Report of the Minister of Lands and Forests 



of the Province of Ontario 



For the Year ending 31st October, 1932 



STAFF CHANGES 



During the past year three valued employees of the Department died in 

 the persons of Colonel W. R. Smythe, late Inspector of Crown Land Agencies 

 and Supervisor of Settlement; J. H. Milway, Crown Timber Agent at Port 

 Arthur, and E. H. Barnes, Crown Land Agent at Sault Ste. Marie. 



After spending many years in public life Colonel Smythe entered the 

 Service on July 1st, 1924, since which date his time has been devoted to the 

 Land and Colonization problems of the Department to its decided advantage 

 and to that of the Settler as well. Colonel Smythe's abilities were particularly 

 fitted for this work and his passing will be regretted by a very wide circle of 

 associates and friends. 



Mr. Milway was appointed on October 1st, 1910, since which time he has 

 given particularly efficient service in his work and has enjoyed the confidence 

 of Department and lumbermen alike. 



Mr. Barnes entered the permanent service, in 1929, after several years' 

 experience as a practical scaler and special officer of the Department, and his 

 duties as Crown Land Agent have been delegated to the Crown Timber Agent 

 at Sault Ste. Marie who will be responsible for both offices in future. 



LAND TRANSACTIONS 



During the year 430 Free Grant Cancellations and 996 Sale Cancellations 

 went into effect as compared to 392 and 761 respectively for the preceding year. 

 The increase here may be ascribed to the vigilance of the field staff and to a 

 more or less general check up where it was considered that agricultural activities 

 were not the prime motive. 



It will be noted from appendices numbers twelve and thirteen that agri- 

 cultural land whether free grant or sale was taken in the following ratio with 

 regard to the respective sections of the Province involved: 



[7] 



