GOLD COAST BEPO11T ON FORE8T8. 115 



simplified, and are not so elaborate in character as the Indian 

 ones. They contain all that is necessary, for the present, to put 

 Forest Conservancy on a sound footing within our West African 

 Territories, and as mentioned above the success attending- their 

 application will depend mainly on the method and agency by 

 which they are directed and enforced. As long as Section 21 of 

 the Southern Nigeria Forestry Ordinance remains in force, no 

 real progress can be expected, as the question of accepting or 

 rejecting the laws depends, in accordance with the powers given 

 in that section, on the will of the native communities as expressed 

 by their councils, and, in some cases, on the personality of the 

 political 'officers. This arrangement involves an uncertainty 

 and reliance on chance that is absolutely fatal to good fore.st 

 administration. 



The exact legal or administrative machinery necessary for 

 applying the forest laws is a matter of convenience and choice 

 resting with the particular administrations concerned, and is 

 immaterial as long as it is recognised that the enforcement of 

 the main provisions for conserving the forests should not be left 

 to chance, but, on the contrary, absolutely ensured. The native 

 councils possess neither the knowledge nor the experience that is 

 essential for coining to correct decisions on such broad questions 

 affecting the general and public welfare of the whole country. 

 If sufficient pressure can be, and is actually, when necessary, 

 employed, without resorting to direct legal interference with the 

 powers of the native councils, to accomplish the conservancy 

 called for well and good. But the history and past experience 

 of such methods of enforcing forest rules show that they have 

 invariably been followed with but little success. 



In Sections IV., VII., and VI., respectively, of the three 

 Orders of His Majesty the King in Council, dated the 26th 

 September, 1901, viz., the Gold Coast Order in Council, the 

 Ashanti Order in Council, and the Northern Territories Order in 

 Council, the Governor of the Gold Coast is given the power to 

 provide by Ordinance " for the administration of justice, the 

 raising of revenue, and generally for the peace, order, and good 

 government " of those Possessions. 



As Forest Conservancy is above all things a matter concerning 

 the welfare of the inhabitants of those countries, and is un- 

 doubtedly of benefit to the public, there appears to be sufficient 

 legal authority for carrying out such arrangements as are neces- 

 sary to establish it. One would certainly include it amongst the 

 measures necessary for good government. 



The Southern Nigeria Forest Ordinance, orders, and rules are, 

 with some modifications that will be suggested presently, suitable 

 instruments for ensuring the amount of Forest Conservancy 

 necessary on the Gold Coast during the immediate future. 



Taking these enactments in order, I will briefly indicate the 

 modifications and additions that appear desirable in order to 

 meet the requirements of the Gold Coast, Ashanti, and the 

 Northern Territories. 



12316 H 2 



