A copy of the Forestry Bill was submitted to the General 

 Meeting along with a letter from Mr Acland explaining the 

 powers of the Local Executives and Committees. The follow- 

 ing Resolution was then submitted and carried by a very 

 large majority, namely : — 



"That this Meeting cordially welcomes the introduction of 

 the Forestry Bill, and hopes that it will soon be passed 

 into law." 



The Forestry Act was passed on 19th August 19 19, and 

 came into operation on the 1st day of September following. It 

 establishes a Forestry Commission consisting of eight members 

 holding office for five years, with large powers and a fund of 

 three and a half millions. The Act provides for the appoint- 

 ment of Assistant Commissioners for England, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, and Consultative Committees for England, Scotland, 

 Ireland, and Wales. A copy of the Act has been printed 

 in the Transactions, and will, therefore, be available to all 

 members of the Society. 



The first Commissioners, who were appointed on 29th 

 November, are as follows : — Lord Lovat (Chairman) ; Mr F. D. 

 Acland, M.P. ; Lord Clinton; Mr L. Forestier Walker, M.P. 

 (who will answer for the Commission in the House of Commons 

 and who will represent Wales) ; Sir John Stirling-Maxwell and 

 Colonel W. T. Steuart Fothringham (who will represent 

 Scotland) ; Mr Ponsonby (who will represent Ireland) ; and 

 Mr R. L. Robinson. 



The other appointments have not yet been officially announced. 

 The Commission has already intimated the following programme 

 of work : — Rules of Procedure have been made, the preliminary 

 work of the Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners have 

 been allocated ; a ten years' planting programme has been 

 considered ; the planting programme for 1919-20 has been 

 arranged and is being carried out, and steps have been 

 taken to meet the shortage of forest tree seeds. In addition 

 the appointment of Consultative Committees is proceeding, and 

 conferences with certain public departments have been held in 

 London. In London, Dublin, and Edinburgh, schools are being 

 arranged for the training of forestry apprentices. Statistical 

 work is being carried out, surveys are being undertaken, and 

 afforestable land in various parts of the United Kingdom 

 is being inspected with a view to acquisition. An Imperial 

 Forestry Conference is being organised for next summer. 



The Council sent a letter of congratulation to the Com- 

 missioners on the passing of the Forestry Act and their appoint- 

 ment to office, and on the extensive programme of work which 

 they had in hand. In recognition of the passing of the Act, 

 the Council has also prepared the Resolution which will be 

 submitted to this meeting. 



