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Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1924, Page 2

Ton citizens will extend to their Excellencies Lord ami Lady Jellicoo, a cordial greeting to Westland to-day. Iho visit of the Governor-General is ol an unofficial character, so that there will no: be any public demonstration, but those in authority will be glad to recognise the visitors in their private capaciiv, for Lord Jellicoo is one of those who helped to maintain the Empire in the hour of greatest decision --when the supremacy ot tile seas was being detil mined. The British Navy was at its best when land Jellicoe was at its la ad and it had a task difficult to be ganged or understood by those remote fnm the scenes of action. Tint we know that a mighty nation had prepared for “The Day’’ with a fervour borne of a firm belief in its ability to conquer. That belief carried it far in anticipatinn and preparation, and buoyed up the feelings of its people to a reuu.'liable degree. To the British Navy fell the chief task of keeping the seas, and holding open a pathway whereby Britain might Ik* ted and her armies in every corner of the widespread arena of the war succoured. Upon Lord JelIcoe fell a great responsibility tor with him rested the chief direction (4 Btitnin’s mighty fleet. His task was to b.'iit in or account for the German Navy whenever it essayed to move on a mission of desperate destruetion. In tlir.t task the British fleet was eminently successful. Prodigies of valor weic performed as the opportunity demanded, tint greatest, of all was the success of the faithful watch the main licit kept in its difficult task in the dail waters of the North Sea. In all seasons and weathers, never was there a break in the close guard kept. loday we have with us the head of the gnat organisation responsible for that gieat marine triumph—a triumph which carried so much in its train leading up in tlie final victory to end the war. To all who served, the greatest credit trust he given and it is mete and proper that when the occasion offers, the praise should he given unstintedly io those who led the British Elect to final victory. Lord Jellicoe was the chief of them all.

R.KSor.vnoN.s of outstanding importance to tlie future supply of timber and forest products in the Empire were passed at the second British Empire Forestry Conference held at (Xttawa, and during an extensive tour of Canada, .between July and September last. a

summary report of which has ju.xt been published. So far as forest policy is concerned, the Conference again omph.u'•istd the great importance of each part of the Empire laying down a definite policy, surveying its resources of timber, and ensuring that certain elements of stability are secured, and it was agieed that, in view of the great and increasing drain on the softwood for-e.-ts of the world, every part of tlie Empire should conserve and augment its resources of growing coniferous limbo*. Proceeding from the question of resources, the Conference discussed the question of trade in forest products within the Empire, but owing to lack .ol time, and the difficulty of obtaining complete statistical data while on tour, the investigation was unable to be completed, and was referred to a standing committee. It was felt, however that while substantial economic rea-

sons existed why the groat import trade of the United Kingdom and the export trade of Canada must continue to be mainly with nations out.side"the Empire, >*-•1 opportunities for increased Empire tiaclf undoubtedly exist. The Conference also considered a group of closely i elated problems concerned with the general development of forestry from the Empire point of view, namely, the sotting up of an Empire Forestry Bureau, the furtherance of the work of the existing Empire Forestry Association, the establishment of a Central Institution for the training of forest officers and the functions of the Forest Products Board. It was folt that, although it is desirable in the interests of economic development that all these institutions should he functioning. it is not practicable at the present time to proceed with them all. Tie members of the Conference, there-

tor-- , decided to recommend to their governments that a beginning shall lie made with the Central Training Institution, and that pending the setting up

of a Forestry Bureau the Empire Forestry Association shall be asked to devote a section of its journal to the publiea-

tvn of purely official and technical information. Satisfaction was expressed in the formation of a Forest Products Research Board in Great Britain, and the Conference urged that its functions he so extended that it may adequately attack tile many problems of a commercial or quasi-commercial character which await solution in Great Britain and those parts of the Empire which have no forest products laboratories of their own.