528 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



ventilate merely theoretical opinions or hazard random conclusions ; 

 those already alluded to, being the result of human action, are 

 largely preventible, or capable, at any rate, of modification. It is 

 with them, therefore, our business lies ; the others, originating 

 probably from natural peculiarities of soil or phenomena of climate, 

 may wisely be relegated for the future consideration of those 

 having the necessary leisure to deal with them. 



The felling of trees for their timber for various jDurposes of con- 

 struction and for use as fuel in domestic life and various avocations 

 is an industry which forms the mainstay of thousands of men the 

 world over, providing, as it does, employment of varied character, 

 and securing large profits to the owners of forest areas be the)" 

 private or public. It is an industry that should unquestionably be 

 fostered by every means possible, and it is not referred to here to 

 condemn it when jDroperly carried out under judicious manage- 

 ment ; it is the abuse of it that calls for condemnation, and the 

 next inquiry now is how the abuse is brought about. 



Trees that have attained their prime should be felled when the 

 maxim.um of value is obtainable, and the felling should be carried 

 out in such a manner as always to leave the ground well covered by 

 timber, older or younger, as the case may be ; and there should 

 invariably be enough old trees to ensure a supply of seed for a con- 

 tinuous growth of yovmg seedlings to take the place of the older 

 trees felled. The whole output should be regulated on the univer- 

 sally accepted principle among foresters that the forest as a whole 

 constitutes the capital, and that only so much timber should be cut 

 annually as is equivalent to the annual increase in growth made by 

 the timber ; that is to say, that the interest only must be taken and 

 the capital left untouched. When this system is adhered to timber 

 felling never degenerates into timber slaughtering, but the pity of 

 it all is that under existing conditions when an experienced forester 

 in a State forest in these colonies decides that enough timber has 

 been cut and desires to reserve the rest the timber-getter gets up a 

 memorial and secures the aid of the local Parliamentary represen- 

 tative, who depicts, in moving tones, to the central authorities the 

 tragic circumstances of hardship under which the timber-getter is 

 placed in being prevented from getting timber, which is, of course, 

 in his opinion, abundant, and the result is that the faithful servant 

 of the State takes a "back seat " as the reward of his disinterested 

 service, while the sawyer or splitter gratifies his own self-interest 

 at the State's expense. Thus one abuse occurs in timber felling. 

 Another arises from the suicidal policy of cutting timber too young, 

 to secure immediate profits, instead of waiting a proper time for 

 fuller returns from larger timber — a practice often followed as a 

 result of external pressure by those who clamor for prompt returns. 

 Much more might be advanced, all tending to show wherein forest 

 abuses lie. Suffice it to say that timber felling invariably gets 

 abused unless carefully directed under a wise system rigidly adhered 



