fires have completely wiped out the soil that natural seeding and growth are 

 impossible. I want to say a few words about Nova Scotia's forest fire laws. 

 Six or seven years ago many prominent men in the Province were of the 

 opinion that nothing could be done to prevent or stop what had become an 

 annual conflagration. The Government felt helpless and pointed to the 

 "Act for the Protection of Woods against Fires," (a dead letter on the 

 statute books), and also deprecated the idea of going to any expense to 

 enforce the act. As there seemed no one else to do it. the leading lumber 

 firms of Western Nova Scotia got together, and after studying the situation 

 carefully and getting comprehensive data from outside sources, were able 

 to present to the Government a practical working plan for the prevention of 

 forest fires, and to show how the expenses of the system could be equitably 

 distributed. It is sufficient to say that as matters stand to-day the Govern- 

 ment and the people are well pleased with the working of the system, and 

 we claim to have in Nova Scotia a fire fighting force organized on preventive 

 principles, that is both effective and efficient. 



Very much of the credit for all this, and the effectiveness of the Act 

 is due to the character of the people living in the great forest belt, law-abid- 

 ing and hard-working people, who recognize the property rights of others 

 and are willing to do their part for the public welfare. In the municipality 

 in which I live the chief ranger can, by telephone and messengers, call 

 together 50 to 100 men in a few hours; men who come at once and make a 

 "bee line" for the fire. There is a greater incentive than the wages paid, 

 for in some instances they know that they are protecting their homes. After 

 five years of systematic work they fully realize the benefit of organization, 

 and have seen results in their forest homes that have made them safer, 

 richer and more hopeful for the future. 



FOREST SURVEYS NEEDED. 



On the strength of what has been accomplished in the matter of sup- 

 pressing forest fires, the Nova Scotia Government is now preparing the way 

 for a descriptive survey of the provincial forest lands. I am not in a position 

 to give particulars regarding this important matter, but it shows the trend 

 of public opinion. 



DIFFICULTIES TO BE ENCOUNTERED. 



In any forest policy that may be advocated in Nova Scotia, the most 

 difficult matters to be dealt with will, of necessity, be the differences that 

 are sure to arise between private interests and what is deemed best for the 

 public welfare. In this connection, I believe that the provinces should 

 be encouraged to look to the Forestry Branch of the Dominion Govern- 

 ment for help and instruction. 



IN CONCLUSION. 



I have reviewed the situation in our Province as briefly as possible. 

 Probably much the same state of affairs obtains in other provinces. In each 

 of the provinces the forestry problem must be solved by a careful study of 

 all the interests involved. Much may be accomplished by appealing to the 



