THE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND FORESTRY. 7 



at both institutions. The Commissioners have also intimated 

 their readiness to recommend grants for the university museum 

 and laboratories. The final settlement of these questions was 

 awaiting at the end of the year only the receipt of a formal 

 application for an advance from the Development Fund. 



III. Ireland. 



Very shortly after they commenced their duties, viz., on the 

 iSth July 1 9 ID, the Commissioners received from the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland an 

 application in respect to forestry. It contemplated an expendi- 

 ture of _;^i 10,000 spread over five years, for the following 

 purposes : — 



1. The acquisition and afforestation of semi-waste lands. 



2. The purchase of small woods by County Councils, and 



the planting of similar areas for shelter purposes. 



3. The development of shelter plantations in the West of 



Ireland. 



4. Experiments. 



At their meeting on the 20th September, the Commissioners 

 heard evidence in support of the application from Mr T. P. Gill, 

 Secretary to the Department ; the Most Rev. Dr Kelly, Bishop 

 of Ross, Member of the Agricultural Board ; Mr J. R. Campbell, 

 Assistant Secretary, and Mr A. C. Forbes, Forestry Inspector. 

 The Commissioners were at first of opinion that a decision on 

 the Irish application should be postponed, until they had before 

 them applications from British Departments for grants for a 

 similar purpose : but on receipt of letters from the Irish Depart- 

 ment of the 13th and 17th October, giving further details and 

 in particular urging reasons why the case of Ireland should be 

 dealt with separately, arrangements were made for a brief visit 

 of the Forestry Committee to Ireland. This visit took place 

 in November, and included the inspection of forestry under- 

 takings already started there, and of certain waste lands 

 suggested as suitable for immediate afforestation. 



On the recommendation of the Forestry Committee aftei 

 their visit, the Commissioners came to the conclusion that State 

 afforestation on a small scale might be started in Ireland 

 immediately, on lines which it is hoped will prove ultimately 

 remunerative. The special Irish circumstances which justify this 



