( 50A ) 



as has been done by the zamindars of the Etawah district. Mr. 

 Fremantle and Mr, Gourthope also understood that they were to 

 enquire to what extent the local landholders themselves would be 

 willing to construct field embankments on the more gently sloping 

 uplands with a view to prevent the wastage of good soil and the 

 prevention of further erosion. These impressions were confirmed 

 by the report of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor's speech to 

 the Durbaris of the Jhansi division on 22nd December, 1914, in 

 which he states that he hopes the landholders will be partners with 

 Government in a scheme for reclaiming ravine lands on a large 

 scale, and that, if they will give the land and forego to some extent 

 their grazing rights for a period, Government will provide the 

 initial cost: in his speech he indicates that the object of the scheme 

 is, firstly, to reclaim the existing ravines, secondly, to prevent 

 their extension and, thirdly, to establish on the land thus reclaimed 

 valuable fuel and fodder reserves. 



3. The writers were somewhat confused, therefore, by the 

 appearance in the Gazette of resolution no. 971, dated 21st Decem- 

 ber, 1914, for, while up to paragraph Sit confirmed these impressions 

 as to Government's intentions, in paragraph 9 it is stated that, 

 "with the example of the Fisher forest before him Sir .James 

 Meston is not satisfied that landholders cannot be induced to 

 follow the example of the Etawah Zamindars" and to afforest 

 their own land, and it is indicated that the action now being taken 

 in Etawah was taken for special reasons and is not to be regarded 

 as a suitable way of dealing with other areas. This resolution 

 therefore practically states that Government is not willing to under- 

 take the departmental management of ravine areas, but is only 

 willing to help the landholders with advice, and definitely states 

 that direct action is "not desirable." It is further stated that the 

 policy of the Government must be to maintain experimental plots 

 and to undertake a few reserves in suitable situations as examples 

 to the people and finally to search out those areas where the con- 

 ditions are favourable to the formation of reserves. But the reso- 

 lution concludes with a statement that, while it is not intended to 

 acquire land wholesale or to obtain legal powers to compel un- 

 willing landholders, it is the intention of the Government to proceed 

 along the lines of least resistance and to persuade and to help where 

 help is asked for, which is exactly what Government is doing in 

 the Etawah district. 



4. Being unable to reconcile these apparently contradictory 

 policies, Mr. Courthope consulted Mr. Ferard, Commissioner of the 

 Allahabad division, with whom he was touring at the time, and 

 Mr. Ferard thought it necessary to refer the question to the Chief 



