1920.] 



Editorial Notes. 



Now that the paramount claims of agriculture have been 

 realised by all who have eyes to see and intelligence to under- 

 stand, the handling of agricultural questions must be carried 

 out in a fashion befitting their importance to the nation. On 

 this account it has been found necessary to raise the status of 

 the old Board and to extend their Powers until they are 

 adequate to the needs of the (Country and the times we live in. 



H: ^ H< He ^ 4c 



The passing of the Foresty Act, which came into force on 

 1st September last, has created comparatively little attention, 

 but the Act itself is of far-reaching import - 



T e Forestiy Act, ^^^^^ Eight Forestry Commissioners (five 

 of them unpaid) are appointed to serve for 

 five years and are elegible for reappointment (see p. 1039) . They 

 are charged with the general duty of promoting the interests of 

 forestry, the development of afforestation and the production 

 and supply of timber in the United Kingdom. They have 

 taken over the powers and duties of the Ministry of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland and the 

 Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for 

 Ireland in so far as these relate to forestry and in so far as the 

 Destructive Insects and Pests Acts of 1877 and 1907 relate to 

 forest trees and timber. One of the unpaid Commissioners 

 will be a member of the Commons House of Parhament (Mr. L. 

 Forestier-Walker, M.P., has received the appointment under 

 this Clause) . The position of the Commissioner appointed will 

 be similar to that of the Charity Commissioner in the House. 

 He will answer all questions relating to forestry. The Com- 

 missioners, subject to Treasury direction, may purchase or take 

 on lease and bold any land suitable for a Forest Station, and 

 may plant and manage it. They may sell or let or exchange 

 any land which has proved unnecessary or unsuitable for their 

 purpose, but before acquiring, selling, or otherwise disposing of 

 land the Commissioners shall consult the appropriate Agricul- 

 tural Department, and if selling or disposing of land shall give 

 that Department an opportunity of acquiring the same. (The 

 appropriate Agricultural Department in England and Wales 

 is the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in Scotland the 

 Board of Agriculture for Scotland, and in Ireland the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland). 



The Commissioners may acquire standing timber and lands 

 fox the purpose of a Forest Station. They may undertake the 

 management or supervision of woods and forests ; establish 

 or carry on or aid woodland industry ; undertake statistical 



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