FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2707, 29 February 1916, Page 2

FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

UTILISING SOLDIERS,

Members of the and State Conference, which is considering tho question of providing for returned soldiers and developing the forests of Australia, were entertained, at dinner at Federal Parliament House, Melbourne. The Acting-Prime Minister, Senator Pearce, was in the chair. The GovernorGeneral and State Governor were anions the guests. Proposing the toast of the GovornorGeneral, and the State Governor, Senator Pearce said that he did not wish to have the stigma cast on Australia that had sometimes befallen the Mother Country and other countries, where soldiers who had returned from tho war had been cast upon her streets to look for charity. Services of returned soldiers would he utilised in connection with forestry. Soldiers who had fought and returned had a right to employment, and their services should be linked up with the developo'euc of Australia and her industries.

'The 6ovornor-General a said that there was some consolation in ;the knowledge that country districts, which were being depleted of men, would bo restored through the activity of the State War Councils and other similar organisations, and that a larger number of men would bo upon the land at the close of the war, so that Australia might derive the fullest adVantage. The products of this country would ever be in demand. The urosperity of tho country, therefore, was merely a matter of arithmetic, depending upon the amount of labour and capital that could bo turned upon tho> work. Forestry was a most important question. Scientific methods were needed to get full value out of the wood-bear-ing lands of Australia. We required a system in regard to forestry as well as skill. Experts would probably have I to be imported at first, but from whatever country they were taken thpy would have to unlearn much, as well as learn much before they would be ofmuch use to Australia. In the woods of Injliaj Australian foresters would find much that would be of use to them. Forestry was assuredly an enterprise for national control. In another quarter of a century tne world's timber resources would be gunning short. A timber famine was inevitable. It was up to us in this therefore, to strive with, greater activity and clearer purpose to develop the timber resources, which were our mighty heritage.