51 



least three-fifths of the timber in the trees was wasted. Subsequently, when the 

 wood thus left on the ground was fired, a fierce blaze occurred, which killed or 

 rendered useless almost as man}^ trees as had been felled. The selection of the 

 State forests has not been well made here, for some of the best forests have been 

 left outside, and inferior growth taken up for the reserve. 



" As a large increase in the consumption may be safely anticipated, taking 

 into account the natural increase in the population, the present rapid extension 

 of quartz mining, and the decrease of timber on private lands, there is likely to 

 be a great scarcity of timber in the next ten or fifteen years. Already the mining 

 community complain of the great increase in the price of firewood and timber, 

 and the neglect which the large area of Crown lands in the vicinity of the mines 

 receive. On some mines firewood costs now 30 to 40 per cent, more than it did 

 five years ago, and there is a universal complaint that the timber now supplied 

 for props, laths, etc., is very inferior and immature." 



Mr. Vincent then sums up as follows : " The immediate causes of this are 

 the bad license system, the ill-arranged classification of State forests, timber 

 reserves and Crown lands, the absence of professional foresters to direct opera- 

 tions, and the neglect to reserve the best natural forests. The officials in charge 

 of the forests have often protested against the present license system, explaining 

 that the forests were being rapidly ruined. They explain that they cannot 

 protect the forests from theft, and yet no change is made. Why ? Because Par- 

 liamentary influence is brought to bear by the saw-mill owners and by the splitters, 

 who are determined that no change shall be made in the present arrangements. 

 Both these classes are powerful, the splitters especially. When an attempt is 

 made by the foresters or the Secretary of Agriculture to do justice to the forests 

 and to protect them, the persons affected organize deputations, questions are asked 

 in Parliament, and concession after concession is made. There is little hope of 

 the forests ever receiving proper treatment until the forest question is made a 

 national one, and removed from the arena of party politics. The question is, are 

 the electors prepared to allow the saw-millers and splitters to devastate the 

 remaining forests, robbing them and their children of their supply of timber and 

 firewood, and risking some of the climatic changes which are traceable to the 

 destruction of forests ? Are they prepared to sacrifice a source of large and 

 increasing revenue to the demands of a limited class ?" 



o 



It was suggested that the Victorian Government should secure the services 

 of a fully competent forest expert, a man like those who introduced systematic 

 forestry into India, who should be directed to go round the colony, see for him- 

 self, and then propose what, in his opinion, ought to be done. After all the pass- 

 ing of fine laws is not such a difficult thing. What is of much greater import- 

 ance is the determination to carry the law into effect when once passed. 



Under any circumstances fehe Government of Victoria should not fall a vic- 

 tim to the delusion that the formation of some limited plantations will make up 

 for the loss of the natural forests. The all-important step to be taken is to 

 gazette and demarcate on the ground a sufficient area of reserved State forests, 

 and to provide for their systematic management, according to the approved rules 

 of scientific forestry, and, in addition, to take what measures are desirable and 

 practicable for the protection of the forest growth on the Crown lands, which 

 are not included in the reserve State forests. 



The following short abstract indicates what seemed to be required: 



(1) Engagement of a thoroughly competent forest expert to be the head of 

 the Victorian Forest Department. 



