Bill (No. 182) for the relief of Hattie Spratte.-Mr. Ralph Smith.
Mr. F. D. MONK (Jacques Cartier).
I would like now to present the motion of which I gave notice a day or so ago regarding the fourth report of the committee appointed to supervise the official reports of the debates of the House.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER.
Would my hon. friend permit me-I have received a communication from Mr. Gervais, chairman of the committee, in which he asks that this report be not taken up in his absence. I would ask my hon. friend to let the matter stand until Tuesday next when Mr. Gervais will be present.
Mr. MONK.
As that report was adopted on the 20th of May it might be acted upon and that may be invoked as a reason against my motion. If I have the assurance of my right hon. friend that the delay will not be invoked against the motion which I am about to make I have no objection.
Sir WILFRID LATJRIER.
I am informed that action has been assumed upon that report.
Mr. JOHNSTON moved that the third report of the committee on Public Accounts be concurred in.
Mr. SPEAKER.
In all these cases there must be appended to the motion a clause asking that the rule be suspended. We had a discussion on that matter a little while ago and this course was recommended.
Motion amended and agreed to.
Last report of the International Waterways Commission-Soulanges Canal.-Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
Mr. MONK.
Will the Minister of Railways and Canals be good enough to lay upon the table of the House the report made by Mr. Boyer upon matters concerning the Soulanges Canal. It is absolutely necessary we should have that report before the estimates for that department are gone into.
Hon. G. P. GRAHAM (Minister of Railways and Canals).
That report has been received but I have not had an opportunity to act on it as yet. It would hardly be wise to place the report on the table before I have had a chance to digest it and take action on it. I expect in a very few days to be able to lay it on the table.
Mr. MONK.
It is necessary that we should wait for that report until the department takes action upon it. The matter is a serious one, and have we not the right before going into the estimates to see what the commissioner has reported as to the state of affairs existing upon the canal ?
Mr. GRAHAM.
Before we get through with the estimates there will be no trouble about it. I think my hon. friend will agree that it would be unwise to discuss these reports in public before the department decides what action it will take.
ORDER IN COUNCIL re IMMIGRATION.
Mr. LENNOX.
When will the order in council regulating immigration into western
Canada passed in pursuance of the statute of this session, be laid on the table of the House ?
Hon. FRANK OLIVER (Minister of the Interior).
I think I will be able to lay it on the table of the House as soon as the estimates are taken up.
Mr. LENNOX.
This is a matter of urgency and importance and there has been already a great deal of delay. I ask that it be laid on the table of the House at once.