DEPARTMENT OF LAXDS AND FORESTS FOR 1948 53 



DIMSIOX OF LAW 



The following is the report of the eictivities of this Division for the period 

 from April 1, 1947, to March 31, 1948. The primar\ duties of the Division are as 

 indicated in the Administrative ("hart. 



Amendments were made to seven Acts covering the administration of the 

 Department, as follows: 



The Forest Fires Prevention Act was rewritten and amended in certain 

 respects, and is now so arranged that the various sections relate in themseK'es 

 to kindred matters. 



The Crown Timber Act was amended principalh" with respect to the manu- 

 facturing conditions and to provide for regulations to be made b\" the Lieutenant- 

 Tjovernor in Council concerning wasteful practices in cutting operations. 



There was an amendment to the Forestr\- Act to allow for creation b\' the 

 Lieutenant-Governor in Council of a Committee to be known as the ".Advisorx 

 Committee to the Minister of Lands and Forests." 



Several amendments were made to the Game and Fisheries Act, with a view 

 to strengthening the provisions respecting conservation of game and fish 

 resources. 



An amendment to the Public Lands Act allows the Lieutenant-Governor 

 in Council to make regulations to provide for free grants of public land up to 

 160 acres to former members of the forces. 



There were minor amendments to the Lakes and Ri\ers Ln[)rovement 

 .Act and the Surve\s Act. 



Approximate!) 2,300 intorniations were laid for infractions of the Game 

 and Fisheries Act, the Forest Fires Prevention Act and the Criminal Code. The 

 great majority of these concern offences respecting the Game and Fisheries 

 .\ct, and the ratio of convictions to acquittals was appro.ximateh' 99 to 1. 



X'arious field trips were made 1)\ the Chief of the Dixision during the \ear, 

 and meetings with the enforcement officers in the Cochrane and Oiiinte Districts 

 were held. Round-table discussions resulted in [)enefit to the enforcement officers 

 and also brought to the attention of the Law Dixision practical difficulties en- 

 countered b\- the field men in enforccmenl matters. \aUi.ible suggestions respect- 

 ing amendments resulted, and it is anticijjated that this t\ pe of discussion will be 

 continued until all the Districts have been covered. 



Classes dealing with the statutes, re;^ulalions and entorcemeiU matters were 

 held at the Ranger .School. 



