COMMUNICATIONS AND BUILDINGS. 163 



Department onwards, but funds were limited. With the increase 

 of the revenue more could be done, so that now considerable sums 

 are devoted to such construction. During the five years 1909 — 

 1914 the average annual expenditure on communications and 

 buildings was : — 



Total . . . 1,816,265 



This is at present equivalent to £181,626 a year. 



10. Methods of Removal and Disposal of Produce. 



Fuel, small timber, grazing and various kinds of minor produce 

 required for local consumption near the forests are disposed of by 

 special arrangements with the people. Large quantities of these 

 classes of produce are given free of payment or at reduced rates. 

 The removal of produce for commercial purposes is done either by 

 private or Government agency. The question as to which of 

 these agencies should be adopted has given rise to considerable 

 discussion. Although general principles may be laid down, the 

 choice of agency most suitable to any particular province or forest 

 must depend on local conditions. The first duty of the trained 

 staff is to administer, conserve and improve the forests, and the 

 second is to secure, as far as the first permits, the greatest benefit 

 to the proprietor. To obtain the latter, departmental or private 

 agency should be employed as circumstances dictate. Provided 

 that the systematic treatment of the forests is not interfered with, 

 and that the proprietor receives a fair price for the produce, 

 private agency may be freely employed, leaving the trained staff 

 free for the first of the above-mentioned objects. But when it is 

 found impossible to employ private agency on suitable terms, 

 departmental working must step in. If this cannot be under- 

 taken by the available trained stafE without prejudice to the work 

 of conservation and improvement, a separate staff, efficient in 

 commercial exploitation, should be employed. In some cases, 



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