MEETING WITH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONERS. IO9 



missioners on the subject of the advancement of afforestation 

 in Scotland, and we were authorised to submit the following 

 suggestions to you with the view of enabling your Commission, 

 if so advised, to issue fresh proposals for consideration : — 



" I. We were informed by your representatives that the 

 Treasury was not disposed to find money for the purchase of 

 land for afforestation. We therefore dropped a very modest 

 scheme which we had prepared in hopes of getting a start made 

 without delay — a scheme which would have cost the country 

 less in five years than the price we pay for imported timber in a 

 single day. It is suggested, however, that the objection to the 

 purchase of land might not apply if payment of the price were 

 made by annual instalments extending over a period not 

 exceeding fifty years. 



" 2. It appears that the leasing scheme outlined in the 

 Memorandum issued by the Board of Agriculture in November 

 1 9 14 is not acceptable to landowners, mainly because they 

 cannot as a rule afford to do without some annual payment to 

 account of their interest in the undertaking. It is suggested 

 that the lessee should offer to pay the rent at present appearing 

 in the Valuation Roll during the currency of the lease, and also 

 a bonus or percentage on the profits of the undertaking, with 

 the object of inducing the landowner to take a helpful interest in 

 the venture. The landowner should, of course, be bound to pay 

 all the owners' taxes. 



" 3. It might be advisable to make clear in any future 

 Memorandum what use the lessee would desire to make of 

 existing estate machinery (subject to supervision) for the 

 purpose of carrying on the work. 



" 4. If only existing woodland is to be dealt with, claims for 

 compensation should not arise, but if land is taken which is 

 occupied by any existing industry or interest, some compensation 

 might be necessary to recompense the person disturbed or 

 displaced, and this would form a charge on the new industry. 



" 5. It is assumed that all land included in the scheme will be 

 properly forest land, which should, therefore, be kept under forest 

 in perpetuity, and that this is the explanation of the provision 

 that the landowner must, at the termination of the lease, either 

 take over the lessee's share of the crop at valuation, or continue 

 the lease. Would the continuation be on the same terms or 

 subject to adjustment of rent? 



