Mr. E. F. CLARKE.

The Postmaster General (Sir William Mulock) was good enough to inform us yesterday that he would make a statement to-day respecting the bringing down of some further correspondence in relation to questions between the Association of Engineers and the government as to the employment of aliens. Is the hon. gentleman prepared to make that statement to the House ?

I do not know if the hon. gentleman quite appreciates what I said. The hon. gentleman intimated yesterday that all the correspondence had not been brought down, and I stated that I would make inquiry upon that point and inform the House. I have made that inquiry, and I find that the Department of Labour, over which I preside, made a return which included all the correspondence that was available, but that there may have been some, I think two or three letters, that had been forwarded to the 'Department of Railways and Canals. My deputy informs me that he understood the Department of Railways and Canals was also in possession of some correspondence. There has been some correspondence, one or two letters since. There was an order made yesterday, and my department is now collecting everything that has not been brought down since the last return, and I suppose that in a day or two that return will be made.

Mr. CLARKE.

Will the Department of Railways and Canals bring down the correspondence it has V

Sir WILLIAM MULOCK.

We ought to have it all grouped together in one department, I presume. I will endeavour to have it all' included in one return.

Before the Orders of the Day are

called, X beg to say that, as I stated to the House yesterday, that some further papers would be brought down with respect to the removal of Lord Dundonald, these papers will be brought down before the close of the present sitting of the House.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

X, presume they will include all that I have asked for ?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

Yes.

Mr. URIAH WILSON.

Before the Orders of the Day are called, I would like to ask the Postmaster General (Sir William Mulock) if he is ready to give me an answer in reference to the letter I spoke to him aoout yesterday 7

Hon. Sir WILLIAM MULOCK i(Postmas-ter General). The hon. gentleman yesterday inquired whether I had received certain letters from a certain named person in connection with a certain matter, and I told him I would make inquiry upon the subject and make a statement to the House. This inquiry has reference to an order of the House made for a return of the correspondence upon a certain subject. The department has made a return in compliance with the order of the House, and every paper that is properly produceable before this House under that order has been produced.

I do not think it would be proper for me to give categorical answers as to whether I have or have not received certain correspondence. If that correspondence is of a public nature it belongs to the public, if the correspondence is of a private nature no person has a right to inquire whether such correspondence has been received.

Mr. WILSON.

I may be allowed to say to the Postmaster General that I have obtain from Mr. Prest permission authorizing the Postmaster General to remove the word ' private ' from that correspondence. I wrote a note to the Postmaster General asking if he would be good enough to give me a copy of the letter. I have also information that Mr. Walker wrote -three -letters, and none of these letters were private.

Mr. A. G. BELL.

Before the Orders of the Day are called, as I see that the Minister- of Marine and Fisheries (Mr. Prefontaine) is in his place, I wish to ask him if he has received any communication from the fisher men asking for an extension of time for the taking of lobsters on the coast east of Halifax ? I understand that the fishermen have not been doing much this season. I have some correspondence myself upon the subject, and I would like to know what information the minister can afford us upon it.

Hon. RAYMOND PREFONTAINE (Minister of Marine and Fisheries).

I have re ceived several requests for an extension of Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

the time of the fishing season, and the government are considering that matter at the present time.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I do not know what progress has -been made in the preparation of the documents which -were to be brought down in connection with the arbitration respecting the Alaska boundary. A few months ago the Prime Minister informed us that these documents would all be brought down, and I then suggested that they be brought down in such a way that we could readily understand what the proceedings were, and what the issues had been before the commission, in order that we might be able thoroughly to appreciate the whole question. It seems to me that the papers might have -been brought -down and printed within the period that has since elapsed. There may be reasons for the delay that I do not know and which have not occurred to me. But in the ordinary course, the period of a few months would seem to have been sufficient for the preparation of the return. The government are now proposing to take every day as a government day, and therefore we are not in a position to put any motion upon the order paper in regard to that matter if we desired to do so. I would therefore suggest -that the Prime Minister should expedite this matter as much as possible. Perhaps he would now inform us when we may expect it ?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

Not later than next week, probably the middle of the week.