12 



use of the natives. Hence it is held that so long as the whole of the direct 

 native taxation goes into general revenue, any revenue derived from native 

 forests should be credited to the Natives' Trust Fund. While accepting this 

 principle, I am of the opinion that the most satisfactory way of administer- 

 ing the major forests will be for the Forest Department to assume entire 

 control of them, all items of revenue and expenditure appearing in the Forest 

 Department estimates and accounts under a distinct head "Native Reserve 

 Forests." Separate costing will be necessary for each native reserve, so that 

 the subsequent adjustment of accounts with the different native reserves 

 could be effected without difficulty by the Treasury. The case of the minor 

 forests is somewhat different. As these forests will be managed for the sole 

 use of the natives and will not concern the community as a whole, revenue 

 and expenditure could be dealt wfth most appropriately in the native reserve 

 estimates and accounts. 



9. SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS. The following is a summary of proposed 

 measures for dealing with forests and afforestation in native reserves : 



(1) Suitable areas of natural forest should be selected, demarcated, 

 permanently reserved, and brought under systematic management and 

 regeneration. 



(2) Where no natural forest exists, suitable areas should be selected 

 for afforestation under well-considered schemes for the supply of local 

 requirements or for other purposes. 



(3) Areas dealt with under (1) and (2) should be gazetted as native 

 forest areas and should be subject to the provisions of the Forest Ordi- 

 nance, 1911. 



(4) Work connected with afforestation and the management and 

 upkeep of native forests and plantations, should be the duty of the Forest 

 Department, Administrative Officers co-operating so far as questions of 

 general policy are concerned. 



(5) Produce supplied to the local population from the forests and 

 plantations should be charged for at nominal rates. 



(6) In the case of major forests (i.e., those maintained primarily for 

 the benefit of the Colony as a whole) revenue and expenditure will appear 

 in the Forest Department estimates and accounts : in the case of minor 

 forests (i.e., those maintained for the use of the natives) revenue and 

 expenditure will appear in the estimates and accounts of the native 

 reserve. 



6. DEMARCATION. 



10. PROGRESS OF WORK. Where forest boundaries adjoin native 

 reserves they are, as a rule, distinctly marked by cleared lines, supplemented 

 in some cases by a line of gum trees. The work of continuing and complet- 

 ing the clearing of these boundaries is in progress for existing forest areas, 

 but much requires to be done in respect of the forests which have not yet been 

 gazetted, and it is advisable that this work should be proceeded with as 

 rapidly as possible. 



Where forest boundaries adjoin farm lands the farm beacons are taken 

 to represent the forest boundary marks. These, however, are small and incon- 

 spicuous, and it is advisable that a more distinct form of demarcation, such 

 as a cleared line and conspicuous numbered boundary posts, should be adopted 

 wherever necessary, and particularly where Government forest adjoins private 

 forest. This work is now in progress, but much remains to be done. 



