Mr. HACKETT.

I desire to call the attention of the Postmaster General (Hon. Mr. Mulock) to the fact that we have had no mails from Prince Edward Island for the last eight days. What steps has he taken to overcome this difficulty ? I know the government has two steamships blocked in the ice, and while these ships are not available, I want to ask the Postmaster General if he is going to have the mails conveyed by ice boat from Cape Traverse to Cape Tormentine, as formerly.

When my hon. friend the Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Sir Louis Davies) succeeds in getting across from the island to the mainland and reaches Ottawa, I will consult him, and be then in a much better position to answer the hon. gentleman's question. At present I understand that all communications between the mainland and the island is interrupted by reason of the condition of the ice.

Mr. HACKETT.

I want to say in answer to the minister-

Mr. SPEAKER.

Order, the hon. gentleman has already spoken.

Mr. LEFURGEY.

I would like to know what the passage of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries from the island to the capital has got to do with the transmission of the mails. What action has been taken with regard to the transmission of the mails from Prince Edward Island to the mainland ? There are a number of people here who are interested in what is going on down in the island.

Mr. WALLACE.

Before that motion is carried-

Mr. SPEAKER.

Order, the hon. gentleman has already spoken.

Mr. Speaker, I will inquire into this matter that the hon. member for Provencher (Mr. LaRi viere) has brought to my attention, but, 1 will say, that there has been no change since 1 took office four years ago.

Mr. LaRIVIERE. Last session the mails were sent up more regularly.

There has been no change made to my knowledge since we took office.

Sir CHARLES HIBBERT TUPPER.

Mr. Speaker, I want to draw the attention of the government to what appears to me to be an extraordinary fact. The only reason given for this House meeting to-morrow is to consider some business that is to be brought forward by hon. gentlemen occupying seats on the opposition benches, and, although we were told in the, speech from the Throne that measures would be submitted to us :

-tor the better supervision of the export trade in food products, and also in connection with the post office, the Pacific cable and various other subjects

-we have been meeting and adjourning here day after day for want of a single measure introduced on the part of the government. This is the only part of the programme suggested to us in what was expected at the opening to be a business session.

Mr. FRASER.

So it is.

Sir CHARLES HIBBERT TUPPER.

We have, on this side of the House, given every assurance that we were ready to go on, but everything has come to a full stop because, as the hon. Minister of Finance (Hon, Mr. Fielding) says, one department of the government has for the moment broken down and it is not able to discharge its proper duties. Consequently, not being in a position to ask for supplies, having none of their measures ready for the consideration of the House, they propose that we should take up only such business as the opposition shall bring forward. I think this is a very unfortunate position for the government, and since the business of the government is in our hands they might very well listen to the suggestion of the hon. gentleman who has his business ready and rest over to-morrow before we tackle that.