AN EX-GOVERNOR

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 5

AN EX-GOVERNOR

LORD ISLINGTON'S ACTIVITIES

(FROM OOR OWH CORRESPONDENT.) " LONDON, 12th^ January.* Ever since Sir R. Kindersley resigned the _ active work of chairman of the National Savings Committee, his successor, Lord Islington, has devoted himself vigorously to it, and has preached thrift and denounced extravagance without fear and with much force. Of New Zealand's ex-Governor a friend remarks : " Lord Islington still retains much of the spaTkle for which he was noted as a young man, but prefers nowadays a quiet rubber of bridge to accompanying Ins daughter, Joan Poynder, to dances." The latter, by the way,'is a'good deal in Paris.

In his official capacity Lord Islington explained, at the opening winter meeting of. the National Savings Assembly, the part. now being played by savings certificates in local housing finance. 'More than 600 local authorities had already sent in returns of their local sales of certificates with a view to borrowing 50 per cent, of the total. Of the 84 towns with a population of 50,000 and over, no fewer than 68 were making the returns upon which the loans would be based. Certain delegates 'stated that, in some cases, local, authorities were not at present making returns of certificate sales, though they would probably want to borrow on certificate proceeds some timei later.. For ths information of such authorities it was made clear that loans on the basis of certificates can be made only for periods for which accredited figures are available, and, in view of possible needs at a future date, it is essential that a record of sales should be kept. IMPERIAL TIMBER ACTIVITIES.^ Lord Islington, too, is busily concerned with the organisation of'the Empire- Forestry Association, which, is about to be established as an outcome of the Imperial Forestry Conference of last summer. «A considerable number of other public men whose names are well known throughout the British Empire have interested themselves in the important movement,- and a statement will shortly be ready describing the measures already taken and those othat will 'be taken •" to promote and develop public interest in forestry throughout the Empire." TKe names thus associated are :— Viscount Navar, who as Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson was the popular Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia; Sir Claude Hill, X.0.5.1. (India); Sir May3on Beeton, ■ K.B.E. (Newfoundland.); Lord Buxfcon (South Africa); the Duke of Devonshire and Mr. Robson Black. (Canada); the Earl of Plymouth; Viscount Milnor, Sir John Stirling Maxwell, Bt.; and . Lieut.-Col. Courthope, M.P, Mr. M. C. Duchesne and many other practical Timber experts and business men h^ive joined the Empire Forestry Association, of which Mr. J. S. Oorbett is the secretary. Mr. Corbett is well known to agriculturists as agent for Lord Islington, as former DirectorGeneral of the Agricultural Organisation Society, and as chairman of the Wiltshire Farmers,' Ltd. >

ORGANISING LOCAL DEMANDS.

Already the association has a membership of nearly 10.00, and it is doing valuable work in the encouragement of home timber-growing. It assists landowners to find remunerative markets for their timber, it organises the supply of seedling's for replanting, and it places at the disposal of owners of woodignd tho services of practical foresters/ At the last .council meeting, Colonel G. L. Courthopei, M.P. (President), explained how the association had helped him to dispose of his timber of various qualities satisfactorily, and he pointed out that the problem of profitable timbergrowing in this country was boiind up _with the question of facilities for its local conversion, and that this in turn was only possible by the combination of owners of woodland, the organisation of mobile plant, and the creation of local timber-using industries. Sir. Buchesne mentioned that some millions of seedlings had been reared and distributed on economical terms for replanting purposes. It -was hoped that very soon, every estate in England where no resident forester was employed would be able to obtain the services of a, really competent man in return for a small fee.

At the principal agricultural showfi during this year the association willgive demonstrations and stage exhibits showing ownors of woodland how best ■to dispose of their timber, and in particular ho"w most usefully to handle it locally. • ' .