AREA OF THE FORESTS. 



223 



There can be no doubt that Australia will have to take energetic 

 measures to save and improve the remaining timber forests, in so 

 far as this can be done without unduly hindering settlement. 

 In addition, coniferous hght timbers should be grown to replace 

 in time those which are now imported. If that poUcy is adopted, 

 the import of coniferous light woods should gradually disappear, 

 while the export of hardwoods could be very considerably 

 increased. 



5. Area of the Forests. 



The areas of the forests are given as follows in square miles : — 



Area of Forests in Square Miles. 



The actual area of wooded land is probably greater than that 

 given in this table. 



6. Relationship of the State to the Forests. 

 All the States have Forest Departments, but the stafE is 

 described as deficient. At a conference of the Premiers of all the 

 States held lately at Melbourne, at which the Commonwealth 

 Government was also represented, it was decided to establish an 

 Australian School of Forestry of a high standard in New South 

 Wales, the cost and maintenance being borne by contributions 

 from the several States and from the Commonwealth. The 

 Schools now existing will be mentioned in the accounts given of 

 the several States. In the meantime a few Australians have 

 come to Oxford to study forestry, and this move might be con- 

 tinued until Australia has completed the establishment of a 

 high-class school of its own. 



