry 

 there are always a good many opposing interests, and it was very 

 difficult to get a unanimous decision. But when you come to a 

 unanimous decision in a large committee it means that certain 

 members have had to give way. The result has been the Bill 

 was presented to Parliament and has now passed into law. The 

 first on this list in the resolution is Mr Acland, who was Chair- 

 man of the Sub-Committee on Forestry of the Reconstruction 

 Committee. You met him here. He was good enough to 

 come down and meet us. I do not think that prior to the war 

 he had taken a very great interest in forestry, therefore he is 

 an independent man as regards any preconceived ideas on the 

 subject. He worked very hard both at the Timber Supply and 

 also for forestry, and I think all those who worked with him 

 admit that it was largely owing to his exertions that the report 

 was adopted by the Government and passed into law. All the 

 other members to whom it is proposed to give a vote of thanks 

 are already, and have been for a very long time, members of our 



