(15) All lands, however held and whether situated in Newfoundland or Labrador, should, if not worked, be subject to an annual tax of so much per acre (paragraph 425). A substantial part of the proceeds of such tax should be devoted to the improvement and amplification of the existing fire-control service, to the supervision of the cutting of timber in forest lands and wood lands, and to replanting waste lands (paragraph 427).

  (16) Early steps should be taken by the Newfoundland Government to engage the services of an experienced Forestry Officer, who might first conduct a survey of all forest areas not under the control of the two Paper Companies and advise as to the best methods of conserving the timber supply in those areas, of reorganising the fire-control service, and generally of recasting the administration of the forests on modern lines. The officer so engaged should later be given an opportunity of inspecting the forest areas under the control of the two Paper Companies and of assuring himself that conditions in such areas fulfil the requirements of modern forestry practice (paragraph 434).

  (17) Pending the conclusion of a permanent arrangement between the interests concerned for the importation of Newfoundland iron-ore into the United Kingdom, an extension of the present practice, whereby some small shipments of ore have been consigned to the United Kingdom on a barter basis in return for coal, would be of mutual benefit to the two countries (paragraph 445).

  (18) An expert advisor should be specially engaged at an early date to report on the methods by which an increase in the country's live stock could best be brought about (paragraph 476).

  (19) There would seem to be opportunity for the establishment in Newfoundland of a jam-making industry on a large scale (paragraph 483).

  (20) Special attention should be directed towards the creation of a new industry for which conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador are ideally suited, viz., the raising of fur-bearing animals, and the initiation of an adequate system of protection should be undertaken without delay (paragraphs 484-491 and 528). The first step would be to obtain expert advice from, e.g., Canada, as to how such a system might best be fostered and developed. The next step would be to arrange for the establishment of the new body of Game Wardens, which would doubtless be required for its execution. This body might be organised on similar lines to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which performs similar services in the hinterland of Canada, and it is recommended that, when this stage is reached, the Commandant of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police should be consulted with a view to the secondment of a few trained members of that force who would assist in the training of the Newfoundland body (paragraph 490).

  (21) A policy encouraging the use of aircraft for internal communication would bring results which would amply repay any expense involved (paragraph 497).

  (22) Possibly the most helpful suggestion as to the future of Labrador is that the territory should be placed under a trading company operating under charter of other authority. Failing the establishment of such a company, Newfoundland should retain the territory and administer it (paragraph 528).

  (23) The reorganisation of the Civil Service is urgently called for, and it is hoped that early effect will be given to the undertakings contained in the Prime Minister's Budget Speech of June, 1933 (paragraphs 566-575).

  (24) An enquiry is at present being made by an educationalist of repute into the curriculum at present in force in the schools (paragraph 577). Expert investigation is needed also into the Railway and Steamship services of the Island (paragraphs 578-581), the forest resources of the country, and the best means of promoting an increase in the Island's live stock (paragraphs 582-583). The engagement of a qualified geologist is also highly desirable (paragraphs 584-585).

  (25) Following the introduction of the new form of government, all existing Boards and Commissions would be dissolved (paragraphs 586-587).

  (26) Steps should be taken to remedy the defects in the existing Public Health Services of the Island, and in particular to build up a Preventative Public Health Service (paragraphs 595-607).

  (27) Energetic steps should be taken by the City Council to insist on prompt payment of arrears of the city tax (paragraph 614).
  (28) The Question of proceeding with a town planning scheme for St. John's should be reviewed as opportunity offers. In the meantime a general plan of development should be prepared, covering not only the City itself but the neighbouring area which is also within the purview of the existing Town Planning Commission (paragraph 615).
  (29) The Government would be well-advised to assist all unemployed men in St. John's who wish to do so to return to their homes in the outports (paragraph 616).

Portugal Cove (about 8 miles from St. John's), n.d. Photo by Holloway. From the album of photographs furnished to the Newfoundland Royal Commission, August 1933. Courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives (Coll-207), Memorial University of Newfoundland Library, St. John's, Newfoundland. (58 kb)

  (30) The Government should do all in their power to encourage the formation of municipalities in the chief centres as times improve (paragraph 618).

  (31) In the event of a new body of Game Wardens being established on the lines recommended in Recommendation (20) above, such a force might take over all public work not only in the interior but in the outports as well, might collect the Customs and other revenue at all but the most important ports, might act as the representatives of the various Departments of Government, might assist in the working of the Post Office and the Railway, and generally might undertake duties, excluding those assigned to the Magistrates and Fishery Inspectors, which are at present distributed among a number of minor officials (paragraph 621).

  (32) We recommend that, if it should not be regarded as practicable to reinstitute the Newfoundland branch of the Royal Naval Reserve, steps should be taken to create in St. John's a branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. We also recommend that consideration should be given to the stationing of one of His Majesty's Ships in Newfoundland during the summer months, say from June to October (paragraphs 622-624).

  (33) One of the matters which we commend to the attention of the new Government is the need for the collection of full and accurate statistics relating to every branch of the Island's life. We recommend that with this object in view steps should be taken to establish a liaison with the Department of Statistics at Ottawa (paragraphs 625-627).

  (34) We understand that arrangements are in view for the establishment of a public library in St. John's. We think it important that public libraries should be established in the larger outports as opportunity offers and that steps should be taken to extend and improve the recently instituted service of travelling subscription libraries (paragraphs 628-629).

  (35) The objectives of the new Government will be two-fold, (a) immediate, (b) such as can only be attained over a period of years. The immediate objective must be to rescue the country from the peril of collapse which now threatens to overwhelm it, to instil new heart and confidence in the people and to bring about conditions in which, provided that they play their part, they will be assured at least of earning a livelihood. When the first objective has been achieved, the next objective must be the formulation of a long-range plan, based on an exhaustive study of local conditions, and calculated, by the creation and development of new sources of wealth, so to strengthen the economic structure of the Island as to prevent the recurrence, at least in such extreme form, of those periodical visitations of pauperism and distress to which it has hitherto been subject (paragraphs 630-633).

Image description updated May, 2004.