ON THE TIMBER SUPPLY OP AUSTRALIA. 125 



the enigma may be solved by comparing the observations of a 

 number of persons at different localities and times, and perhaps as 

 regards different kinds of trees. Another matter of the greatest 

 importance as regards forest conservancy and timber supply is the 

 issuing of timber licences. In the report of our Surveyor-General 

 (Mr Goyder), he advises to let the present system of granting 

 licences for cutting timber remain intact, except in fenced reserves. 

 This seems to me a more than questionable policy. I am sure he 

 did not give such advice with the view of obtaining the paltry sum 

 raised by such licences for our Treasury. He must have thought 

 of the necessities or convenience of our rural population. I admit 

 that timber is needed, and the convenience of our farmers should 

 be consulted, but I venture to say in a different manner. No 

 forest can stand the present issue of licences — there must be a re- 

 striction and supei-vision from the Forest Department. The total 

 amount received by the Crown Lands Department during the year 

 1874 for timber and bark licences, and licences to carters to remove 

 the timber, was only £1305. This is no compensation to the State 

 for the enormous injury done to our forests. To fell a number of 

 trees, perhaps the growth of ages, and leave them because they do 

 not split quite so easily and freely as was expected of them, to cut 

 them 3 feet from the ground, to take perhaps merely one length of 

 rails or posts and leave the rest of the trunk, together with all the 

 branches, to be consumed by the next bush fire, or to cut numberless 

 young saplings for rails and posts, which will last, as a matter of 

 coiu-se, only a few years, while the forest may contain plenty of 

 trees of mature age which might give really lasting rails or posts, 

 is a waste of the property of the nation — a sacrilege. I do not 

 object to give all settlers an ample supply under proper regula- 

 tions and at a reasonable rate, but I object to the present state of 

 affairs, whereby valuable trees are cut down indiscriminately to 

 save a little trouble or delay. On this matter I give a short ex- 

 tract from the above report on Victorian forests : " Timber trees 

 would be economically utilised if the men were forced to pay for 

 each tree they felled. There would then be some check upon the 

 enormous waste and the indiscriminate destruction of the largest 

 timber trees in Victoria — which trees, once cut, will naturally re- 

 quire centuries to replace — and the selfish indifference to the wants 

 of future generations displayed by timber-cutters would not be ex- 

 hibited as at present." Another extract is taken from a report of 

 Mr J. Innes, Dunedin, to the Chief Commissioner of the Waste 



VOL. VIII., PART II. i 



