lO 



private planters and Government planters. I am quite certain 

 it has been a great advantage to the country that Lord Lovat 

 has seen his way to accept the Chairmanship of the Forestry 

 Commission, and we very much regret that he is unable to 

 come here to-day. But we are lucky to have with us 

 Sir John Stirling-Maxwell and Colonel Fothringham, two other 

 Commissioners, and also Colonel Sutherland, the Assistant 

 Commissioner for Scotland. We all know him, and I do not 

 think I can speak too highly of the work he has done in the 

 past under considerable difficulties. I believe he is making 

 exceedingly good progress in the present, and I believe he will 

 make more in the future. He has always been a good friend 

 of ours, and I think we have always been good friends of his. 

 I only wish to add that I would like to tender my thanks to 

 my colleagues in the Council for the extraordinarily kind and 

 able way in which they have supported me during the past 

 three years. 



"The next business is the 



"Election of Office-Bearers for 1921. 



"The first is the election of a President. The Council 

 recommend His Grace the Duke of Atholl, who is well known 

 not only in this Society but throughout the whole of Scotland, 

 and it is quite unnecessary for me to say much in proposing 

 him as President. I am quite certain that you will not only 

 agree that this be carried unanimously but that the Society will 

 much appreciate that he has consented to accept office. We 

 all know that His Grace has not much spare time, but I am 

 quite certain that he will devote himself to the interests of the 

 Society in the same way as he has to the great many other 

 things to which he has devoted such an enormous amount 

 of his time and energy. The Council's recommendation is 

 unanimous, and I think they could not possibly have made 

 a better choice. I beg to propose the Duke of Atholl as 

 President for the next year." 



Mr Charles Buchanan seconded the proposal, which was 

 carried unanimously. 



The Duke of Atholl. — " Allow me in one word to thank 

 you for the honour you have done me. I can assure you I 

 will do my best in the Chair. The late President stated that 

 in making nominations for office-bearers the Council had 



