1928 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 9 



These newcomers with the experience gained in Old Ontario are a type 

 that command the belief that the settlement thus initiated will be the nucleus 

 of a large community of the hardy Old Ontarions, whose unproductive acreage 

 in the older regions will be released to and taken over by the Government to 

 grow a permanent crop of timber and maintain wild life that attracts the tourist 

 and the hunter. It is fully expected that the movement will be extended this 

 coming year to embrace further parties from the same region. 



Details of land transactions for settlement, summer resort and other pur- 

 poses will be found in Appendices 12 and 13. 



Group Settlement 



New communities established a year or so ago in the Thunder Bay district 

 near Port Arthur, and certain group settlements on the Transcontinental are 

 progressing favourably and a number of new applications by groups have been 

 submitted to the Government and are being duly considered. 



Provincial Land Tax Act 



The first revenue returnable under this Act amounted to $76,088.68. While 

 certain criticisms have been urged against the Act, generally speaking it has 

 met with ready acceptance on the ground that all property on a fair assessment 

 should bear its proportionate share of taxation and as the greater part of the 

 and and improvements to which the tax is applicable had previously been 

 *ree from all taxation the element of unfairness could not be very well charged. 

 The aggregate assessment for the coming year is expected to be increased by 

 the addition of new holdings and hitherto unlisted ones. An increase in revenue 

 to the extent of approximately $100,000, is estimated. 



Certain slight amendments to exempt such works as logging roads, timber 

 camps, etc., that through oversight became assessable, will be submitted this 

 Session. 



Clergy Lands 



The area comprising the above purpose has practically all been disposed 

 of long ago, although certain moneys covering occasional arrears are received. 

 Some $400.55 was collected under this head. 



Common School Lands 



No sales took place of these lands during the year but collections on previous 

 sales to the amount of $11,919.93 were made. 



University Lands 



The number of acres of these lands sold during the year was 639.25 for 

 $319.64 and there was collected on previous sales $377.35, the total being $696.99. 



Crown Lands 



Throughout the year 110,541.68 acres were sold for agricultural, townsite, 

 tourist and various other purposes, the sales amounting to $207,476.25 on which 

 was collected the sum of $144,673.46. This acreage was in excess bf the previous 

 year by 24.321 acres. 



