i6 



Mr Sutherland said : " Captain Stirling and gentlemen, I 

 have come here to-day, as you know, to represent the Board 

 of Agriculture, and I must admit I thought that probably 

 before you asked me to say anything I would have heard 

 some criticism of the Board and the various Departments 

 interested, and that I might have been able to answer some of 

 them. But apparently that opportunity is not to be my privilege. 

 I would like to say, however, in connection with the proposed 

 demonstration area about which you have all heard a good deal, 

 that, as Mr M'Kinnon Wood intimated to the deputation which 

 he received some time ago, the Advisory Committee have 

 selected an area in Aberdeenshire. The Board of Agriculture 

 and the Secretary for Scotland have forwarded, with their own 

 recommendation, the report of the Advisory Committee to the 

 Treasury, and the Treasury in turn will pass it on to the Develop- 

 ment Commissioners. I am glad to say that the favourable 

 opinion of the area has been fortified by an expression of entire 

 approval by our friend Dr Borthwick, by Mr John Nisbet, 

 the Board's expert adviser in forestry ; by Mr Gordon of the 

 Glasgow College; and also, last but not least, by Mr Dawson, 

 who was so long associated with forestry in Aberdeen, but who 

 to our regret has now gone to England. I can only hope — and 

 1 suppose that you also will share that hope — that the re- 

 commendation of the Board and of the Advisory Committee, 

 fortified as it is by the opinions of all these gentlemen, will have 

 the favourable opinion of the Development Commissioners. 

 You of course know that the Board, in so far as a big investment 

 of that kind is concerned, is absolutely helpless, and that we 

 must look to the Development Commissioners for the necessary 

 funds. 



" Last year I said something about Advisory and Research 

 Officers. I regret to say that until now we have not been 

 able to make any appointments. It is outwith my sphere 

 to say anything further than to assure you that it is the Board's 

 endeavour as soon as possible to have these appointments made. 

 Last year also — and this at all events is one small item of 

 progress — I mentioned that it was our intention to elect 

 correspondents to collect information in all the various counties 

 of Scotland that would be of use in finally compiling statistics 

 in connection with forestry. Well, these correspondents I hope 

 will be appointed within the next two months, and I am sure, 



