173 THE AFFORESTATION SCHEMES 



high if it is suggested that our timber requirements, 

 i.e. imports, may have risen by 30%. This would 

 mean an import of 800,000,000 cubic feet of coni- . 

 ferous timber. 



With this figure as the lowest estimate of our 

 . probable imports forty years hence, and it is, it is 

 to be feared, below the mark, what proportion of 

 it should we endeavour to produce at home in order 

 to obtain the desired advantages from undertaking 

 this afforestation business? 



If it is wished to obtain from home resources a 

 fourth of the 800,000,000 cubic feet, you would have 

 to afforest an area of 2,858,000, say 3,000,000, acres. 

 If it were decided that the wisest policy and the 

 soundest, in order to assure the end in view being 

 attained in all its various bearings, would be to aim 

 at growing a third of this amount, you would require 

 to afforest an area of 3,800,000, say 4,000,000, acres ; 

 and for half of the amount 5,700,000, say 5,500,000, 

 acres. 



Then as regards the rate of planting. The Sub- 

 Committee reconunends 250,000 acres during the 

 first ten years. It may be suggested that if one 

 of the objects is to reduce at as early a date as 

 possible the sums we have to pay for imported 

 timber, which are likely to increase instead of de- 

 creasing in the future — and this should be one of 

 the objects kept in view — ^we should aim at afforest- 

 ing double this area in the first ten years. If an 

 adequate wage is offered, and the work made attrac- 

 tive, the country will get the men from those, both 

 officer and man, who have been fighting during the 



