T}te Toronto 1909 Convention. 13 



and bumed-over areas; but, owing to the present rule of cutting 

 to a diameter limit, balsam reproduction was crowding out the 

 spruce. Sixteen per cent, of the land was brule, burnt for the 

 most part from twelve to thirty 3'ears ago, the fires being started 

 largely by river-drivers. The present Government system of 

 selling timber had two main defects. First, the Government 

 has a right at any time to open up lands under license for settle- 

 ment without in any way compensating the licensee for the loss 

 of his timber (a proceeding which often amounted to confiscation). 

 Secondly, there was no guarantee that a change in administra- 

 tion might not result in an increase in grotmd rent and stiampage 

 dues that would take away entirely the margin of profit. 



Mr. Wilson described the method of cutting timber, by 

 letting the work to a "jobber," w^ho let it out again to "sub- 

 jobbers," and pointed out its defects. Only the timber easiest 

 to get at was taken tuider this system, and the timber left 

 will be harder to get at and harder to cut when it comes to be 

 taken. Much timber was left in the woods, and burnt-over 

 territory was seldom- cut. A number of improvements were 

 suggested. Ground rents should be fixed for a term of years, 

 with at least two years' notice of any intended change. ;|A 

 definite colonization policy should be pursued. The licensee 

 should be given a year's notice to remove his timber from lands 

 to be taken up. Lots should be taken up in a definite order. 

 The settlement conditions should be enforced, with cancellation 

 as the penalty for non-compliance. Settlers should be required 

 to prove that they were bona fide settlers, not mere speculators, 

 should not be allowed to burn up the timber in clearing the land 

 and should be required to leave one quarter of their land in 

 permanent w:_odlots. The fire protection laws should be made 

 easier to enforce and should be rigidly enforced and the rangers 

 should be given authority of arrest without reporting to the 

 Government. The laws should be so amended that a conviction 

 could be obtained by proving that a fire started from a camp fire 

 or settler's clearing, set by him or his employees, without its 

 being necessary to actually see the man light it. A force of 

 competent and reliable rangers should be established to enforce 

 the Government stumpage and waste regulations. 



Some spirited discussion followed Mr. Wilson's paper, after 

 which the convention closed. 



The Resolutions. 



In the course of the afternoon the Committee on Resolu- 

 tions presented its report, w^hich w'as adopted. 



The following are the resolutions adopted: — ■ 

 Resolved, — That this Association desires to place on 

 record its deep appreciation of the intense interest which His 

 Excellency Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada, has alwavs 



