Mr. CLARKE.

What is the object of inserting the word ' may ' ? According to the argument of the hon. gentleman, the reason this Bill is enacted is because these strikes do interfere with the carriage of mails, etc. Is there any doubt about it ? What is the sense of putting in the word ' may ' ? It destroys all the arguments made this afternoon for this legislation.

I think the hon. gentleman's objection is well taken, and I will not press the amendment. I was asked to make it, but I had not read it very carefully.

On section 3,

Mr. CLARKE.

I suppose by this the government take power to appoint two members of the committee, and three if necessary. The minister may appoint the two first and name a third in case none of the parties make a selection.

Each party will be called on to appoint one, and these two may appoint a third, and it is only when either or both the parties make default that the minister acts.

Mr. LOGAN.

This section provides that each party to the dispute may choose an arbitrator, and if the two arbitrators cannot agree on the third, the choice of the third will be left to the minister. But in cases of dispute on the Intercolonial Railway that would give an unfair advantage to the government. The men would choose one of the arbitrators, the Minister of Railways would choose another, and in case these two could not agree, the Minister of Labour would choose the third. So that the government would have the choice of two of the arbitrators and the men would only have the choice of one.

I do not intend to press the Bill to a final reading to-night. My hon. friend has already brought this point to my attention, and I think there is something in it. It would be quite right, in the case of the Intercolonial, to give the appointing of the third arbitrator to an outside tribunal, in case the two others could not agree, but as I do not intend to press the Bill to its third reading, my hon. friend will have an opportunity to make any suggestion at the final stage of the Bill, and have it amended to meet the difficulty he mentions.

Mr. LOGAN.

This objection has been raised by the men on the Intercolonial Railway, and I have written to the principle officers of the union, making certain suggestions. I have suggested that the third arbitrator should be chosen by the Chief Justice of the province or the Governor in Council of the province, but I have not yet received any intimation from the union as to which they would prefer, or any suggestion as to what else they desire shall be done.

Mr. INGRAM.

As this Bill has been read the second time this afternoon, I do not think that it is proper that we should proceed with it in committee.

If any hon. gentleman wishes, I shall not press it. I thought that .the House was anxious to put it through committee.

Mr. INGRAM.

In view of the discussion on the Bill, hon. members on both sides may receive certain suggestions that might improve it, and as it is a government measure, a delay of a couple of days would not interfere with its passing.

Progress reported.