FRASER (Guysborough) moved for leave to introduce Bill (No. 40) respecting the British Yukon Railway Company. He said : This is simply to enable the company to extend its line from White Horse to Dawson City. The length of its present line is 120 or 130 miles, all of which is in Canada except 16 miles.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.
Bill (No. 41) respecting the Saskatchewan and Western Railway Company.-Mr. La-RiviSre. Bill (No. 42) respecting the Klondike Mines Survey Company.-Mr. Fraser. Bill (No. 43) to incorporate the St. Lawrence Lodge.-Mr. Geoffrion. Bill (No. 44) respecting the Ottawa and Gatineau Railway Company, and to change its name to the Ottawa, Gatineau and Western Railway Company-Mr. Champagne by Mr. Ethier.
That for the remainder of the session Government Orders shall have precedence after questions on Thursdays.
He said : In making this motion, I may inform the House of the government business,
not only so far as it is already before the House, but so far as it is intended to bring in other business. There are on the Order paper two Bills to be introduced by the Solicitor General, one relating to the Franchise Act and one relating to the Elections Act. These Bills will be introduced, probably, tomorrow. Then, the Minister of the Interior contemplates introducing a Bill for the consolidating of the Indian Act. The Minister of Finance contemplates introducing the Bill, which was announced in the speech from the Throne, concerning the mint. A Bill will be introduced concerning the Alien Labour law. The day after to-morrow the Bill concerning the Alien Labour law will be introduced, and the other two probably in the course of a week. It is expected that supplementary estimates will be introduced not this week, but early next week.
I will not say that this is all the legislation to be introduced this session, but if there is more, it will be of a light character.
Hon. Mr. TISDALE.
Can the hon. Minister of Finance (Hon. Mr. Fielding) give us any information as to when we may expect his budget speech ?
Some day next _ week, but a more definite announcement will be made next Thursday.
Mr. N. CLARKE WALLACE (West York).
The business brought before the House so far has been very largely promoted by private members, members of the opposition. I think the government have had ample opportunity to forward their measures, and that they will still have, sufficient opportunity without at once taking one of the private members' days. We have not reached a point in the session-though I believe it is quite understood on both sides that we are to have a short session-for such a step. The government has not its business in such a form as to make such a step necessary. I think the government should not be in a hurry, considering that private members have been diligently bringing business before the House, and at this stage one of the days devoted for private members' business should not be taken.
I certainly must give the opposition credit for putting a great deal of matter on the Order paper. But, as to anything further than that, I cannot say that they have shown any remarkable diligence, for, day after day the same motions standing in the names of hon. gentlemen of the other side have been called and allowed to stand. However, I would not quarrel with the hon. gentleman (Mr. Wallace) on this subject. I do not believe I could change his opinion on this subject and I am sure he could not change mine. However, if my hon. friend will accept such an arrangement, I will agree not to take next
Thursday but the Thursday following. I ask to have the resolution amended to that effect.
Mr. WALLACE.
I do not agree with the Prime Minister. I think that kon. members on this side have been making it very interesting for the members of the government. However, I shall not oppose the motion as it is now proposed.
Amendment agreed to, and motion as amended agreed to.
Mr. DAVID HENDERSON (Halton).
Before the Orders of the Day are called, I rise to a question of privilege. I find that in ' Hansard' of the first of March my name is recorded as having been paired against the motion introduced by the kon. member for Victoria, N.B., (Hon. Mr. Costigan). I desire to say that that pair was arranged for the original motion as introduced by that hon. gentleman, and not for the motion that was voted on by the House. Had I been in the House when the vote was taken I would have voted for the resolution as amended.
Mr. URIAH WILSON (Lennox).
I desire to ask when I may expect the returns I moved for early in the session, one with reference to the cost of elevators in St. John and Halifax, and the other for certain information respecting immigration.
Mr. MCCARTHY.
, I desire to explain
Order.
I shall be very glad to make immediate inquiries, and, if there is any information that the hon. gentleman (Mr. Wilson) has asked for and that has not been forthcoming, to supply it as speedily as possible.