THE society's ANNUAL MEETING. 79 



this Society is very much in touch. We should be able to do 

 a good deal in trying to think out a scheme sympathetically 

 with the landowners of the country, which might have a very 

 good chance of being carried out practically as soon as the war 

 is at an end. 



"There is one thing, as Mr Sutherland has hinted, and the 

 other speakers have hinted at this afternoon, which we must 

 bear in mind. The available funds of this country, as of other 

 countries, after the war will be very limited indeed, and therefore 

 we must think out any schemes that we wish to put forward, on 

 a basis of the strictest economy. I do not think that it is 

 impossible for afforestation schemes to be presented and carried 

 out on that basis if the land is available for the purpose. Now, 

 something has been said about the duty of the State to come in 

 and do its part. We have had some experience of Government 

 departments in afforestation. I do not want to say much about 

 that. We all have our own ideas of the success or otherwise 

 of the Government departments of this country in carrying 

 out afforestation, and if you knew everything you would find it 

 was pretty much the same in other countries. Somehow or other 

 the Government official makes a splendid watch-dog, but he is 

 not always the very best of work-horses. 



" I suppose we have all seen a State show, the magnificent 

 coaches and well-fed horses, their wonderful trappings, and 

 particularly we have all noticed that the horses are kept well 

 in hand with a bearing-rein. The bearing-rein is always on 

 the Government official, and always will be, and therefore I do 

 not think that we need look for too much in the way of practical 

 afforestation work from him. Now that brings me back to 

 this, let us try to stand on our own feet, let the landowners in 

 Scotland and this Society assist as far as they possibly can in 

 putting forward schemes which we wish to work out practically 

 with Government assistance. I am often told I am very 

 deficient in Socialism, and that may be so. I daresay I am old- 

 fashioned about that, but I cannot help emphasising my view as 

 to the duty and the power of the landowners of this country and 

 the general public to work individually in this matter. 



"There is one topic which Mr Spiers has touched on, on 

 which I would like to make a suggestion for consideration in 

 preparing any scheme to be carried out after the war. It has 

 always seemed to me that rabbits are one of the most serious 



