23 



Railway Fire Protection 



National Railway Though the Canadian Northern system has been 

 Railway absorbed by the Canadian Government railways, its 



Commission lines are still subject to the Railway Commission. 



It is understood that, during next session of Parliament, legislation 

 will be had which will place the Transcontinental, Intercolonial and 

 Prince Edward Island railways under that Commission.* Such action 

 would increase the railway mileage under the jurisdiction of the 

 Railway Commission from 85 per cent, as at present, to 96 per cent. 

 Notwithstanding conditions created by the war, fire losses due to 

 railway agencies have remained satisfactorily low, with some local 

 exceptions. 



As it is a reform the Commission has steadily advocated since 

 its very inception, members of the Commission will be pleased to 

 hear that this legislation is at last to be had. 



White Pine Blister Rust 



This disease has a firm foothold in Ontario south of lake 

 Nipissing, and, in Quebec, it has been found on the currant and goose- 

 berry. Controlling the disease involves the eradication of wild and 

 cultivated currants and gooseberries in and near the region to be 

 protected. 



„ . To protect the white pine of British Columbia, an 



Protection m , . ., , , , i i i -i • • i 



British Columbia order m council should be passed prohibitmg the 



transportation of currant or gooseberry plants or 

 other Ribes from infected districts into the Prairie Provinces or 

 British Columbia. Such shipments from the Eastern States to the 

 Western States have been embargoed by the United States Govern- 

 ment, and similar action by Canada is necessary, particularly as the 

 effect on the nursery business is negligible. 



^ The very serious injury to our forests from fungous 



Fungous . 



Diseases and Other diseases urgently demands the appomtment 



of a forest pathologist to study such diseases in co- 

 operation with the Division of Forest Insects of the Dominion Ento- 

 mological Branch. Investigation has shown that logging slash con- 

 stitutes a breeding ground for destructive insects and- fungi, and that 

 the losses due to such insects and fungi are very much greater than 

 the losses by fire. 



•Since the foregoing was written, Bill 70, "An Act to Incorporate Canadian National 

 Railway Company and respecting Canadian National Railways", has been assented to. Section 14 

 of Bill 70 provides that: 



"Notwithstanding anything in the Government Railways Act or any other Act, the provisions 

 of the Railway Act respecting the operation of a railway (as distinguished from the provisions of such 

 Act respecting the construction or maintenance of a railway) shall apply to such of the Canadian 

 Government Railways as would but for the passing of this Act be subject to the (imernment Katlrt-nys 

 Act, during such time as the operation and management thereof is entrusted to the Conipany under 

 the provisions of this Act." 



