150 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



tion than myself. Perhaps the Government, in its wisdom, may ere long see 

 the advantage of granting some further concessions along tJiis line, in order 

 to increase the present license-holders' interest in preserving by judiciously- 

 nursing the forests under their control. 



Finally, in this brief and very imperfect paper, I have tried to rapidly 

 distinguish the two great industries depending upon the forests for their 

 existence ; have given an idea of their magnitude ; have drawn a comparisoa. 

 between their respective values to the community on a strictly comparable 

 basis ; and have pointed out the direction in which the products of the forest 

 might be further utilized for the benefit of the individual manufacturer as 

 well as the State itself. Moreover I have in a fragmentary way touched 

 upon the forests themselves, of which I understand we possess under license- 

 nearly 10,000 square miles, giving hints for their better management, increase 

 of growth and preservation. The subject is indeed a large one and may well' 

 baffle our legislators. Perhaps much could be done by individual license 

 holders themselves and it is to be hoped some effort will be made on their 

 part, as also the farmers who own granted wood lands, to assist in preserv- 

 ing the national inheritance. 



Mr. W. B. Snowball, of Chatham, read the following paper : 

 Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, 



I have been asked by the Government to prepare a paper on "Value 

 and Importance of Lumber Business to New Brunswick." The subject is a 

 large one and of great importance at this time. If business interests 

 generally do not depend on the lumber trade in our country, why the 

 necessity of the Government calling such a Convention as now convened, 

 and go to the expense they have in this matter? Why are we meeting to 

 talk over and discuss the best means of preserving and perpetuating our 

 Forests ? As the heart is to the human being, pulsation and driving life 

 through the whole frame, transmitting energy and power, so the lumber 

 trade is to business life of our Province vitalizing and energising it or de- 

 pressing and weakening as its condition may be at the time. All other indus- 

 tries centre and cluster around our forest manufactures, and are strong or 

 weak, prosper or decline according to the conditions of the lumber markets. 

 To maintain, therefore, in our Province a healthy business life the preserva- 

 tion and maintenance of our forests must command our attention. 



