DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1930 17 



Timber Administration 



It is gratifying to remark that the sympathetic co-operation, which has 

 been so effectively developed during the last few years between the Government 

 and the lumber operators, continued throughout the year just closed. The 

 Inspector of Operators, Major J.I. Hartt, reports having visited various timber 

 agencies and confirms the statement that those taking out logs or operating 

 in the forests are anxious to work harmoniously with the Government officials 

 in both a theoretical and practical way. The operators more than ever recognize 

 that to act in terms of 100 years from now is the sanest method of providing 

 for a perpetual crop of timber; hence they are interested in and try to carry 

 out what the technical forester attempts to point out can be done to assist 

 nature in sustaining the yield. Again, where improved practical methods in 

 cutting or in selecting timber are suggested by our bush men and can be employed 

 to the economic advantage of both the present user and the future, these are 

 accepted in a spirit of fairness and readiness. 



While the bush operations for the winter season of 1929-30 were particularly 

 encouraging, the market for forest products ceased to be inviting as a result of 

 the general financial oppression. It is true that for some time the industries 

 depending upon forest supplies have been passing through expectant periods, 

 and the downward trend of trade in the early part of 1930 accentuated their 

 position. With restricted markets the manufacturers soon found themselves 

 with an overproduction and were forced during the summer season, following a 

 rather extensive winter undertaking, to curtail their mill output and to provide 

 for a reduced bush operation this coming winter. 



The troublous times through which the operators were passing actuated 

 them in making a strenuous appeal to the Government for relief measures. 

 This appeal included a request for the remission of all Crown dues on timber 

 cut during the season and a reduction in the bonus rates on stumpage by 50 

 per cent. The extent of such an appeal, if given effect, from a monetary point 

 of view would be too great a demand upon the financial resources of the Province 

 and would not be uniformly fair. 



It was felt, however, since the situation so far as the industries dependent 

 upon timber and wood supplies was most serious, that some assistance could 

 be given without requiring the Crown to make any cash contribution or refund 

 any portion of the bonus or timber charges due the Crown for timber cut. As 

 numbers of the operators deemed it important to maintain their logging organiza- 

 tions by going into the bush the coming season at least to a limited extent, 

 although they would be greatly handicapped in so doing if all charges owing 

 the Crown had to be paid, it was considered reasonable that the operators owing 

 the Crown for timber cut should be given the privilege of paying their accounts 

 on an instalment basis without the obligation of paying interest thereon. Conse- 

 quently every operator was permitted to pay 50 per cent, of the charges arising 

 from the 1929-30 operations on or before the 31st day of October, 1930, and to 

 carry the balance without interest for the next six months or until the 30th of 

 April, 1931, provided that at the end of the said six months another 25 per cent, 

 of the account is paid, the balance or last 25 per cent, to be paid without interest 

 on or before 31st October, 1931. The concession is applicable only to those 

 who had paid up all accounts prior to those arising from this year's operations. 



It is earnestly hoped this interest abatement concession will be accepted 

 by a goodly number, and that some, who might otherwise be hard pressed by 



