A CANADIAN FOREST POLICY. 



Dr. Judson F. Clark, Forester for the 

 Province of Ontario. 



When an individual of a nation is urged to undertake any 

 new enterprise the advocate must be prepared to show that 

 it is not only practicable and desirable, but that it is a business 

 proposition, or in other words, that it will pay. That there 

 are sentimental considerations urging better care of the forests 

 is undeniable. That they should have weight is equally indis- 

 putable. But forestry is absolutely independent of such, its 

 appeal to-day is as a business proposition to business men, 

 and more especially as a business proposition to statesmen, for 

 the whole history of forests and forestry from the time of ancient 

 Babylon to the present has been a demonstration of the fact 

 that the State is the best, if not the only good forester. 



Personally, I think it is beyond doubt that the develop- 

 ment of a rational, and therefore practical and business-like, 

 forest policy by the Canadian Provinces and the Federal Govern- 

 ment will have a greater influence on the prosperity and happi- 

 ness of our country half a century hence than the solution of 

 any other problem which is within the power of our generation 

 to solve. 



There are at least three reasons of paramount importance 

 why Canadian forests should be managed with a view to the 

 production of wood crops in perpetuity. These reasons have 

 already been repeatedly disctissed at the different sessions of the 

 Convention. Permit me to repeat them briefly by way of 

 emphasis and as a foundation on which to base some recom- 

 mendations for a national forest policy. 



Foi the Permanence of Lumbering Industries. 



1. The necessity of a permanent sujiply of logs for the main- 

 tenance of our great and growing lumbering and other wood- 

 working industries. 



The products of these industries are absolutely essential 

 for the future of our production, our transportation, and our 

 manufactures. Aside, indeed, from the character of its people 

 there is nothing which contribvitcs so greatly to the prosperity 

 and happiness of a people than an abundant supply of wood 

 at reasonable prices. Wood forms the very corner-stone of modern 



