78 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



landowner nor the average investor is inclined to sink 

 his capital in planting operations. 



So far the idea of converting a pastoral district into a 

 timber-growing area of similar dimensions to those found 

 on the Continent has been discussed from an abstract 

 point of view entirely, and from the financial and labour 

 aspects of the case. An equally important side to consider, 

 however, is the industrial and social change which would 

 be involved in the process of reducing the size of farms, 

 and in buying out holdings altogether. It may be taken 

 for granted that the work of afforestation could only be 

 undertaken by the State, and that the latter would have 

 to purchase the land from the owner, and deal with the 

 tenant or occupier afterwards. So far as the former is 

 concerned, the question is largely one of price, but the 

 occupying tenant possesses certain moral and legal 

 rights to compensation for disturbance which cannot be 

 icrnored. Without going into the details of these rights, 

 it may be assumed that purchase transactions would have 

 to be conducted on a voluntary basis, or a price given 

 above the market value of the land. In the former event, 

 irregular boundaries and inconvenient areas must be 

 expected, due to the unwillingness or reluctance of 

 adjoining owners or occupiers to sell, for no two neigh- 

 bours can be expected to regard a reduction of their 

 holdings in the same light or with equal complacency. 

 With compulsory powers of purchase, as recommended 

 by the Coast Erosion Commission, compensation would 

 increase the price of the land by at least 25 to 50 per 

 cent, above its mere market value. A man previously 

 occupying 500 to 1000 acres of land may not be willing 

 or able to adapt himself easily to the occupation of about 

 a fourth of that area, even supposing that the smaller 

 area consisted of the best portion of the farm. In any 

 case, his system of farming would have to be altered, and 



