John Bull Wakes up.

Progress, Volume XV, Issue 12, 1 August 1920, Page 861

John Bull Wakes up.

For generations past it has been the consistent policy of British Governments to neglect the question of home forestry, and to rely on other countries to supply the Empire's timber needs, and this seems ail the more strange when, across the channel, at no distance from their doors, they had the object lesson provided by France and Germany, two important nations upholding probably the most advanced forest policies in the world, and in a self-contained way supplying from the productions of their forests almost the whole of the domestic and industrial needs of their enormous populations. Then came the great war and Britain found herself so unprepared in many, directions, to provide the resources necessary for its successful conduct, that had it not been for the forests of France, and the fortunate circumstance that she was allied with that country, it would have been quite impossible to prevent the Hun armies from over-running Northern Europe, or perhaps from shelling the southern shores of Great Britain. A recent article on "Wood and War" states amongst other things: — As has been said for food so might it also be said, that wood will win a war. It can at least be said that without wood we could not have won the recent war. Sixty thousand feet (hoard measure) of lumber were required per mile of trench, or fifteen billion feet Tor the French front alone, not including the millions of feet required for shelters, artillery screens, etc. Because of the ease with which it is shaped and built into positions, wood cannot be substituted by any other material. Speed is a prime factor in war; wood makes speed possible. Problems in mining, transportation and housing behind the lines are absolutely dependent upon it. England stands to-day as a living example of the dependence of warring nations upon ample local wood supplies. Her past supine attitude towards reafforestation and forest management has cost her dearly. And here are the evidences of a lesson well learnt, for the Britisher though slow to profit by example is not altogether foolish. Before the war had concluded Committees on reconstruction had been appointed throughout Great Britain, and one such on Forestry presented so strong a report on the needs of a home policy, that legislation has already been passed for the creation of a National Forestry Commission with powers to manage the existing home forests, and in order to render the United Kingdom free of imported timber in future, with authority to acquire land and to either plant or encourage the planting of somewhere about two million acres of coniferous forest during the next 40 years. Then in addition a conference of representatives from several Dominions has been summoned to meet in London next month, with the view of presenting statements dealing with the forest resources of each country, and of taking stock, and conferring upon the steps necessary to protect.and develop these resources in the interests of the Empire as a whole. This Conference is the direct outcome of the experi-

ences of the war, and Australia has prepared its evidence and will be worthily represented by two delegates sent to take part in it. That its results will be of lasting advantage to the British Empire there can be little reason to doubt, and seeing that it represents the awakening of a People's conscience upon a very important but much neglected National question, all advocates of forestry will in keeping rejoice, Yes, John Bull has undoubtedly waked up, and it does not seem that he is likely to go to sleep again. * ————