5 



Parliamentary Committee. 



The object of this Committee was explained in last report. 

 The Committee is now in working order and is expected to 

 attend to the interests of forestry in Parliament. 



Tax on Woodlands. 



A report on the taxation of woodlands was prepared for the 

 Council and was sent to the Interim Forest Authority, and also 

 to the Income Tax Commission, with a request that the Com- 

 mission would receive evidence from the Society on the matter. 

 A Conference was subsequently held with the Royal English 

 Arboricultural Society, and other societies, on the subject with 

 the view of appointing delegates to give evidence when called 

 on. 



Education. 



A Memorandum on the training of Forest Officers was pre- 

 pared and sent to the Interim Forest Authority. The training 

 of practical foresters was also further discussed, and it was 

 agreed that two years' practical training should be required — 

 instead of three years as previously suggested— one before 

 taking up the theoretical course and the other, under supervision 

 of the School Authorities, after the theoretical course is 

 completed and before the diploma is granted. It was also 

 suggested that the Society should recommend that a Joint 

 Board of Examiners should be appointed for Scotland so as to 

 standardise, as far as possible, the training required for the 

 diploma. It was further suggested that there should be one 

 school of practical forestry for Scotland which would grant a 

 diploma, and that the present school at Birnam might be 

 extended and equipped so as to be made suitable for this 

 purpose. 



In connection with the donation of ,£100 from a friend, it 

 was agreed that (1) Prizes should be given for essays on Forestry 

 subjects written by scholars in rural schools, and (2) that lantern 

 slides and skeleton lectures should be prepared which could be 

 lent to teachers in rural schools. A list of proposed subjects for 

 essays by children in rural schools and a programme of 

 illustrated lectures on forestry, which it was proposed to 

 organise in rural districts, was subsequently prepared ; but at a 

 later meeting the Education Committee reported that as the 

 Educational Authorities were much occupied with their new 

 duties, and teachers were also anxious about their positions, it 

 was thought advisable to delay pressing forward with the 

 proposed subjects for essays and lectures for the present. Two 

 lectures were, however, given during the winter. One on 

 timber, by Dr Borthwick to the Associates of the Archi- 



