Report of Resolutions Committee* 



Adopted at the Canadian Forestry Convention at Quebec, 

 January i8th to 20th, igii. 



Hon. W. C. H. Grimmer, Chairman of 

 the Committee on Eesolutions, reported as 

 follows: — 



The Committee on Eesolutions having 

 considered the several matters submitted 

 to them, beg leave to submit the follow- 

 ing resolutions for the consideration of the 

 Convention: 



1. Resolved, that this Convention de- 

 sires to place on record its appreciation 

 of the interest shown by His Excellency 

 Earl Grey in the work of the Canadian 

 Forestry Association, and of his attend- 

 ance at its meetings. 



2. Resolved, that this Convention de- 

 sires to place on record the deep sense 

 of gratitude it is under to the Eight 

 Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier for his 

 action in calling this meeting, and for 

 the widespread interest he has aroused 

 throughout Canada by his general invita- 

 tion to all representative bodies and citi- 

 zens to take part therein. 



3. Resolved, that this Convention de- 

 sires to express its regret at the illness 

 which prevented His Honour the Lieut. - 

 Governor from assisting at this meeting 

 and expresses the hope that he may soon 

 be restored to health. 



4. Resolved, that this Convention de- 

 sires to record the great loss sustained by 

 Canada and the Province of Quebec in 

 particular, by the death of one of its 

 most esteemed and valued members, Mon- 

 signor Laflamme, who, through his devo- 

 tion and untiring efforts to promote the 

 objects and aims of the Canadian Fores- 

 try Association, earned the gratitude and 

 admiration of all those having the welfare 

 of the Dominion at heart. 



5. Wliereas, it is a matter of notoriety 

 that the loss of a large proportion of our 

 forest wealth is due to the fires set by 

 locomotives passing through our wooded 

 areas, and whereas the Dominion "Eail- 

 way Act," E.S.C., Cap. 37, Section 298, 

 provides as follows: — 



"Whenever damage is caused to 

 crops, lands, fences, plantations, or 

 buildings and their contents, by a fire, 

 started by a railway locomotive, the 

 company making use of such locomotive, 

 whether guilty of negligence or not, 

 shall be liable for such damage and 

 may be sued for the recovery of the 

 amount of such damage in any court of 



competent jurisdiction; Provided, that if 

 it be shown that the company has used 

 modern and efficient appliances and has 

 not otherwise been guilty of any negli- 

 gence, the total amount of compensation 

 recoverable in respect of any one or 

 more claims for damage from a fire or 

 fires started by the same locomotive and 

 upon the same occasion, shall not ex- 

 ceed five thousand dollars. 



"(2) The compensation, in case the 

 total amount recovered therefore is less 

 than the claims established shall be ap- 

 portioned amongst the parties who suff- 

 ered the loss as the court or judge may 

 determine." 



Therefore Resolved, that with the sole 

 idea and motive of compelling the Eail- 

 way Companies to exercise great care in 

 the operation of their lines through wood- 

 ed areas, it is advisable in the interest of 

 our public forests, and other Avooded 

 areas, that the said section 298 be amend- 

 ed so as to leave the Eailways responsible 

 for all damages that may occur through 

 fires set by their locomotives. 



6. Resolved, that this Convention wishes 

 to place on record its heartfelt satisfac- 

 tion at the great advance in the apprecia- 

 tion of forest preservation throughout the 

 Dominion, and recommends that in all for- 

 est lands controlled either by the Do- 

 minion or by the Provinces there should 

 be a more systematic development of for- 

 est protection by educated forest inspec- 

 tors, fire rangers, fire lines, fire roads, 

 telephone lines, etc., etc., and that as the 

 value of the forests has increased there 

 should be more adequate amounts spent 

 for protection. 



7. Resolved, that this Convention ap- 

 proves of the legislation introduced by the 

 Dominion Government for the setting aside 

 of a forest reserve on the eastern slope of 

 the Eocky Mountains for the purpose of 

 protecting the forests and the water sup- 

 ply, and would strongly recommend a 

 suflicient appropriation by Parliament for 

 its proper supervision and development. 



8. Resolved, that it is expedient in the 

 public interest that the Provincial Govern- 

 ments should consider the question of con- 

 trolling fires set out for the clearing of 

 lands adjoining forests, and should pro- 

 mote such legislation as will prevent the 

 same spreading into the neighboring for- 



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