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permit of an exchange of views on national and Imperial forest-policy methods of conservation and exploitation, and to compile a preliminary inventory of the timber resources of the Empire. Several resolutions were passed of peculiar value to New Zealand. The following are condensed resumes : — (1.) Each Government of the Empire should lay down a definite forest policy to be administered by a, properly constituted and adequate Forest Service. (2.) A stable forest policy requires the collection, co-ordination, and dissemination of facts as to the existing state of the forests and the current and prospective demands on them. (3.) It should be the primary duty of forest authorities to establish systematic schemes of forestry education. (4.) The proper development of the forestry resources of the Empire requires the establishment of an Imperial Forest Bureau, whose purpose will be to advise on the development of the Empire's forest- resources, act as a clearing house lor all services and ideas, assistin the purchase of seed-supplies, and in research, education, and policy. The next conference is to be held in Canada in 1923. The Forest Atlas. During the year a central depository for the original maps, plans, Stale-forest records. &c, was established at Wellington. This central depository is known as the Forest Atlas, and in it are deposited all field surveys, forest inventories, and statistical data. It is the basis for the working forest maps incident to forest-management. This work is being CO-ordinated with that of the regional offices, SO that accuracy is assured for the sound formation of the definitive forest working-plans. A complete system of " mother " maps on a scale of 1 in. to I -5 miles is under course of compilation for the whole of the Dominion's forests. This activity is well in hand, and will lie completed within six months. A general series of maps of all Slate forests is being gradually built up as the field-work and finances permit. The Forest Atlas is also the depository for all original photographic records essential in the recording of forest stands, types, conditions, and other- factor's of silvical operations. These permanent records will be available to the public on request. Forest Service Library. The formation of a compact but comprehensive working library for reference purposes was begun during the year. It is proposed to add to this library as funds permit, as well as to extend if to the regional offices. The public will be invited to make use of its facilities just as soon as space can be secured for its proper housing. Books and pamphlets to the number of 200 were installed during the year. An up-to-date catalogue reference library of manufactories producing and offering equipment and material used in commercial forest-exploitation was also opened. It is considered that this seel ion of the library will be of use to sawmillers and the woodworking industry generally. Resignation of Conservators ok State Forests. On the appointment of the Forest Service Conservators of forests at Auckland, Rotorua, Hokitika, Tapanui, and Invercargill, the Commissioners of Crown Lands holding office of Conservators of State Forests at Auckland, Hokitika, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill resigned their appointments. The Service wishes to express its grateful appreciation of the interest, attention, and sympathy that forestry has received from these gentlemen during their tenure of office.

CHAPTER VI.—RECOMM ENDATIONS. 1. State Forests. It is obvious that the problem of assuring the present and future timber-supplies of this Dominion must be solved through the conservation and re-establishment of forests in the indigenous-forest regions, and not chiefly by the artificial formation of exotic tree plantations. You are therefore recommended, sir, to secure the dedication of every available acre of Crown forest land as provisional State forest. Reasoned and conscious forest control will assure the fullest utilization of the residual virgin supplies, and permit of a competent classification of (he land as to whether it is chiefly valuable for settlement or lor- forestry. It is recognized that forests were made for- men and not men for forests, and the co-ordination, therefore, necessary between the settlers' (farmers') interests and those of the millers and other users of forest products will be carefully balanced. The Forest Service is very much alive to the call for more land for settlement hence all forested lands chiefly valuable for agriculture will lie milled first (other things being equal) and handed over to the Lands Department. There are several hundred thousand acres of Crown forest still unsubjected bo competent forest administration. These areas of undedicated and unalienated Crown forests, carrying many hundred millions of feet-, are situated in the North Auckland, Mannkau plateau, King-country, Taranaki, the Urewera district, the ranges from Lake Taupo to Wellington, along the eastern slope of the Southern Alps, from the Wairau River headwaters southwards to Southland, the Catlin's River country in Otago, and in certain parts of Nelson and Westland Provinces. 2. Unity of Administration. Success in securing efficient and economical results from the application of forestry to your State forests can only be attained by unity of control. There must be only one authority managing State