SOFTWOOD FAMINE

Evening Star, Issue 19772, 24 January 1928, Page 2

SOFTWOOD FAMINE

In a recent, discussion on forestry and the British Empire, Sir Peter Clntterbuck, a well-known authority, stated that France and Germany had developed a strong forest -.consciousness, realising that timber was next in importance to food and clothing among the prime necessaries of hie. 'The state of affairs in the British Empire and the Unittd States was different. They were almost defenceless against the coming famine. Some authorities thought that exhaustion of the supplies would be reached in twenty-five years. Canada, with certainly no more virgin forests left than would last for that period, was already sending 88 pe remit, of her annual production to the United States. The outlook as regarded the British Empire was therefore most serious. A groat deal has been done as regarded arrangements for spreading a knowledge of scientific forestry within the Empire, but this was not enough. A strong forest consciousness should be developed, so that it should he recognised that forests wore ot primary importance to the Empire, that properly conserved forests were a permanent asset, and that, while coal and oil were nob inexhaustible, soft woods were essential to the permanent wellbeing and independence of the Empire. Owing to tho special conditions of the British Isles and the British lack of imagination, all this was no easy matter, but there were distinct signs of a beginning of such a consciousness in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In each of these dominions the planting of conifers was taking place, but none of them was likely to have a surplus for export. From the Himalayas nothing was to he hoped, as the cost of transport would always be an obstacle, and India would ultimately require for herself all she could grow. Canada was fast using up her virgin forests, and doing little or nothing to replace the sources of supply. It followed" that Great Britain must look to herself to organise the softwood supply she would require in the future.