10 REPORT OF THE No. 4 



heretofore so that the tourist traffic within our borders may be abundantly 

 increased. 



PROVINCIAL LAND TAX ACT 



For the fiscal year ending October 31, 1934 collections under this heading 

 totalled $131,477.74. For the five succeeding months, constituting a new 

 fiscal year, the total was $107,558.16. Although the bulk of Land Tax revenue 

 comes in during the cold months, these five months show an increase of 

 $11,002.77 over the same months the previous year. 



As arrears in some cases have been standing for a considerable time, the 

 Department is preparing to apply at an early date the penalties provided by 

 the Act under which, if payment is not made, the properties involved become 

 forfeited to the Crown. 



TIMBER ADMINISTRATION 



Since the period dealt with in this report is from November 1st to March 

 31st, 1935, there is no great opportunity to make comparative statements 

 with the activities of a similar period in the preceding year. This is a time of 

 the year when operations in the bush are active — felling, skidding and hauling. 

 While most of the timber has been measured, returns have not been completed 

 nor accounts presented for payment. 



The 1934-35 operating season will be the first to benefit by the general 

 reduction in Crown stumpage charges authorized by Order-in-Council of 

 September 11th, 1934. Operators intending to avail themselves of the new 

 rates were required to submit a statement showing the types and quantities of 

 timber to be cut; the area or areas on which proposed cutting was to take 

 place; the number of men to be employed, etc. 



The response was gratifying, and the prediction that reduced stumpage 

 charges would stimulate the lumber industry and relative unemployment was 

 fully justified. The month of January in 1935, being a typical period for 

 bush operations, accounted for nearly 13,000 men, of which number over sixty 

 percent were engaged in lumbering, the balance in pulpwood cutting. Field 

 reports at this time (April 15, 1935) indicate that the total cut for lumber 

 purposes will be over 90 percent greater than that of the season of 1933-34, 

 when the cut amounted to only ninety-two million feet of log timber and five 

 hundred thousand cords of pulpwood. Notwithstanding the stumpage reduc- 

 tions, which were followed by such an additional impetus to operations, there 

 is every assurance for the prediction that the revenue from all timber sources 

 for the period ending in March, 1936 will be approximately 60 percent greater 

 than that of the year 1933-34. 



The putting of men back to work and the saving of their morale is of much 

 greater importance than the real or apparent losses in certain lines of revenue 

 which are more than offset by the saving in relief expenditures. With this 

 end in view the stumpage reductions are to be continued for the ensuing 

 season. 



