THE FOREST LABOUK-QUESTION. 173 



The system of giving the work to contractors should be 

 abandoned, whenever it is known or suspected that the con- 

 tractor is making more money that is absolutely necessary out 

 of the workmen ; in such cases direct dealing with the latter 

 should be substituted, or other means taken to protect the men 

 from imposition. 



In order to induce good woodcutters to become attached to 

 the forest, as far as possible, permanent work should be pro- 

 vided for them ; certain works should be kept in abeyance, so 

 that as soon as the harvest or other agricultural business is 

 over work may be found for the strong young woodcutters. 

 Naturally, in such cases, the best and most trustworthy men 

 will be most favoured. Attempts also should be made to 

 lighten the men's work, by constructing woodcutters' huts 

 in remote felling-areas and introducing labour-saving 

 appliances. 



Another effective incentive is to offer the men forest privi- 

 leges at low rates. Such privileges are highly valued by 

 country people, and they think nothing of the labour involved 

 to themselves in taking advantage of them. 



^"itliin the limits allowed by Forest Protection many a 

 privilege of little value may In- bellowed, which is paid for ten- 

 fold by the services of good woodcutter.-. Such are : assign- 

 ing small allotments of forest lands for cultivation at a low 

 rent, during the good behaviour of the woodcutter ; or of 

 building-timber, at cheap rates, for the construction of new 

 woodcutters' houses, or repairs of old ones. 



Appointments, when vacancies arise, of useful woodcutters 

 who have served long in the forest, as forest-guards, fire- 

 watchers, road-guards, foremen, etc., can be given but rarely, 

 but may be mentioned with the other means of attracting 

 good men to the forest. The frequently indifferent pay of 

 forest-guards, and in Germany, the preference given to old 

 soldiers for these posts, often render this impracticable. 



In many forest districts friendly societies are established to 

 which every woodcutter is obliged to contribute a certain per- 

 centage of his wages, and the forest-owner also contributes 

 proportionally. From these deposits allowances are made in 

 cases of sickness or accident, and usually also to old wood- 



