174 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



than that of all the other provinces combined, and in order to guard that 

 immense country, all the way to the icy sea, it wculd require an army of 

 men but it does not require to be guarded everywhere. Forest fires do not 

 occur except from natural causes, through the settled district. But we had 

 the Hudson Bay District give fire notices, where it would have cost hundreds 

 of dollars for us to have done it. I have found those notices posted up all 

 the way from the Arctic Circle down. They are put up by the Hudson Bay 

 officials and warn the settlers of tires. That alone has saved thousands of 

 dollars of valuable timber. I mention this to show what is applicable there, 

 and that we have to use means there that perhaps would not be applicable 

 to other provinces. 



Now, with regard to a statement which was made, as to the enormous 

 extent of timber land in that new country. I think such a statement with- 

 out qualification is apt to do mischief. It is true we have large belts of 

 spruce, but to take that statement and to suppose that we have timber all 

 over that area is fallacious. We have a quantity of pulp wood, but the vast 

 quantity is growing on the Arctic Sea, where for many, many years it will 

 be unavailable. 



I do not wish to take up your time. I have been more than pleased 

 with this meeting. I think the Government and the Members of the Legis- 

 lature and the people deserve very great credit for the interest they have 

 taken in this matter ; and I may say that I am more than pleased with the 

 unanimity which has characterized these meetings everywhere, not alone 

 here, but in all parts of the Dominion. I have said before and I say it here 

 now, that this is a national question the preservation of our forests ; that 

 it is too great a question to be the foot-ball of any party. There are enough 

 questions to be relegated to and dealt with in that way, and I am glad to say 

 that throughout the whole country, we have had the hearty co-operation of 

 all parties not only political parties, but of religious denominations as well. 

 In fact, the whole question is taken hold of by the people of the country in 

 a most patriotic way. 



MR. GEORGE ROBERTSON (to Mr. Stewart) Did I understand 

 you to say that the Dominion Mounted Police acted as Fire Wardens ? Is it 

 part of their duty ? 



MR. STEWART The Mounted Police do ; they have instructions to 

 do so wherever they can ; and in many cases we have them detailed for 

 special service, although that must not interfere with their regular duti 



