NIGERIA 155 



II. The Mahogany and Timber Industries. 



According to Nigerian law, timber includes planks sawn for logs 

 and trees hollowed out or shaped for any purpose whatever. The 

 timber-working industry, then, is a wide one, covering really three 

 distinct fields of activity, though one or more may be combined. First, 

 there is the felling of mahogany chiefly, and other furniture-wood trees 

 for export. In the second place, the native, and to a slight extent the 

 European firms, cut timber for local use, mainly in the forest, such as 

 planks, canoes and posts. Thirdly, there is the Government, which 

 under the auspices of the Forestrj^ Department chiefly, and to some 

 extent under the Public Works Department, cuts timber of various 

 kinds, chiefly Iroko, for railway buildings and road bridges. 



Turning now first of all to the export industry, which is most 

 important at the present time, though the local demand for timber will 

 soon dwarf that of the former, there is a definite sequence of action 

 necessary in embarking on this form of economic development. 



As soon as a firm decides on timber-getting, an application (made 

 out in triplicate) has to be sent in with good maps or plans of the area, 

 which is applied for, to the Conservator of Forests of that circle. It 

 is understood that the area in question has been thoroughly examined 

 by the firm before the application is made. A fee of £3 in stamps 

 as well as a banker's guarantee of £400 for each area of 100 square 

 miles is also necessary before the application can be considered. The 

 species of tree to be cut should also be stated, as well as the names 

 of the villages and chiefs occupying or living in or adjacent to the area. 

 Owing to the time taken in making the fullest inquiries into the occu- 

 pancy and other rights, as well as ascertaining the financial standing of 

 the firm in question, it is usually several months before the applicant 

 hears that the area has been granted. 



Before this the applicant should also forAvard a confidential statement, 

 stating exactly what capital there is available to develop the timber 

 areas. An additional banker's reference to the Crown Agents will 

 save unnecessary delay in the granting of the area. 



Before the notification of the grant of the area, the licence is made 

 out in the Conservator's office, for which a £5 stamp as well as three 

 good maps are necessary. Roughly, an additional £2 10s. is required 

 to satisfy the legal fees upon registration, which follows immediately 

 after the execution of the licence by the licensee of the grantees. It 

 should be especially noted that anyone acting on behalf of a firm should 

 be in the possession of a registered power of attorney, enabling him to 

 act in the fullest possible way for the applicant or company acquiring 

 land rights. This power of attorney should be registered beforehand, 

 otherwise another delay will ensue whilst this is being done. 



As soon as the area is granted, the applicant should mark all bound- 



