122 PROTECTION OF AFFORESTED AREAS 



or theft the forest was set on fire, and a consider- 

 able area burnt, a heavy punishment, or one com- 

 mensurate with the actual loss of property and 

 capital involved, could not be inflicted under 

 the ordinary criminal law of the country. 



To adequately protect forest property it has been 

 realized that special laws are necessary, enforcing 

 heavier punishments for acts which, though small 

 in themselves, and committed either through care- 

 lessness or with no deliberate intent to cause heavy 

 loss, have resulted in serious damage to the forest 

 property. 



In this country a considerable part of the afforesta- 

 tion scheme will deal with the growth of conifers. 

 This class of forest, and more especially in its younger 

 stages of growth, is most subject to danger by fire. 

 Hundreds or thousands of pounds' worth of damage 

 may be done in a few hours by a careless act or as 

 a result of trespass without intent to cause harm to 

 the forest area. How is it proposed to protect 

 young plantations of this nature existing in the 

 neighbourhood of industrial centres, collieries for 

 instance, under the existing laws ? 



Railway engines are a constant source of fires 

 in the woods of this country ; and yet the com- 

 pensation the courts are able to grant the owner 

 of the wood at present is often out of all proportion 

 to the damage which may have resulted. 



Again, cattle, horses, sheep or goats, getting into 

 a young plantation through the negligence of their 

 owners, may commit irremediable damage before 

 they are discovered and ejected. This damage may 



