Indian Porest Records. 
[Vol. YII 
n 
tapping without the active co-operation and help of the Chiefs of States— 
co-operation and help which would probably not be forthcoming unless 
the Chiefs themselves benefited directly—and without a large increase 
in the cadre of the Forest staff—an increase which would not be 
justifiable, especially from a financial point of view. Difficulties are 
further enhanced by the unwieldy size of the Division, which covers 
an area of about 36,000 square miles—though a large percentage of this 
area is destitute of forest growidi, still the ground has to be covered to 
arrive at forest-clad areas—and the scattered nature of the Thitsi- 
bearing unclassed forests. 
What is required then is to enlist the co-operation of the Chiefs and 
of the machinery employed by them in the ordinary administration 
of their States to bring into force any approved measures which might 
be introduced for the regulation and control of Thitsi tapping in unclassed 
forests. 
Now, hitherto the duty collected on all Thitsi exported to Burma— 
and practically all such Thitsi was obtained from tapping in unclassed 
forests—has been wholly credited to the revenues of the Forest Depart¬ 
ment, and so long as this continues it is unreasonable to expect the 
Chiefs to assist the Forest Department in anything appertaining to 
Thitsi tapping. What is indicated then is to give the Chiefs of States a 
fair percentage, say, 50 per cent, of the duty collected on Thitsi obtained 
from unclassed forests, in return for assistance to be rendered by them 
in the enforcement of measures formulated to regulate and control 
the tapping. True, the duty hitherto collected has been small, but is 
capable of considerable expansion without conflicting u ith any measures 
which might be adopted to regulate tapping. Why should duty only 
be collected on Thitsi exported to Burma ? I would make duty pay¬ 
able on all Thitsi not collected especially for the bond fide domestic use 
of the people in the Southern Shan States, whether it is exported or not 
to Burma or elsewhere. In short, I should make duty payable on all 
Thitsi collected for trade purposes, but would fix the duty on the product 
used for trade purposes within the limits of the Southern Shan States 
at half the rates fixed for it on export. 
Last year proposals were formulated by the Chief Conservator of 
Forests, Burma, and the Superintendent and Political Officer, Southern 
Shan States which, among other things, provide that the management 
of the unclassed forests in all matters other than those relating to Teak, 
should be vested in the Chiefs of States, who are to be assisted by an 
adviser in Forest matters. The Myelat States are not included in this 
scheme. If these proposals are sanctioned by Government, they should 
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