17 



before us, and so far as we are concerned, he can count on our 

 very hearty support." 



Lord Lev AT. — " I forgot to refer to the question of railway 

 rates. We, the Forestry Commission, regard the question of 

 railway rates as of the utmost importance. We so regard it 

 because it is a question of marketing thinnings, for unless 

 proprietors or those who plant 96 per cent, of the woods of 

 Great Britain are able to see their way to market thinnings, 

 they will not proceed with their planting. Now, the railway 

 rates are a bar to the marketing of produce, and we have 

 pointed out that it is of the utmost importance that the railway 

 rates should be such as not to prohibit the sending of pit-props 

 to coal mines and other consuming centres. We have written 

 very strongly on the subject — as a Department, of course, we 

 can only represent our case. We have nothing to do with the 

 administration of another Department. But I can assure those 

 interested in forestry, that under Lord Clinton's management, 

 whom we have appointed to a sub-committee to deal with this 

 matter, it is being thoroughly looked after and the case for 

 forestry well represented." 



The Chairman. — " If these pit-props are not available for 

 mines, and the mines have to be carried on, they will try to find 

 other methods and do without timber altogeiher, and so we shall 

 lose our market." 



Notice of Motion. 

 The Council gave notice of the following Motion : — 



"That Law XIV, (a) of the Fundamental Laws of the Society 

 be rescinded and the following substituted: — (i) That 

 the President of each recognised Branch shall ex officio 

 be an extra member of the Council, and (2) that each 

 Branch shall in addition be entitled to elect an extra 

 member or members to the Council of the Society 

 annually, in the following proportion to membership of 

 such Branch : for fifty and under one hundred and fifty — 

 one member ; for one hundred and fifty and under 

 three hundred — two members ; such elected members 

 to hold office for one year but to be eligible for 

 re-election." 



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