1. In the year 1902, three veterinary inspectors were employed. In 1903-4, the number was increased to 5, while at the present time, 4 officers are engaged in dealing with animal diseases in West Kent and adjoining territory.

2. In 1902 the only resident officer was Dr. J. Kime, jr., V.S., of Chatham, but in Ibe latter part of the year, owing to an extensive outbreak of hog cholera, it became necessary to transfer to the district, Dr. M. B. Perdue, V.S., formerly of Kingsville, Dr. G. W. Orchard, V.S., of Windsor, and Dr. J. H. Tennent, V.S., of London.

In 1903 the officers engaged in the work were Drs. Perdue, Orchard, Kime, and for a short time, Drs. Hopkins and Whyte of Ottawa. Towards the end of the year, Dr. W. B. Rowe of Blenheim, and Dr. M. Philips of Chatham were also engaged.

In 1904, Drs. Perdue, Orchard, Philips, Kime and Rowe looked after the work without outside assistance. Dr. Orchard has recently been removed, and the staff at present consists of Drs. Perdue, Kime, Rowe and Philips.

3. 1902. Dr. Perdue, 8 months at $75, 4 months at $100. Dr. Kime, $650. Dr. Orchard, $500 p. a.

1903. Dr. Perdue, $1,200 p.a. Dr. Kime, $250 p. a. Dr. Orchard, 3 months at $500, 9 months at $1,000. Dr. Rowe, 3 months at $250 p. a. Dr. Philips, 1 month at $600 p. a.

1904. Dr. Perdue, 3 months at $1,200, 9 months at $1,400. Dr. Kime, $250 p. a. Dr. Orchard, $1,000 p. a. Dr. Rowe, $250 p. a. Dr. Philips, 6 months at $600, 6 months at $800.

Present staff : Dr. Perdue, $1,400 p. a. Dr. Kime, $250 p. a. Dr. Rowe, $250 p. a. Dr. Philips, $800 p. a.

Drs. Tennent and Whyte, both permanent officers of the department, were in receipt of salaries of $1,200 p. a.

Drs. Kime and Rowe, being resident practitioners, are paid $250 per annum, with an allowance of $5 per day for each day above fifty, in which they are employed by the department in any one year.

4. The policy of the department* is to maintain within the quarantined area a sufficient number of officials to deal in an effective manner with outbreaks of disease.

5. Although the disease has abated to a considerable extent, the outbreak is by no means at an end, fresh cases still being reported, though not to so large an extent as formerly. The district is still under quarantine, and all hogs are inspected and passed,

under permit, by one of our inspectors before being allowed to leave the infected area. The inspectors also deal with outbreaks of ether contagious disease in animals.

There are also a large number of farms still under quarantine, the necessary cleansing and disinfection not having been yet completed.

All the inspectors at present employed in West Kent are allowed their actual travelling expenses.

Mr. FOSTER.

In reference to that question which the right hon. Prime Minister has answered does he know just at present whether such lands on sale at ?3 per acre are open to all applicants who are settlers or all who are applicants ?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

No, except where it would be a special hardship to refuse an application.

Mr. FOSTER.

Such have to come before the minister to determine whether it is a case of that kind or not ?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I do not know that.

Mr. LENNOX asked :

Does the government propose at the present session to introduce legislation with a view to secure ,the harmonious and more efficient and satisfactory working of the Audit Office and the Treasury Board ?

Hon. W. S. FIELDING (Minister of Finance).

The government are not aware that there is any inefficiency in the administration of the Department of the Auditor General of the character indicated in this question, and we hope it will not be necessary to introduce legislation to correct such a class of inefficiency. However, the whole Mr. FISHER.

matter may still be held to be under consideration.

Mr. U. WILSON (Lennox).

Mr. Speaker, before the Orders of the Day are called I would like to call the attention of the government to a paragraph that appeared in yesterday's ' Citizen ' to the following effect:

Admiral Freemantl^ presided at a meeting at which was placed before the Southwark ratepayers Mrs. Gloses' scheme for the emigration of pauper children to Nova Scotia. It was explained that the Canadian government, Lord Minto and the Duke of Argyle all favour the scheme, which furthermore would he a great pecuniary saving to the ratepayers.

I may say that there has been a good deal iu the papers about the kind of immigrants who are coming to the cities and town of this country. Some of the benevolent associations have been taxed to their full capacity and a little more to provide for them during the winter, and I hope there is nothing in this paragraph because I do not think this would be a desirable kind of immigration for us to bring to Canada.

Would the hon. gentleman send me the information that he has and I will give him an answer to-morrow ?

Mr. U. WILSON.

I may say that I sent the right hon. gentleman yesterday a notice of this matter and I inclosed a clipping from the ' Citizen.'

^Sir WILFRID LAURIER. My hon. friend told me that he was going to bring the matter up on going into Committee of Supply. The House will be going into Committee of Supply shortly.

Mr. U. WILSON.

I saw the ex-Minister of the Interior (Mr. Sifton) outside afterwards and he said he would inform the right hon. First Minister and that he would much prefer that the matter be brought on the Orders of the Day saying that he himself would answer it.