Forest Acts. 395 



difference of opinion between the local and general 

 governments existed, the government of Madras 

 going so far as to declare the impossibility of estab- 

 lishing State property in view of the acknowledged 

 rights of the villagers over waste lands. The general 

 policy, however, finally prevailed, and an increasingly 

 harmonious cooperation of the provincial govern- 

 ments has allowed the development of an efficient 

 forest service. 



Various provincial legislation was considered, passed 

 and repealed, until, in 1878, the Indian Forest Act VII 

 settled the policy at least for the majority of the pro- 

 vinces, Madras and Burma and some minor districts 

 still declining to extend its provisions to their forests. 

 The Burma government enacted, however, similar 

 legislation in 1881, and the Madras government in 

 1882, and, much later, the other outstanding govern- 

 ments followed (1886 to 1891), so that, while the 

 detail of application varies not inconsiderably, the 

 general policy regarding forest property of the State 

 is the same throughout the empire. Whatever of 

 uniformity exists had to be secured mainly by per- 

 suasive means. 



The forest acts, as stated on a previous page, con- 

 tain certain provisions regarding formation of village 

 forests and control of private forest property, but 

 no interference with private forest property has been 

 attempted, although in some parts this" is more im- 

 portant and larger than the State holdings. Most 

 of the owners merely exploit their property, but 

 some of the larger, more enlightened native princes 

 have established forest administrations, imitating the 



