40 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



1915-30 anything between ^^400,000, 000 and ;^6oo,ooo,ooo 

 more for our timber than we should have had to pay for a 

 similar amount at 1909-13 prices. 



It is not argued that if the planting programme now adopted 

 had been completed before the war the price of timber would 

 not have risen. It can, however, be definitely stated that, 

 had these additional woods been in existence, they would have 

 competed with Scandinavia and Finland and tended to keep 

 the prices of softwoods at a lower level.^ 



2. Labour for planting, maintenance and conversion accounts 

 for some 80 to 90 per cent, of the cost of forestry operations. 

 It is argued that, even with the present high cost of establishing 

 plantations, State forestry is one of the soundest, if not the 

 soundest, method of giving rural employment, lowering adverse 

 trade balances, and insuring that the best use shall be made 

 of shipping facilities in time of war and national emergency. 



3. Within reasonable and easily ascertainable limits, timber 

 stores itself in the woods and, unlike other commodities, 

 increases in quantity during the period of storage. 



The Forestry Commission have two definite objectives in 

 view. The first or immediate objective is a ten-year scheme 

 based on a block grant. This leads to the second or ultimate 

 objective, which is the creation in Great Britain and Ireland 

 of reserves of standing timber sufficient to meet the essential 

 requirements of the nation over a limited period of three years 

 in time of war or national emergency. 



The Forestry Commission have not only to aid in the 

 promotion of home forestry : they are further charged by the 

 Forestry Act to make or aid in making such enquiries as they 

 think necessary for the purpose of securing an adequate supply 

 of timber in the United Kingdom and promoting the production 

 of timber in His Majesty's dominions. The Commission lost 

 no time in inviting the various Governments of the Empire to 

 send delegates to the British Empire Forestry Conference which 

 was held in July 1920.- 



The constitution and activities of the Consultative Committees 



^ In 1920, for instance, home-grown railway sleepers cost 3s. each less 

 than imported sleepers. This item alone (which during State control of 

 railways falls directly on the Treasury) represents a possible annual saving of 

 ;^500,ooo. 



' See Report of British Forestry Conference, p. 42. 



