o.—3a

sumption, but as development is costly it will be many years before these forests come to be an important factor in even South American markets. The South American countries will continue to export hardwoods, dye-woods, &c, and import lumber and construction material. Mexico, West Indies, and Central America are exporters of mahogany, cedar, and other valuable wood, and are importers of softwoods. Summary. Summarizing the world's timber position : There are five considerable areas of virgin timbersupplies which are of interest in considering the world's markets : — (1.) Scandinavia, the Baltic, and Russia, whose svyplus is and will lie largely absorbed by industrial Europe. (2.) Central Africa —of problematical value in this generation, and owing to the quality of the timber will be of little general use in the arts. (3.) South America : Its great reserve supplies will be largely absorbed on this continent. (4.) Canada, United States, and Alaska: From this region timber-supplies will no doubt be offered to us in New Zealand for all time, but ai prohibitive famine prices. For all practical purposes this source of supply will not last more than a generation. (5.) Siberia: To this great region, with its 400,000,000 acres of virgin forest, we may look for a certain percentage of our imported supplies, but, with the intense competition that will certainly be offered for this timber by the countries north of the Equator, it; is very doubtful whether its exportable supplies will be of much practical value to New Zealand. The Conclusion. " We must either go without essential timber-supplies, to the great hazard of our national safety, and perhaps with certain sacrifice of our industrial prosperity, or we must take immediate steps to assure ourselves an adequate supply of home-grown timber, which is perfectly practicable to-day."

Extent of Forests in Different Countries.

SECTION lI.—ORIENTATION. THE CASE FOR A FOREST POLICY FOR NEW ZEALAND. An inspection of the facts, figures, and references that have been presented indicate that— 1. Prosperity in peace and safetj' in war require a generous and unfailing supply of forest products. 2. Unless and until land can be more profitably employed for other purposes it should be used for the production of forest crops, in order — (as.) That the development of local-supply forests may be provided for : (b.) To secure protection of stream-flow, to minimize drought, erosion, and silting (irri gation, water-power, domestic needs, &c.) : (c.) To assure ample supplies at reasonable prices : (d.) That communities near forests may have permanent occupations and interests: (c.) That hunting, fishing, recreation, and public health may be provided for.

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Country. Total Forest Area. Forest Aroa per Capita. Land Area under forest. European Russia Finland Croatia, and Slavonia Bosnia and Herzegovina Sweden Germany France Norway Spain Bulgaria British Isles .. .. Switzerland Servia .. .. India (Schlich) Canada United States New Zealand— Forests under State control .. State forests Acres. 464,610,600 52,500,000 3,769,000 6,380,000 49,390,325 34,989,675 24,021,587 16,848,000 16,065,000 7,602,815 3,030,000 2,140,012 3,864,744 149,000,000 799,360.000 545,000,000 10,500,000 6,264,935 Acres. 4-3 18-75 1-64 3-99 9-70 0-62 0-61 7-00 0-88 2-44 0-10 0-67 1-55 0-60 Acres. 36-30 54-40 35-95 50-50 48-60 25-89 18-50 21-00 13-00 30-00 4-00 20-60 32-00 24-00 38-00 29-00 9-00 5-70 15-90 9-40