8o TIMBER REQUIREMENTS 



is that the Timber Supply Department should have 

 been able to cope with the business in the efficient 

 manner it has displayed, 



France still has forests of her own left. She is 

 fully aware of her pres'ent position in timber supply 

 matters. We are very far from being so. At the 

 present moment there are probably few in the 

 country who would be bold enough to say where we 

 shall get our requirements from during the next ten 

 years — or whether indeed we shall be able to prociure 

 them at a figure at all commensurate with that 

 which we can afford to pay. 



If we turn to the position of our enemies, we find 

 it a very strong one. With the exception of our 

 former ally, Russia, the Central Powers ended the 

 war with the greater part of the most valuable 

 forests in Europe within their boundaries. It is un- 

 likely that they have drawn on the resources of these 

 forests during the war years. They have helped 

 themselves by felling the forests in the areas they 

 overran. And have probably stored up large stocks 

 of felled timber from the same source to sell after 

 the peace — .if the Allies permit such a proceeding. 



Is it possible to form any idea of the amount of 

 timber which will be required for reconstruction 

 purposes in Europe alone after the peace ? The figure 

 is likely to be enormous. In this country the Govern- 

 ment is pledged to a housebuilding scheme of large 

 dimensions, and huge amounts of timber will be 

 required to restart our timber industries, for the 

 railways and so forth. In addition, throughout 

 the rural districts very considerable amounts will 



