GOVERNMENT AROUSED 43 



necessarily bring about. But allusion may be made 

 to references to a system of leasing areas for afforesta- 

 tion and proceeds-sharing as valuable lines of a 

 probable future departure. 



The outcome of the above analysis of the six com- 

 mittees and commissions appointed between 1888 

 and 1912 to consider the forestry problem resolves 

 itself, if we omit Ireland, into some small encourage- 

 ment of education, but a total absence of all planting 

 up of the waste lands of the country. 



As an example of one direction in which useful 

 planting work has been undertaken, the reclamation 

 movement of the Midland Reafforesting Association 

 in Staffordshire and Worcestershire may be men- 

 tioned. Starting in 1904, the Association has 

 already proved the feasibility of afforesting the 

 shale heaps of the Black Country. It is estimated 

 that in the Black Country alone there are some 

 30,000 acres of land used for piling rubbish upon. 

 Northumberland can also show some good work 

 of this nature. 



But the Government had gradually awakened to 

 the economic needs of the country, and to the fact 

 that the services of science and its experts had 

 become necessary to the various industries of the 

 nation if we were to keep pace with other nations 

 and prevent them wresting our position from us. 

 Germany had reached that goal several decades 

 before, and our supremacy was being seriously 

 challenged in many directions. This realization 

 on the part of the Government was reflected in the 

 passing of the Development Commission Act in 



4 



