Sir Clifford Since our last annual meeting, Sir Clifford Sifton has 



Sifton's resigned his position as Chairman of the Commission. 



Resignation t^ i- t • r i • i a • 



rendmg the appomtment oi his successor, the Actmg 



Chairman, Hon. Senator Edwards, has instructed me to prepare an 



annual statement of the operations of the Commission along much 



the same lines as Sir Clifford has done in the past. 



First, I desire to refer to the great loss the Commission has 

 suffered by reason of Sir Clifford Sifton's resignation. His untiring 

 energy, his broad outlook, his ability to grasp the factors of a 

 problem and arrive at its solution, and his master mind were well 

 summed up by Augustus Bridle in his Sons of Canada, when he 

 said that Sir Clifford is " the greatest constructive statesman that 

 Canada has yet produced." 



When we commenced our operations we were without any pre- 

 cedent to guide us, inasmuch as we were a unique organization. No 

 other body, governmental or private, had ever undertaken conserva- 

 tion work on a large or comprehensive scale. The organic Act estab- 

 lishing the Commission, draughted by Sir Clifford, provided 

 for the appointment of representatives of the Dominion Government, 

 of the Government of each province, and of at least one university 

 in each province. At the same time, it also provided for the appoint- 

 ment of representatives from each province and representatives who 

 were interested in our great natural resources. 



Efficiency and ^^ commencing the work of organization. Sir 

 Economy of Clifford laid down some basic rules, which are 



pera ion worthy of record. First, he gave instructions 



that all materials, printing, binding, etc., were to be purchased 

 in the cheapest market, irrespective of politics, religion, nationality, 

 or other consideration. Second, that the staff should consist of a 

 limited staff of experts, so selected that, in a general way, we would 

 have one expert adviser respecting each of the great natural resources, 

 and that these advisers should, so far as possible, be assisted by clever 

 members of the weaker sex. Third, that when special investigations 

 which could be carried to completion in a limited space of time were 

 undertaken, special investigators would be employed only until the 

 investigation was completed, such action permitting the payment of 

 ample remuneration without, in the aggregate, incurring excessive 

 total cost. Fourth, he suggested that the work of the Commission 

 could be carried on with the maximum of advantage if the work 

 were apportioned to committees, one for each great natural resource 

 and one on publication. 



As a result, the Commission can fairly claim that its achieve- 

 ments are out of all proportion greater than its expenditure. An 



