MANUAL LABOUR. 191 



forest work and the increasing dearness of living. The sup- 

 posed gain to the forest owner by low wages is often converted 

 into a loss, ten times as great, by bad workmanship, while 

 damage is also done to the forest. The maxim of the lowest 

 possible wage is much more objectionable in forest work than in 

 any other industry. 



It has long been admitted by experienced foresters that it 

 is highly advantageous to fix remuneration for work done, 

 at rates proportional to the sale-value of the outturn. Let 

 the roughest kinds of work be well paid, but fix rates at 

 least double the ordinary ones for valuable produce. The 

 amount the woodcutter thus gains will secure from him an 

 intelligent and profitable conversion of the felled trees, will 

 excite his attention and care, increase his utility and enable 

 him at the same time to increase his own earnings. Small 

 rewards should also be offered to woodcutters for new tools, and 

 other improvements. 



The system of giving the work to contractors should be 

 abandoned, whenever it is known or suspected that the contractor 

 is making more money than is absolutely necessary out of the 

 workmen ; in such cases direct dealing with the latter should 

 be substituted, or other means taken to protect the men from 

 imposition. 



In order to induce good woodcutters to become attached to 

 the forest, as far as possible permanent work should be provided 

 for them ; certain works should be kept in abeyance, so that as 

 soon as the harvest or other agricultural business is over, work 

 may be found for the strong young woodcutters. Naturally, 

 in such cases, the best and most trustworthy men will be most 

 favoured. Attempts should also be made to lighten the men's 

 work by constructing woodcutter's huts in remote felling-areas, 

 and introducing labour-saving appliances. 



Another effective incentive is to offer the men forest privileges 

 at low rates. Such privileges are highly valued by country 

 people, and they think nothing of the labour involved to them- 

 selves in taking advantage of them. 



Within the limits allowed by Forest Protection many a 

 privilege of little value may be bestowed, which is paid for 

 tenfold by the services of good woodcutters. Such are assigning 



