66 STATE FORESTS. 



a large capital which is only in exceptional cases at the dis- 

 posal of private parties. This argument holds good in many- 

 cases, but by no means in all. 



Finally, it is said, that forestry requires little labour while 

 control is easy, and that it offers little or no opportunity for 

 speculation ; hence it is specially adapted for State enterprise 

 and less so for a private industry. 



{b) Reasons of State Finance. — State forests are considered 

 to be a suitable source of public revenue ; the income is steady, 

 sustained and safe. At the same time it is an income the 

 payment of which is not felt by the people. 



State forests also form a reserve capital which can be made 

 available in times of special need, either by pledging the 

 propert}^ against loans, or by extra cuttings. As far as the 

 last point is concerned, it must not be overlool^ed that in 

 times of need prices generally rule low, so that extra cuttings 

 would not be indicated. 



(c) Social Political Considerations. — The possession of State 

 domains increases the credit of the State. The maintenance 

 of State domains also prevents the accumulation of too much 

 landed property in a few^ private hands. Moreover, if a certain 

 proportion of the forest area is the property of the State, all 

 supervision and control of private forests can be abolished. 



(d) The State, by onning and managing a certain area of forests, 

 can do justice to various tasks and objects which do not directly 

 result in income. — This argument refers to protection forests, 

 the supply of forest produce of a certain description and 

 quantity, supply of work in poor districts and similar matters. 

 As regards the latter point, it must be noted that labour will 

 be required, whether the forests belong to the State or to private 

 parties, though there may be some difference in the quantity. 



2. Reasons against Maintaining State Forests. 



These may be arranged under the following four heads : — 

 (a) Danger of a mischievous one-sided utilization of State 

 forests on the part of G<n-ernment. — Owing to the receipts from 



