Report of the Minister of Lands and Forests 

 of the Province of Ontario 



For the Year ending October 31st, 1931 



STAFF CHANGES 



The amendment to The Public Service Act providing for compulsory 

 superannuation at the age of 70 affected this Department in a number of 

 instances. 



In the Inside Service seven officials came within the age and were super- 

 annuated, these being: F. E. Titu s of the Solicitor's Branch; J . W. Mi llar and 

 A. E. Roe of the Lands Branch; S^K^Burdin, N. B. Matheso n and W. C. St. 

 J ohn of the Records or Files Branch, and A. Leama n of the Survey Branch. 

 In addition to these E . Hr Squire of the Records Branch was superannuated 

 by reason of ill-health, and Charles J. Smi th was retired, as he had reached 

 the age limit, although not in the Service long enough to enjoy an annual 

 increment. 



Of those thus severing their connection with the Service, W. C. St. John 

 had been continuously employed for over twenty-five years, and was senior 

 in point of service. 



In the Outside Service one Crown Lands Agent, S. J. Dempsay, Cochrane, 

 was retired after over twenty years of faithful service. Two Homestead 

 Inspectors, Thomas Hughes, Murillo, Ontario, who for over two decades 

 represented the Department in the District of Thunder Bay — and H. F. Jervis 

 of Callender, Ontario — a competent official for Parry Sound District — were 

 both obliged under the retiring allowance system in force to say "adieu" to 

 their official labours. 



S. C. LaRose, Crown Timber Agent, Ottawa, Ontario — a painstaking 

 officer of over forty years' standing, still competent and energetic — graciously 

 bowed to the inevitable and, reluctantly relinquishing the reins of control at 

 a near octogenarian age, eagerly sought the opportunity of returning to the 

 land — his first love. 



LAND TRANSACTIONS 



Free Grants 



Throughout the year operations in the Free Grant areas were conducted 

 within approximately the same limits as the previous year, there being 450 

 locatees, or ten less than in the year 1930. The area thus acquired amounted 

 to 58,460 acres, while an additional 1,937 acres were acquired on a sale basis 

 by those holding Free Grant areas. An evidence of the continued check on the 

 part of the outside Inspectors is the fact that 392 who had previously taken 

 up land in the free zones were cancelled, as against four less for the year 1930. 



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