The total net amount of the Vote is £59,969, showing a net increase of £3,156, the main increase being in the provision for land acquisition (sub-head C 1) where a sum of £10,000 is proposed as against £7,000 last year. Sub-head A—salaries, wages and allowances—speaks for itself, and so does sub-head B— travelling expenses. Sub-head C 1 is a big sub-head—£10,000. The provision under this head is made by way of a grant-in-aid in order that unexpended balances may be carried forward. This arrangement has been found to be necessary in view of the difficulty of forecasting the length of time which may be required in any particular case for negotiation and conveyance. During the year 1929-1930 5,132 acres were acquired by purchase and 992, practically 1,000 acres, were leased, making a total of 44,256 acres acquired for State afforestation up to 31st March last. Negotiations are in progress in regard to approximately 10,000 more acres.
Sub-head C 2, amounting to £43,000, deals with cultural operations, maintenance, etc. Foresters' and caretakers' wages amount to £4,000. This item is necessarily increasing with the addition of fresh centres. Foresters are grouped into three classes, varying with the experience and seniority of the individual concerned and the importance of the centre under his charge. There are at present employed five Grade I. foresters, 14 Grade II. foresters, and twelve foremen. Maintenance comes to £9,800. In this item is included £5,300 for labour which will be required for the cleaning and after-care of areas which have already been planted. The sum of £4,000 for materials will be expended mainly on fencing—wire, netting, stakes, etc.—and tools. Cultural operations—labour—come to £24,700. This item covers the wages of workmen required for nursery work, the preparation of ground for planting, and for the actual planting operations. There is a miscellaneous item of £1,000, which includes various items, such as manures, cartage and nursery ploughing. I do not think any other item calls for any remark. The Appropriations-in-Aid speak for themselves. The total area of land acquired by the Department for forestry purposes up to end of March last is 44,256 acres. Of this 31,277 acres were purchased; 9,165 acres leased, and 3,814 acres were transferred from the Department of Defence. The total area planted or replanted by the Department to date is 23,332 acres, of which 3,041 acres were planted in the past season. Of the leased lands 2,333 acres have not yet been taken over. For the purpose of administration the forest lands are divided in 34 forest units, each of which is in charge of a local officer. The Forestry Act was brought into operation on 1st April last.