§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the statement in the First Annual Report of the Development Commissioners that the provision of effective education in forestry at suitable centres must be a condition precedent to I he adoption by them of any national afforestation scheme or the allocation of any grant out of the Development Fund for such purpose, the Government, through the Office of Woods and Forests, the Board of Agriculture, or the Board of Education are taking any, and, if any, what, steps to increase forthwith by suitable scientific education the number of trained men in this country capable of directing forestry operations on a large scale?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Development Commissioners have before them applications from the Board of Agriculture, the Scotch Education Department, and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland, which include proposals for giving increased facilities for the education of forestry experts; but I am not yet in a position to state what the final form of these schemes will be.