42 



CANADIAN FORESTEY ASSOCIATION. 



are perfect in regard to population. That population will probably double 

 in the next thirty or thirty-five years. They will then have in thirty-five 

 years not less than one hundred and seventy or one hundred and eighty 

 millions, as against ninety millions which they have at the present time. It 

 is calculated the consumption of lumber at the present rate, which gives a 

 supply for thirty years, cannot be maintained. The present rate will in- 

 crease not only in proportion to the increase of the present population, but 

 the per capita consumption of lumber is actually increasing year by year. 

 They used more per head last year than the year before, and the increase 

 has been going on for some years past. That, of course, will stop, because* 

 as prices go up and other material begins to be used in increasing quantities, 

 lumber will to some extent be replaced. But there is no possible ground 

 for coming to the conclusion that the use of lumber will be any less during 

 the next thirty years than it is now. On the contrary, there is every reason 

 to believe that the average annual amount will be considerably in excess or 

 what it is now. Put it at its very best possible figure and there cannot be 

 more than twenty-five or thirty years' supply. If, at that time, the people 

 of the United States come to Canada for the purpose of getting their lum- 

 ber supply (it is not theory, it is not supposition; they will have used up 

 every stick of their merchantable timber for ordinary market use by that 

 time in the ordinary way of progress) if at that time they come to us for 

 assistance and help, how long can we afford them the supply they require? 

 According to the very best calculation, if Canada did not increase her pres- 

 ent consumption, we could meet this demand for just seven years. What I 

 am saying to you is not theory; we may make a mistake o'f a few million 

 :t one way or the other, but there is no possibility of any grave error in 

 the calculations which have been made. So far as we are concerned in the 

 Canada, I think you will agree with me that these facts fur- 



Sh a very good reason why there should be a Commission of Conservation, 

 there should be a Forestry Association, why intelligent and capable 



en who have some regard for the future of the country, should give time, 

 ChS C " a " d discussion to these problems. For myself, Mr 



Uhi iTVh r' 6 " d Ubt 7 h u ateVer ' if l live to the ordina <7 span of life, 



hat w| 'be cut oT ment f , th , 1S C u Untry Hmit the annual a of timber 

 that w ,11 be cut on the ground that the timber must be kept for the purposes 



number of "" ' ' 



within the fe- o7"thrPr F ovmce ofO a ^ ltS ^^ .? U8t be "factured 

 in the manufactured state Tnfh P ntano ' a " d * exported, it must be 

 made a public statement to the eff VmC |? , Quebec > the Premier has 

 pi red, a policy will be adoofeH h? t f hen L f he Present leases have ex- 

 prohibition, of the export ^of ^ pulp wood from ^ llmltln *> if not the 



of New Brunswick. And whil H de ^ nitel y s e led upon in the Province 



d not come here for the purpose of giv- 



