218 THE FORESTRY ACT 



of their pre-war value. These imports absorbed seven million 

 net tons of shipping, equivalent to approximately fourteen 

 million tons dead weight.' 



(3) ' The area of land utilized for rough grazing, but capable 

 of growing first-class coniferous timber of the same character 

 as that imported, is not less than three and probably more 

 than five million acres. Two million acres could be devoted 

 to timber production without decreasing the home production 

 of meat by more than 0-7 per cent, and if so used would 

 ultimately afford employment to at least ten times the number 

 of men now engaged on that area. 5 



(4) ' Dependence on imported timber has proved a serious 

 handicap in the conduct of the war. The United Kingdom 

 cannot run the risk of future wars without safeguarding its 

 supplies of timber as every other Power that counts has 

 already done.' 



(5) ' In order to render the United Kingdom independent 

 of imported timber for three years in an emergency, it is 

 necessary, while making due allowance for an improved yield 

 from existing woods, to afforest 1,770,000 acres. Taking 

 eighty years as the average rotation, we advise that two-thirds 

 of the whole should be planted in the first forty years. We 

 consider that the quota to be planted in the first ten years 

 should, in view of the initial difficulties, be limited to 200,000 

 acres, of which we advise 150,000 acres should be planted by 

 the State and 50,000 acres by public bodies and private indi- 

 viduals assisted by grants, or by co-operation between them 

 and the State. The area to be planted by the State in sub- 

 sequent years may be reduced in the same degree as private 

 individuals come forward to undertake the work.' 



(6) ' It is not proposed to plant arable land, but a limited 

 area of arable land should be acquired with the forest sites, 

 wherever possible, in order to provide small holdings for 

 forest workers. Our proposals carry with them the important 

 contingent advantage that they will cause large areas of the 



