SUMMARY. 185 



seen the wanton destruction of useful timber throup^hout the 

 country, the stripping and denuding of watersheds, the 

 erosion of hill slopes and of the banks of streams, and the 

 general disregard of anything but the temporary' interests of 

 the present, in utilising or dealing with timber-clad areas, will 

 support us in our contention that the existing laxity of control 

 must speedily come to an end, if the climatic disasters, which 

 have followed like conditions in other countries, are to be 

 prevented from occurring here." 



Here, then, is a heavy indictment. What the Commission 

 said about Alctoria holds goods as regards other Australian 

 Colonies. No time should be lost in any of them in introduc- 

 ing sensible forest management. The matter seems most 

 urgent in Victoria and New South Wales, so as to save the 

 remainder of the natural forests. Western Australia has 

 commenced following the same reckless system as the above- 

 mentioned two colonies, and it is to be hoped that its Govern- 

 ment will lose no time in taking reasonable action. These fine 

 jarrah and karri forests truly deserve a special effort to save 

 them from destruction, and to perpetuate to the State a con- 

 sideraljle income for all time to come. Again, it is most 

 depressing to hear of the rapid destruction of the kauri 

 forests of New Zealand. The Government of that Colony 

 had good advice given them many years ago, but practically 

 nothing seems to have been done. Surely, it is great extrava- 

 gance to destroy a source of revenue like that derivable from 

 these kauri forests. Tbere is yet time to save the situation, 

 because of the total area of Australasia 75 per cent, is as 

 yet unalienated, as the statement on the next page shows. 



To be successful, however, it is absolutely necessary to keep 

 the claims of timber getters and of the saw-mill industry 

 within reasonable bounds, and not to allow further settlements 

 to be made in tracts which either contain valuable timber, or 

 which should be kept under forest for their effect upon 

 climate, denudation, or for similar objects. In addition, a 

 competent forest staff must be obtained, and it is a question 



