gg C AN ADI AN FOEE STEY ASSOCIATION. 



possess an enormous supply, so also does Ontario and the Western Prov- 

 inces. If the production of paper in the United States is to be carried on 

 as at present, many mills will have to shut down if they cannot get pulp 

 wood from some other source: I admit that. I also admit the American 

 is a very clever individual. Now, observe carefully. The life of a pulp 

 and paper mill, as constructed in the United States, is about ten years. Do 

 you think, as these mills go out of use, that they are going to be recon- 

 structed in the United States, dependent upon getting their supply of puip 

 wood from Canada? Not at all. As they go out of use in the United 

 States they will never be reconstructed there. They will come to Canada 

 automatically, without any legislation at all. 



A VOICE : Legislation will bring them quicker. 



SENATOR EDWARDS: Legislation will not bring them a day quicker. 



SENATOR EDWARDS : I want to put another point before you, and this 

 is of vital importance. The paper manufacturers of the United- States who 

 want to get some of their pulpwood in Canada would rather pay a very 

 high price for it and earn some interest on their investment in pulp and 

 paper mills than no interest. As a consequence, there is an enormous de- 

 mand for Canadian pulpwood at higher prices than would prevail if it were 

 not for that demand. Further, what would happen if prohibition of export 

 should go into effect? The value of pulp wood in Canada would go down 

 to practically nothing, and the pulp and paper manufacturers of Canada 

 would have those who have wood to sell by the throat and would pay 

 them just what they liked. In what condition would that put the small 

 lumberman who desires to sell his pulp wood? It would simply ruin him. 

 Gentlemen, this prohibition of export means the most infamous kind of 

 protection that could exist. It means the business destruction of a large 

 number of people who have pulp wood to sell, for the benefit of a few of 

 the pulp and paper makers of Canada. Now, Mr. Chairman, I am one of 

 those who believe strongly in the conservation of our forests. What would 

 be the effect if Canada prohibited the export of pulp wood cut on Crown 

 lands? The iniquitous system in vogue in Quebec and Ontario of acquiring 

 land ostensibly for settlement, but really for the sake of the growing tim- 

 ber, would be extended, more pulp wood would go into the United States 

 from these lands, and it would be an absolute loss to the country. I would 

 ask you to think over all this before you come to a conclusion on the subject. 

 No, gentlemen, the way to conserve our forests is to put into effect a ra- 

 tional and sane policy so far as the cutting of our forests is concerned, and 

 to prevent the burning of the forests. That is the way to conserve them; 

 not by restrictive legislation after the timber has been cut down. Legislate 

 for the whole people of Canada and not for a few of them. 



I would like to say a word on the general subject. I have been ex- 

 ceedingly interested in listening to the papers that have been read here this 

 afternoon. I am delighted to see the intense interest taken in these sub- 

 jects which are of such vital importance to the country. Years ago it used 

 to be proclaimed from one end of Canada to the other that our forests 

 were inexhaustible. Such speeches used to be made in the House of Com- 

 mons and in the Legislatures of the various Provinces. But, unfortunately, 



