amendments to the Railway Act in regard to appeals, appointment of officers, carriage of live stock, damage by fire caused through Railway negligence, Telephone contracts, éc.

Other legislation provided for the testing of glassware used in connection with Milk Tests; amended the Volunteer Bounty Act as to rights of location and conditions of residence; regulated the water carriage of goods from or to Canadian ports; amended the Navigable Waters Protection Act so that on all but very small wharves "no bridge, boom, dam, aboiteau, wharf, dock, pier or other structure of any kind, shall be built or placed in or across any navigable water, unless the site thereof has been approved by the Governor-in-Council nor unless such bridge, boom, dam, aboiteau, wharf, dock, pier or other structure is built and maintained in accordance with plans aproved by the Governor-in-Council." The Prisons and Reformatories Act was amended so as to better guard the welfare of boys and girls under 16 who should be convicted under certain conditions; a contract between the City of St. John and F. C. Durant was legalized in the matter of conveyance of certain lands; the Canadian Northern Alberta Railway was incorporated and certain guarantees approved. The Criminal Code was amended so as to make the possession of stolen minerals an indictable offence with a penalty of two years imprisonment; the same Code as to Motor vehicles was amended so as to permit of a fine. of $50 or 30 days imprisonment for any person who, driving a motor car on the occurrence of an accident, should fail "to stop his car or with intent to escape liability, either civil or criminal, drive on without tendering assistance and giving his name and address"; the Fisheries Act was amended so as to enable the Minister of Marine and Fisheries to define tidal boundaries, in. estuary fishing, to forbid net or other fishing under certain obstructive conditions as to water channels, to provide for fish-guards in Western Inland waters, to establish permit regulations in fishing for land-fertilizing objects, to compel official returns from Lobster canneries, to punish by seizure, or confiscation, boats, &c., used in contravention of the Act, and to authorize the Government by proclamation to bring into force the recently-prepared international regulations of the International Fisheries Commission. The Gas Inspection Act was amended, the Indian Act was altered so as to better protect the Nation's wards in their dealings with white men ; the Immigration Act was also amended. The powers of the National Battlefields Commission were extended and the functions of the Conservation Commission further defined.

In the Senate there was considerable debate upon Sir Richard Scott's measure regarding the importation of liquor into certain. parts of Canada and designed, chiefly, to make Prince Edward Island an absolutely prohibitive area by preventing liquor from being sent into the Island for sale. The Bill was supported in principle by Senator G. W. Ross (Feb. 24) but opposed

in practice as not really preventing importation; it was debated upon several occasions and passed its 2nd reading by 22 to 12; was criticized severely in certain details on Apl. 20 by Senator H. J. Cloran and finally, on motion of Hon. James Domville, was defeated in Committee. An important measure discussed and passed by both Houses was that of the Minister of Railways (Mr. Graham) which authorized the acquisition, by lease, of lines of railway connecting with the Government Railways in order that the traffic of the latter should be developed and increased by use of other lines as feeders.

1909.

Incidents of the 1909-10 Session

Nov. 17.—In reply to a question by Mr. C. Jameson (Cons.) as to whether there is an officially authorized Canadian flag the Minister of Marine makes this statement: The Red Ensign of His Majesty's Fleet defaced with the Canadian Coat of Arms in the fly. Authorized by Admiralty Warrant on the 2nd February, 1892, to be used on board vessels registered in the Dominion, and the Blue Ensign of His Majesty's fleet, defaced as above, for use on board vessels belonging to or permanently in the service of the Dominion. This flag is authorized by the King's Regulations, no special warrant being required.

Nov. 22.-Mr. F. D. Monk, K.c. (Cons.) presents Resolution, which is carried, in favour of a Select Committee to investigate existing systems of Proportional Representation.

Nov. 17.-Hon. George E. Foster (Cons.) draws attention to the increasing cost of the Civil Service which he describes as follows: 1883-4, $1,084,417; 1895-6, $1,396,628; 1907-8, $2,088,416; 1910-11 (according to estimates), $4,703,707.

Nov. 22. Mr. A. B. Warburton (Lib.) draws attention to and presses upon the House the matter of a projected Tunnel between Prince Edward Island and the Mainland. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) approves the project in the following words: "I am disposed to think that if it can be had at a moderate cost the people of Prince Edward Island should have this tunnel, not because it is an obligation of Confederation, for I humbly think it is not, but because they may fairly ask it in order that they may keep pace with the progress of the times, and that they may receive a share of the benefits of the great growing time in Canada irrespective of whether it is an obligation of Confederation or not."

Nov. 22. Mr. J. W. Daniel and other Conservative members of Parliament criticize the Marine Department in connection with the wreck of the Steamer Hestia on the Bay of Fundy on October 25th. Hon. L. P. Brodeur defends his Department.

Nov. 24.-Hon. G. E. Foster discusses the Secretariat of the Imperial Conference and reviews the proceedings and work of preceding Colonial Conferences.

Nov. 25.-Three measures are presented by E. A. Lancaster (Cons.) dealing with Railway conditions and one, amending the Act of the previous Session for the better protection of Railway crossings, is defeated on motion of the Minister of Railways by 87 to 53. Nov. 26.-A discussion takes place as to the suggested appointment or otherwise of Mr. F. C. Wade to be Lieut.-Governor of British Columbia.

Nov. 29. Mr. A. B. Warburton (Lib.) raises the question of a reduction under certain Census conditions of the representation in Parliament of Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and analyses minutely the progress of population upward and downward since Confederation. Mr. Fielding, Minister of Finance, declares that the only way to break the pact of Confederation in this matter is by all the other Provinces voluntarily waiving their rights in order to help the weaker Provinces.

Nov. 30.-The 2nd reading of the Bill respecting a supplementary Convention with France is discussed at considerable length, Mr. T. Chisholm objecting particularly to the admission of absinthe to Canada, and some Conservative objections are presented on the ground of whittling away the British preference or involving United States retaliation. It passes by 107 to 33.

Dec. 1. Hon. George E. Foster draws attention to the 10 United States war vessels on the Great Lakes in apparent contravention of the Rush-Bagot arrangement of 1818.

Dec.

Dec.

Dec.

1. The Minister of Customs states in reply to a question that in 1905 there were 4,424,179 tons of bituminous and 2,584,338 tons of anthracite coal imported by Canada from the United States; of these totals 4,314,347 tons and 1,674,069 respectively were imported by Ontario. In 1909 the imports by Canada were 6,036,621 tons of bituminous and 3,022,970 tons of anthracite, and of these totals 5,671,963 tons and 2,035,117 tons respectively were required by Ontario.

7.-Mr. F. L. Schaffner draws attention to the fact that a day or so before this date an eminent Irish preacher, Rev. T. Davidson, leaving Winnipeg to return home via the United States had been sent back to Winnipeg by United States Immigration Officials as being an "undesirable immigrant" without papers. Mr. Oliver, Minister of the Interior, declines to say anything on the subject.

9. In reply to inquiries Sir F. Borden, Minister of Militia, gives the following details as to the supply of Contingents to South Africa during the War:

With regard to the first and second Contingents, Canada equipped, transported to South Africa, and paid them up to the time of arrival in that country; the British Government paid and maintained them while in South Africa, and transported them home.

With regard to the third, fourth and fifth and sixth Contingents, the British Government paid all their expenses.

As regards the Strathcona Horse and the South African Constabulary the expenses were borne in the case of the former partly by Lord Strathcona and partly by the British Government, in the case of the latter by the Government of Cape Colony.

The total amount paid by the Canadian Government was $1,972,255.20. The Government is not aware of the total amount expended by the British Government in this connection.

Dec. 13. Mr. George H. Perley moves a Resolution declaring that Parliament should take more active steps to lessen the great suffering and mortaity caused by Tuberculosis-of which disease from 8,000 to 10,000 died every year in Canada. After prolonged discussion the motion is accepted without division.

Dec.

15.-Mr. F. D. Monk precipitates a debate on the North Atlantic Trading Company by asking for certain legal documents in connection with a fiat granted by the Government to the Company. His request is granted.

Dec. 15.-Mr. E. N. Lewis (Cons.) moves a Resolution which he afterwards withdraws in favour of appointing a Canadian Attaché at Washington. Sir Wilfrid Laurier deprecates the suggestion and considers present conditions quite satisfactory.

1910. Jan. 17.-The question of the status and salaries of Civil Engineers in the Civil Service of Canada is brought up by Mr. A. B. Warburton. Jan. 31.-On motion of Mr. G. W. Kyte the Commons discusses the question of the continuous Census reduction of the Maritime Provinces' representation at Ottawa under the terms of the Confederation Act.

Feb. 1. In reply to an inquiry in the Senate from Hon. L. G. Power as to Canada's jurisdiction in the far North it is stated by Sir Richard Cartwright that "the Government are not blind to the possible importance of asserting the jurisdiction of Canada over these Islands and waters, and they have twice despatched expeditions in that direction, and are now about to send a third one. They have also established one or two posts of the Northwest Mounted Police on the mainland to exercise jurisdiction in those waters."

Mar. 8. Senator A. C. P. Landry inquires as to whether Canada has a national flag and Sir R. Cartwright replies that:

The Union Jack, being the national flag, may be flown by British subjects, private or official, on land. By an Order-in-Council, dated 28th February, 1870, the design of a flag for the Governor-General of Canada was approved of, showing the Arms of the Dominion emblazoned on a white or grey shield, surrounded by a garland of maple leaves and surmounted by a Crown in the centre of the Union Jack. By the same Order-in-Council, flags for the Lieutenant-Governors of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia were approved of, showing the Arms of the respective Provinces emblazoned on a round shield in the centre, surrounded with a garland of maple leaves, but not surmounted by the Crown in the centre of the Union Jack. By the same Order-in-Council a flag for vessels belonging to the Dominion of Canada was approved of, namely, a blue ensign, with the Arms of Canada on the fly. The above-mentioned Orderin-Council was approved of by despatch from the Colonial Office dated 30th April, 1870. By subsequent Orders-inCouncil duly approved of by the Colonial Office, flags for the Lieutenant-Governors of the various Provinces, with the exception of Alberta and Saskatchewan, were also approved of. A Warrant of the Lords Commissioner of the Admiralty was issued on the 2nd of February, 1892, permitting the Arms of Canada to be inserted in the fly of the red ensign, to be used on vessels registered in Canada.

Feb. 16. In reply to Mr. R. S. Lake the Minister of Finance states that the National Battlefield's Commission have $348,387 in hand and have purchased or obtained the following properties: (1) a lot of land situated on the north side of Ste. Foy Road, area 16,060 square feet and price $7,846.55; (2) part of Lot number 4,440 belonging to Le Seminaire de Quebec, area 1,137,111 square feet and price $129,137.99. The following properties have also been deeded to the Commission, without cost, for the purpose of the Park: (a) the piece of ground commonly designated as the Plains of Abraham covering an area of 88 arpents and 71 perches (French measure), (b) the plot of ground on which is erected the Monument known as The Monument of the Braves," on the Battlefield of Ste. Foy, (c) a certain parcel of land on which Martello Tower No. 4 is erected.

Feb. 11.-The House in Committee discusses the Pink Rock wharf matter in New Brunswick and the relations or alleged relations of Mr. C. J. Osman, M.L.A., and the Minister of Public Works. Mar. 2.-Lieut.-Colonel S. Hughes (Cons.) discusses the Ross Rifle and illustrates his repeated contention as to its excellence by recently-claimed successes. Incidentally, he denounces the National Rifle Association of Great Britain for "trying to force "Canada to use an obsolete weapon such as he claims the Lee-Enfield to be. Colonel Worthington (Cons.) points out that it is merely a question of what is really the standard arm of the Canadian Militia.

Mar. 11.-Mr. G. H. Perley reads a letter dated Feb. 16th, 1910, from W. M. Mead, Deputy Superintendent of Public Works, New York State, denying the general Canadian impression that there is discrimination in the New York Canal regulations against Canadian trade and boats: "I beg to say that there never has been any discrimination either by the rules for the management of the canals, or by statute, against Canadian-owned boats, nor is there at the present time."

Mar. 21.-Sir Wilfrid Laurier states that an invitation has come from the United States with a view to having the Rush-Bagot arrangement as to warships on the Lakes revised but that nothing had been done in the matter.

Mar. 21. Mr. Fisher, Minister of Agriculture, states that the Commission to investigate the Pork Industry, composed of W. W. Ballantyne, Stratford; William Jones, Zenda, Ont.; Gideon Garceau, Three Rivers, Que.; Joseph Rye, Edmonton, Alta.; J. E. Sinclair, Emerald, P.E.I.; and J. R. Spencer as Secretary; has reported to the Government after visiting Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Holland.

Apr.

6. In the Senate Sir R. Cartwright quotes a return from the Department of the Interior on the subject of School-lands as follows: Assuming the total area of Manitoba to be 41,169,280 acres, the approximate area of School-lands in the Province of Manitoba is 2,287,182 acres. On the same basis, assuming the area of Saskatchewan to be 161,900,000 acres the approximate area of School-lands in that Province is 8,438,888 acres; and assuming the area of the Province of Alberta to be 155,400,000 acres the area of School-lands is approximately 8,633,333 acres. The approximate area remaining unsold in each of the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta is as follows:

The total area of School-lands disposed of in the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, to the 31st Dec., 1909, and the average price per acre, are as follows:

Apr. 11.-The request of the Hamilton, Waterloo and Guelph Railway Co. for incorporation evokes a lengthy and vigorous protest from Mr. A. C. Macdonell who claims that the project is essentially Provincial and local and lies within Ontario jurisdiction.

Apr. 20. The incorporation of the Retail Merchants Association (ultimately carried through both Houses) is objected to in the Commons on the ground of possibly creating a combine to control prices and approved as having the same right as the Dominion Millers Association, the Wholesale Grocers, the Canadian Manufacturers, or the Shipping Federation of Montreal.