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As to the matter of taxation, I have over one hundred letters 

 from different sections of the county, from prominent business 

 men, lawyers, professors, and so forth, and not one dissent 

 from the question, "Are you willing to be taxed for this work?" 

 In fact it was emphatic, and great praise given to the Board for 

 their work in this connection. 



All I have to say further is, that I believe mosquito hunting 

 is one of the most creditable occupations of the present time, 

 and I also believe that if this work is continued and carried on 

 in the manner in which it has been, that very soon conditions 

 will grow better and better and these pestiferous pests will be 

 eliminated or transferred to that bourn from which no traveler 

 returns, and we shall be able to enjoy our homes, our beautiful 

 cities and towns in peace. 



The President — This convention has been honored with un- 

 expected guests, and I found yesterday that the majority of the 

 members of the controlling board of the Department of Conserv- 

 ation and Development were down here to find out what was 

 going on, and it gives me very great pleasure to introduce the 

 Director of that Department, Mr. Alfred Gaskill. 



Mr. Gaskiu. — Mr. Chairman, it does not matter in the least 

 that the Chairman has taken me unawares. It is a fact, as 

 stated, that the Board of Conservation and Development, one of 

 your newly organized State agencies, has evinced enough inter- 

 est in this mosquito problem to make it one of the four planks 

 in its provisional program, and asked as many of the members 

 of the Board as could, do so to attend this conference for the 

 purpose of getting information. 



Now, I can't pretend to say anything to- you with respect to 

 matured plans, or of the policy of that department in relation to 

 mosquito work, further than that the Board has fully realized 

 that whatever may devolve upon it to do in the way of develop- 

 ing the resources of New Jersey is contingent upon practical 

 control of the mosquitoes. 



Nine years ago I carne to this State as Forester, and during 

 that time, and until these larger responsibilities were put upon 



