6 



The Bill was considerably altered and amended in Committee, 

 and became law on 3rd December 1909. 



By the Act as it now stands a Development Fund is created, 

 to which there is to be carried during the present year and the 

 next four years a sum of ^500,000 per annum, to be charged 

 on and issued out of the Consolidated Fund, in addition to any 

 other sums that may be specially voted by Parliament. This 

 fund is to be devoted to the economic development of the 

 United Kingdom, and amongst other industries to be benefited 

 are agriculture and forestry. The means by which the latter 

 is to be developed include — (i) The conducting of inquiries, 

 experiments, and research for the purpose of promoting forestry 

 and the teaching of methods of afforestation ; (2) the purchase 

 and planting of land found after inquiry to be suitable for 

 afforestation. 



The Treasury will only entertain applications recommended 

 by the Development Commissioners, who have not yet been 

 appointed. 



The bodies who can obtain grants or loans are — a Government 

 Department, or any of the following applying through a Govern- 

 ment Department, viz.: — "A public authority, university, 

 college, school, or institution, or an association of persons 

 or company not trading for profit." 



From the foregoing it will be seen that a Society such as this 

 has power to ask for a grant or loan through a Government 

 Department for the purposes mentioned in the Act. No doubt, 

 large claims will be made on behalf of agriculture and other 

 industries, but the Council believe that, in view of the Society's 

 representations to the Government, a fair share of the money 

 available will be devoted to forestry in Scotland. They, 

 however, propose to keep in view their right to apply, through 

 a Government Department, for grants or loans to be used by 

 the Society in promoting forestry in terms of the Act. 



By Clause 5 of the Act, where land is required for the purpose 

 of a grant or loan, it can be acquired and held for these 

 purposes, and powers may be obtained, if necessary, to acquire 

 it compulsorily. 



Death Duties on Woodlands. 



When the Budget was before Parliament, the Council decided 

 to make a representation to the Government on the subject of 

 the new Death Duties as affecting woodlands, and a Committee 

 was appointed to deal with the matter. The Committee prepared 

 a Memorandum of suggestions for registration of forests worked 

 under an approved scheme of management in Scotland, and for 

 relief from Death Duties on them, which was duly forwarded 

 to the Government, and although these suggestions were not 

 altogether adopted, the Committee were able to adjust with the 

 Government Officials the clause as it now stands in the Bill, 



