AUSTRALIAN FORESTRY. 1 23 



18. Australian Forestry. 



By D. E. HuTCHiNS. 



Last month there had to be recorded the most important step 

 that has yet been taken in systematic forestry in Australia since 

 the passing of the Victorian Forest Act and the initiation of an 

 efficient Forest Department in Victoria eight years ago. In 

 March 1916, Mr Lane Poole, a graduate of Nancy, was 

 appointed to the post of Chief Forest Officer in West Australia. 



Since the death of the late Mr Ednie Brown, some twelve 

 years ago, the post of Chief Forest Officer in Western Australia 

 has remained vacant, being filled temporarily by the Chief Clerk. 

 The West Australian Government has advertised for applications 

 on more than one occasion ; but, owing to a change of Govern- 

 ment and other causes, no decision had been arrived at. 



Mr Lane Poole is a full-time graduate of the Nancy Forest 

 School: and in 1905 passed through the school of extra tropical 

 forestry in South Africa. He was then appointed to the Transvaal, 

 and after three or four years' service in South Africa transferred 

 as Chief of the Forest Administration at Sierra Leone, which post 

 he has held until his present appointment in West Australia. 



As is well known, the West Australian Government has State 

 forests, mainly Jarah, of great value. At this day the largest 

 outturn of timber in Australia is from West Australia, and the 

 timber export of West Australia is about equal to that of the 

 whole foreign timber export of the Australian Commonwealth. 

 The West Australian forests are being energetically worked both 

 by Government and the private grantees that have now mostly 

 come into the "Millars" combine. West Australia is the only 

 Australian Government at present working the national forests, 

 and it is doing this with two large modern well-equipped mills 

 and a branch line of railway. This is in the Kari forests. The 

 Kari forest is difficult to destroy, even if the Government wished 

 to do so. Under ordinary circumstances its cutting removes a 

 quantity of over-mature timber, and its place is taken by a 

 regrovvth very similar to the Kari plantations in South Africa. 

 The bulk of the timber and timber working is in the Jarah 

 forests. The Jarah forests of Western Australia admit of easy 

 administration on scientific lines. They are accessible, easily 

 protected from fire, free from the rabbit pest, and, most important 

 of all, are commonly on land which when it carries Jarah carries 



