26 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



in the bush have been lessened and the revenue from forest resources propor- 

 tionately reduced, the fact remains that the natural resources in the matter 

 of timber wealth have to be protected against the ravages of fire, and such 

 protective measures, even though carried on under a consistently economical 

 basis, must be maintained, otherwise a tremendous risk would be taken, and it 

 is on this ground that a fair expenditure in protecting the vast areas of the 

 Provincial forests is justified. 



Comprehensive surveys are being made with a view to eliminating all but 

 the essential machinery for efficiently caring for the forests, and it is readily 

 believed that under a systematic check and a closer supervision of expenditures, 

 with a merging of certain of the services, a decided reduction in the expenditures 

 in respect of this service will result. The fire protection expenditure, being the 

 largest in the Department, is more or less uncertain due to the influence of the 

 weather and unexpected emergencies. 



