VII 



WHAT AFFORESTATION WILL DO FOR THE PEOPLE 



IN a preceding article our position, both as regards 

 the absence of commercial forests in the country 

 and our consequent total dependence on imports 

 for our timber requirements, has been depicted. 



We now come to a consideration of the afforesta- 

 tion question in its various aspects. It is proposed 

 to review the steps by which we may endeavour 

 to remedy for our children and grandchildren our 

 present unenviable and difficult position. 



It may be premised at the outset that the 

 advantages to be obtained by the mere planting up 

 of our waste lands are not the only ones which will 

 accrue to the nation by undertaking this urgent 

 reconstruction work. There are others. 



The man in the street will ask, is probably asking, 

 What is all this talk about afforestation ? It means 

 spending more money, does it not ? Is there any 

 need for it ? What will it do for me or for the 

 general welfare of the people of these islands ? 



The answers are many and various, but there is 

 one which transcends the rest. The planting up of 

 the derelict lands of the country will be directly 

 beneficial to a considerable section of the community 

 if undertaken with foresight and prudence. 



The planting question in Great Britain is not 



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