NATIONAL SAFETY 163 



Report was drawn up during the war, under the 

 influences of a period when the timber difficulties, 

 as has been already mentioned, were causing us the 

 most serious anxiety. The Report bears the imprint 

 of the war pressure upon its pages. In the minds 

 of all acquainted with the position, the war needs of 

 the country loomed large, and were, as was in- 

 evitable at the time, given a prominent position, 

 a more prominent position than is perhaps now 

 necessary, in the issues before the country. 



The war is over, and the Peace Conference are 

 engaged in discussing the League of Nations. If 

 we are to take these discussions as being carried 

 on in good faith, and as having a real intention of 

 making an effort to put an end to war, and there 

 are but few who have any doubts on this head, we 

 can no longer appeal for the support of the public 

 in this afforestation matter, giving as our main 

 argument the national safety point of view. 



We have seen that this business, if carried out 

 with judgment and on a large enough scale, may 

 be made to improve the social conditions of the rural 

 population ; that it will increase the numbers of 

 that population in the at present sparsely populated 

 areas of the country ; will give rise to flourishing 

 industries, affording work to a considerable future 

 population ; and should result in the saving of large 

 sums of money leaving the country in payment for 

 timber imports. 



It may be suggested that this would be a more 

 favourable basis from which to appeal for the sup- 

 port of the country, and from which to consider 



