52 AFFORESTATION AND LABOUR 



present position of which is economically a disgrace 

 to the nation, and one very far removed from the 

 thrift and conservation and rehabilitation of the 

 national resources which is now being so strongly 

 advocated — if, I submit, a campaign of sufficient magni- 

 tude is undertaken to plant up these derelict acres 

 which could grow so much of what we want, we should 

 be able to provide employment for these young men ; 

 as also for our partially incapacitated soldiers and 

 sailors. 



One of the reasons why the recommendations of the 

 Coast Erosion Commission were not acted upon was 

 said to be the impossibility of employing the townsman 

 in planting work owing to his inability to stand the 

 strain and exposure of working on the soil, and his 

 ignorance of the use of the spade and pick. That 

 this was a fallacy the war has proved. Modern warfare 

 entails the constant use of both these implements. 

 In fact, they are probably used as much as the rifle, 

 if not more so. The men of the towns have stood their 

 training in the use of these tools, and numbers of 

 youngsters, having a thorough acquaintance with them, 

 and also hardened to exposure, should be available 

 for afforestation work. 



Without undue optimism it may be considered then 

 that a large planting scheme should no longer present 

 any difficulties on the score of labour once the war 

 has come to an end — in fact, the drafting of men 

 willing to take on such work into one or more Planting 

 Corps when the disbandment takes place at the peace 

 will provide one source of employment for the men 

 who gave up their jobs to join the armies which would 



