THE LABOUR QUESTION. 191 



In many cases, operations of this class may be combined 

 with the utiUsation of catchment areas for waterworks. The 

 Corporation of Liverpool has extensive gathering grounds 

 at Vyrnwy in North Wales, where plantations have already 

 been commenced. Here a fine example of utilising mountain 

 lands is being given, which has already been imitated by 

 other corporations. In spite of much discussion as to the 

 advisability of afforesting gathering grounds, there can be 

 no doubt that it is the best means of keeping the water pure 

 and of regulating its flow, a fact which will be affirmed by 

 those who have enquired into the magnificent works carried 

 out by the town of Verviers in Belgium. Its gathering 

 ground on the banks of the river Gileppe is under forest, and 

 with the most satisfactory results. 



4. Tlie Labour Question. 



And this leads to the labour question generally. If 

 afibrestation were undertaken on a large scale, there is no 

 reason why five or six million acres should not gradually be 

 brought under wood, thus producing the bulk of the ordinary 

 timber required by the country. Every acre afforested would 

 require an expenditure on labour of, say, i;2 for planting. 

 After the forests have been established, every acre would 

 require about five days labour a year, or a total of thirty 

 million days for the work in the forests. Then there is 

 the large business of transport and working up the timber, 

 as well as the various industries which would spring up. 

 On the whole, it is estimated that not less than a popula- 

 tion of two and a half million people would find additional 

 work in the country, counting five members for each 

 family. 



There is yet another point of great importance. It has 

 already been indicated that most forest work can be done in 

 winter, when agricultural work is slack ; hence the two kinds 

 of work can be made to fit in with each other and thus make 

 availal)le more labour for agriculture during summer. This 



