NIGERIA 155 
II. Tot Manocany anp TimBEeR INDUSTRIES. 
According to Nigerian law, timber includes planks sawn for logs 
and trees hollowed out or shaped for any purpose whatever. The 
timber-working industry, then, is a wide one, covering really three 
distinct fields of activity, though one or more may be combined. First, 
there is the felling of mahogany chiefly, and other furniture-wood trees 
for export. In the second place, the native, and to a slight extent the 
European firms, cut timber for local use, mainly in the forest, such as 
planks, canoes and posts. Thirdly, there is the Government, which 
under the auspices of the Forestry Department chiefly, and to some 
extent under the Public Works Department, cuts timber of various 
kinds, chiefly Iroko, for railway buildings and road bridges. 
Turning now first of all to the export industry, which is most 
important at the present time, though the local demand for timber will 
soon dwarf that of the former, there is a definite sequence of action 
necessary in embarking on this form of economic development. 
As soon as a firm decides on timber-getting, an application (made 
out in triplicate) has to be sent in with good maps or plans of the area, 
which is applied for, to the Conservator of Forests of that circle. It 
is understood that the area in question has been thoroughly examined 
by the firm before the application is made. A fee of £3 in stamps 
as well as a banker’s guarantee of £400 for each area of 100 square 
miles is also necessary before the application can be considered. The 
species of tree to be cut should also be stated, as well as the names 
of the villages and chiefs occupying or living in or adjacent to the area. 
Owing to the time taken in making the fullest inquiries into the occu- 
pancy and other rights, as well as ascertaining the financial standing of 
the firm in question, it is usually several months before the applicant 
hears that the area has been granted. 
Before this the applicant should also forward a confidential statement, 
stating exactly what capital there is available to develop the timber 
areas. An additional banker’s reference to the Crown Agents will 
save unnecessary delay in the granting of the area. 
Before the notification of the grant of the area, the licence is made 
out in the Conservator’s office, for which a £5 stamp as well as three 
good maps are necessary. Roughly, an additional £2 10s. is required 
to satisfy the legal fees upon registration, which follows immediately 
after the execution of the licence by the licensee of the grantees. It 
should be especially noted that anyone acting on behalf of a firm should 
be in the possession of a registered power of attorney, enabling him to 
act in the fullest possible way for the applicant or company acquiring 
land rights. This power of attorney should be registered beforehand, 
otherwise another delay will ensue whilst this is being done. 
As soon as the area is granted, the applicant should mark all bound- 
