NATURAL HISTORY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 105 
development and management is only possible by the concen- 
tration of their administration in the hands of some responsible 
body which can combine continuity of policy, skilled knowledge, 
initiative, experiment, executive authority and the possibility of 
efficient and economical business administration of details. Can 
anybody who knows the recent history of politics in New Bruns- 
wick and the present state of political ethics in Canada, suppose 
that a continuously economical and efficient administration of 
public utilities is possible under political management? Yet at 
present the administration of the forestry interests of the pro- 
vince is under purely political control, not only in general policy, 
but down to the minutest detail. Aside, however, from the 
purely political dangers which threaten a forestry policy, it is 
a fact that the present system of management is, from its very 
nature, prohibitive of efficient administration and development. 
The forest interests of the province are administered at present 
by the Department of Crown Lands under the Surveyor-General. 
Now the Surveyor-General, no matter how capable, devoted and 
upright, knows nothing of these matters when entering office, 
and must depend upon advice of his subordinates. Moreover, 
he has little inducement to educate himself thoroughly in them 
since he has his own private business to absorb him, and since 
his tenure of office is uncertain, not only because of the hazards 
of elections, but also because of the likelihood of promotion to a 
higher portfolio. It is a most fortunate fact that the manage- 
ment of the forest lands under the present Surveyor-General is 
remarkably energetic and efficient ; but experience shows that 
such excellent administration is exceptional, and will not be 
continuously maintained under future officials. The members of 
the permanent staff of the Crown Land Office are so fully 
occupied by the regular duties of that office, that leisure and 
opportunity for study, for observation in the forests themselves, 
and for travel and examination of the methods and experience 
of other countries, is wholly excluded. Under such conditions 
nothing but a drifting policy can be expected, and a progressive 
policy is impossible. 
