Report of the Minister of Lands and Forests 

 of the Province of Ontario 



For the Year ending 31st October, 1926. 



STATUTORY CHANGES 



In 1912 an Act was passed for raising money on the Credit of the Con- 

 soHdated Revenue Fund of Ontario for the primary purposes of encouraging 

 and assisting in the Development of Northern Ontario. The responsibility 

 of administering the Act was placed on the Minister of Lands and Forests and 

 the Northern Development Branch thus came into being. This Branch con- 

 tinued as such until the Session of 1926 when, because of its increased work 

 involving the administration of the bridge, culvert and drain building in the 

 northern portions of the Province, formerly conducted by the Department 

 of Public Works, a special Department of the Service was established to be 

 known as the Department of Northern Development. (See 6, Geo. V, Cap. 10.) 

 Mr. Chas. H. Fullerton, who had been formerly Director of this Branch, and in 

 1925 named Deputy Minister, was to continue in the capacity and to perform 

 in addition to the duties in connection with Northern Development those per- 

 taining to Colonization Roads. 



Another important amendment to the Public Lands Act (see 16 Geo. V, 

 Cap. 8) was passed by the Legislature in 1926 under which provision was 

 made for the appointment by Lieutenant-Governor in Council of a Deputy 

 Minister of Forestry, whose duties comprise those related to and connected 

 with reforestation, forest protection, forest research and investigation. Mr. 

 E. J. Zavitz, Provincial Forester, was appointed Deputy Minister of Forestry 

 and is now functioning in this capacity. 



In consequence of the above changes the following report omits such 

 information dealing with Northern Development as past Reports recorded 

 and naturally divides itself into two parts: — Part One — covering The Department 

 of Lands and Forests proper and Part Two the Forestry Branch of the De- 

 partment. 



Part One is essentially both collecting and spending in its character and 

 embraces all land operations in their diversified form, including settlement 

 and disposition of land for a variety of purposes, Crown Surveys, Water Powers, 

 Timber Sales, Logging and Lumbering Operations, Pulp and Paper Industry, 

 Timber Cruising and Accounting. 



Part Two is spending in its nature and specifically applies to those services 

 operated under the head of Forestry. These include Forest Fire Protection, 

 Air Operations, Reforestation and Forest Investigation. 



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