AN INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITY. 3 



best is uncertain and temporary, and in recent years it has been 

 almost unknown. The Highlands have been calling for in- 

 dustries of a permanent character for two hundred years. The 

 burning of kelp, introduced in 1734, was deemed hopeful, and 

 it became profitable in consequence of the American war, but 

 later collapsed. After a time it re-opened in the last century, 

 only to fail again; but during these limited periods the birth- 

 rate increased, proving that a very moderate improvement in 

 the conditions of living has the result of adding to the popula- 

 tion. To consolidate the rural population and to obtain the 

 full advantage of their productive capacity over two-thirds 

 of Scotland all that is required is continuing, expanding and 

 permanent employment. At present the population is being 

 increased through activity in land subdivision and settlement, 

 but nothing has been done to assure the newcomers of occupa- 

 tion sufficient to enable them to live in reasonable comfort. 

 There was a time when the minimum of the necessities of life 

 satisfied the country people, but fortunately the conditions 

 of living have improved, and the question arises upon whom 

 the responsibility lies to maintain it. It does not appear to 

 be enough to provide dwellings or to establish land settlements 

 unless the occupiers are placed in a position to pay their rents. 

 To enable them to make good it would seem necessary to follow 

 the process further by developing industries to which they can 

 lend their full productive energy, and the best source of develop- 

 ment is afforestation, because it can be established at a low 

 cost, and can be distributed over almost every part of Scotland. 

 Forestry as a source of employment is certain, and we can 

 never produce a sufficiency of timber to meet the requirements 

 of the country. There is, therefore, no uncertainty about the 

 consumption of the product, but commercial afforestation alone 

 must be the object in view. 



It may be asked what are the possibilities for the wage 

 earner? Without any desire to overstate the case my estimate 

 is that each thousand acres of land afforested and managed 

 for commercial production will give employment over a period 

 of sixty or seventy years to the value of from ^^90,000 to 

 ;£ioo,ooo, and that estimate only includes the utilisation of the 

 crop down to the point at which it leaves the mills sawn up for 

 other trades. In a recent Press correspondence, a discussion 

 has arisen about the number of people engaged in the German 



