Mr. R. S. LAKE (Qu'Appelle).

Mr. Speaker, before the Orders of the Day are called, I rise to a question of privilege to call attention to a [DOT]misrepresentation of my remarks of last Thursday evening, which appeared in the * Globe ' newspaper on the 31st of March. I spoke at such a late hour that I can readily understand that some mistakes might have crept in, and I am quite sure the representatives of that paper will be very glad to make the correction. In the ' Globe ' report I am credited with having said that I approved of the teaching of religious doctrine in the schools, although I regretted the opportunity was not always availed of. My actual remarks were ' that doctrine and dogma should be kept to the church and to the home.' The report went on to say :

Although many Catholics sent their children to the public schools, many desired to have separate schools.

I did not express any such opinion in the remarks I made.

Mr. HAGGART.

When that Bill was before the Railway Committee, there was an understanding that the Minister of Railways was to make a statement with reference to It.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

It is the intention of the government to introduce a Bill to secure to the Intercolonial Railway running rights over the Canada Atlantic. We thought it preferable- not to do it while amending this Bill, but to introduce legislation for that specific purpose.

Mr. W. F. MACLEAN.

Should not the two propositions be before the House at the same time ?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I think not. I said that the government would consider the matter, and had come to the conclusion to bring down a separate Act for the purpose of giving the Intercolonial Railway running rights over the Canada Atlantic. We thought it better to do it this way than by an amendment to this Bill.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I should think it would be very proper for the House to be made acquainted with the terms and conditions upon which those running rights are to be granted before we proceed with the discussion of this Bill and the Bill following. Of course, the right hon. gentleman has made a very informal and not a very full announcement. What we were led" to expect from the Minister of Railways was something of a different nature, something which would give the House pretty definite information as to what the exact proposals of the government are in that regard, and I would think that it would be only right and proper, under the circumstances, that we should have the information before this Bill goes out of committee.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

Before the third reading ?

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

No ; before this Bill and the following one go out of committee. That is the course which has been observed on other occasions under similar conditions.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

What more definite statement does my hon. friend want ?

We would like exactly the terms and conditions and the arrangements, generally speaking.

Mr, W. F. MACLEAN. How are you to get on to' the Canada Atlantic from Montreal ? There are thirty miles from Montreal to the eastern terminal of the Canada Atlantic. How do you propose to connect them ? In the Railway Committee the Finance Minister promised that an explanation would be given in that committee. It was not forthcoming there, but we were promised it in this House.

Mr. E. M. MACDONALD.

I would like to point out to my hon. friend from South York that he is hardly accurate when he says there was to have been a statement made by the Minister of Railways before the Railway Committee.

Mr. W. F. MACLEAN.

The Finance Minister promised one.

Mr. FIELDING.

I have no recollection of discussing the question at all.

Mr. W. F. MACLEAN.

According to my recollection, we had that assurance from the hon. minister.

Mr. FIELDING.

I did not speak on it at all.

Mr. W. F. MACLEAN.

I asked the Minister of Finance for a statement, and he said that before the Ball went through the committee it would be given. Of course, I am very glad to accept his statement ; but I am under the impression that we had that promise in the Railway Committee and also in the House.