MINISTER'S ANNUAL REPORT 

 To End of Fiscal Year, March 31, 1936 



STAFF CHANGES 



Since the close of the last fiscal year a number of changes have been made 

 by virtue of inter-departmental transfers, superannuations and resignations. 



Among these will be noted the transfer of C. H. Fullerton, formerly 

 Deputy Minister of Northern Development, to the post of Surveyor-General, 

 vacated by L. V. Rorke after twenty-six years of valuable service to the Depart- 

 ment. John Houser, formerly Chief Clerk in the Woods and Forests Branch, 

 was superannuated on July 17th, 1935, after thirty years faithful service. 

 Mr. Houser's demise since that date is regretfully noted. 



Every effort has been made by the staff to meet the exceptional conditions 

 of these trying times on our economic structure. 



LAND TRANSACTIONS 



The matter of policy with respect to administration of Crown Lands 

 was mentioned in last year's report, and the advisability of rental propositions 

 was mentioned in preference to permanent alienation. No clear cut line can 

 be consistently laid down, but the circumstances surrounding each and every 

 case must be the ruling factor within the law and regulations thereunder. 

 As time goes on it becomes more and more obvious that every possible safe- 

 guard must be applied for the protection of the public interest in preventing 

 speculation or other prejudice to the rights of the public in Crown Lands and 

 privileges thereon. For these and similar reasons it is necessary to carefully 

 scrutinize all angles of the applications received in order that the Department 

 may realize the true values from the land entrusted to its care. 



The bulk of the land transactions takes place in Northern Ontario because 

 of the fact that in the older parts of the Province the lands have been mostly 

 taken and passed from the Crown during the past one hundred years. There 

 are still Crown Lands for the most part suitable only for reforestation or 

 summer resort activities. The development of the North is proceeding, 

 however, and new discoveries of precious metal are steadily increasing the 

 Northern population and market for agricultural products and manufactured 

 goods. 



As compared with the fiscal year preceding the last five month fiscal 

 period, the total acreage sold and leased as shown in Appendix 3 is considerably 

 reduced, but at the same time it will be noted that collections increased princi- 

 pally through Crown Leases. 



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