CO129-468 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [6-8] — Page 520

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14. Very large numbers of pine-trees have been

planted on the tops and slopes of the hills during the last

fifteen years. They appear to be doing well and, though the smallness of the area available makes it impossible

ever to establish a large traffic in timber, there would

seem to be every prospect of developing a moderately

remunerative trade. To do so, however, would require the

expenditure of fairly considerable sums of money both on

staff and on material. Experiments would have to be made

to decide what would be the most profitable trees to plant:

a trained Forestry officer would have to be appointed and

a small staff of Foresters and Forest-guards would be required. Also, in view of the prevalence of insect pests the appointment of an Entomologist would be very desirable.

15. The question of salt-manufacture is a large

and difficult one, with which I will not deal at length as

I understand that the Acting Commissioner is submitting a full report on the subject. Briefly the position is that the salt-pans, which already produce large quantities of salt, are capable of very great extension by means of the construction of a bund, which would probably not be very costly, at the mouth of the lagoon. The establishment of a Refinery should therefore be a very paying proposition, were it not for the difficulty of finding a market for the product. Unfortunately the natural market, China, is closed owing to the existence of the Salt Gabelle. If an arrange- ment could be made with the Gabelle for the purchase of salt from Weihaiwel, the difficulty would be removed and the finances of the territory would assume a much more satisfactory appearance. It is most desirable that efforts should be made to see whether such an arrangement cannot be effected. Failing the discovery of a market for refined salt, the only use to which increased quantities of salt could be put would be in connection with the salted-figh

industry