PROGRESS OF CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20137, 24 December 1928, Page 7

PROGRESS OF CANADA.

DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES. great Forest wealth. PAPER, TIMBER AND MINING. [FitOM OI'R OWN' CORRESPONDENT-J VANCOUVER, Nov. 28. Canada's record wheat harvest of over 500,000.000 bushels draws attention to the fact that agriculture is still the Dominion's leading industry,, but the remarkable progress which has been made in recent years in the development of her forest, mineral, water-power and other resources shows that this country, instead of confining her energies to a few extractive industries, is making a broadfroiitcd advance in many fields of activity. Hanking second to agriculture in value of products,, our forest industries loom large in Canada's economic structure. The growth of pulp and paper production in recent years has been rapid and spectacular, and since 1926 the Dominion has been tho world's greatest newsprint producer. For the first eight months of 1928 Canadian mills produced 206,109 tons more newsprint than in the corresponding period of 1927. or an increase of 15 per cent. The erection ot new mills and additions to present producers indicate that the. Dominion's total will be further increased in the immediate future. The effect of expansion in this as iri most of the other industries engaged iri the development of the Dominion's natural rcsouices, is seen in the growth of our towns and cities and in tho springing up of new communities. As typical of (his growth the new 500-ton newsprint mill at Kapuskasing, Ontaiio, recently opened, is tho centre of a model town planned and built for the employees of the operating company. Beside the mill buildings, covering seven and a-lialt acres, 350 houses have been erected, and the hotel, hospital, school and community hall are modern structures in everv way. The town has about -5000 inhabitants, most of whom secure employment through the paper industry. Greater Demand lor Lumber. "An increasing demand for timber for export and a slight increase in price have brought about a general improvement in tho lumber industry, not only in British Columbia, but also in the eastern provinces. The demand for British Columbia shingles is brisk and the mills are working to capacity. The mining industry is thriving. Exploratory and prospecting operations are being carried on in practically 2very province of the Dominon, especially in British Columbia and in those areas underlain by the pre-Canibrian in the northern parts of the provinces of Quebec, Ontario. Manitoba and Saskatchewan and in the North-west territories. Extensive exploratory work, in which t'.ie aeroplane is rendering valuable assistance, is being carried on in the more remote parts of the country, both east and west of Hudson Bay, and those vast territories will soon be rendered more accessible by the completion of the Hudson 1)8,y iailwav to Churchill. It is expected that these activities, together with the developments that are going forward in other parts of tho Dominion, will soon be reflected in a substantial increase in Canada's annual mineral output. Outstanding developments now in piogress include those undertaken in the Sudbury district of Ontario, which involve tho immediate expenditure of millions of dollars, and those proceeding in tho •northern Manitoba-Saskatchewan boundary region. A great deal of work is also being done in the Rouyn and adjoining areas in Western Quebec. In the Kirkland Lake district of Ontario aggressive policies have resulted in the gold output of this camp reaching a record high total, with a valus of more than £1.200,000 for the first half of the year, and the situation in Hie other provinces is, on the whole, very satisfactory. The Mining Industry. Ihe prospective output of the mining industry is a factor which cannot be ignored in formulating any estimate of Canada's economic future. At present, according to the latest available statistics, there are 10.256 mines. metallurgical whrks, oil and gas wells, quarries, cement, lime and brick plants and other units actually engaged in mining and allied operations within tho Dominion, representing an estimated capital investment of over £140.000.000 and giving permanent employment to more than 80,000 workers. Tn 1927 the net value of sales from these various industries reached nearly £50,000,000, or 4.6 per cent, more than the tolal for tho previous year. In the field of copper production alone Canada in 1927 attained fourth place among the world's greatest producers of this metal. The Dominion is also forging ahead in (he production of gold, lend and zinc and still retains first place among the world's producers of nickel, cobalt