Report of the Department of the Interior for the year ended March 31, 1908.-Mr. Oliver.
On the orders of the day being called: _ Mr. CROSBY. I beg to ask the hon. Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Mr. Brodeur) if it is not a fact that all the fishing districts in the county of Halifax are without the blank form required to be filled up in making application for the fishing bounty for last year, that the money should have been paid before this?
Mr. BRODEUR.
I do not know anything about the matter, but I will inquire from the officers of the department and inform my hon. friend.
Mr. R. L. BORDEN.
If the minister should find that there has been delay, such as my hon. friend from Halifax has mentioned, would he be good enough to inform him as to what is the cause of the delay?
Mr. BRODEUR.
Yes.
Mr. R. L. BORDEN.
These blanks should have been filled in between April and August last but they have not yet been supplied and information is desired as to the cause of the delay?
Mr. BRODEUR.
I will get the information and give it to my hon. friend.
Mr. SCHAFFNER.
I would like to ask the hon. Minister of Railways and Canals (Mr. Graham) if the report in the western papers is true to the effect that the Board of Railway Commissioners has issued an order forbidding railways, during winter, to remove planks from the public highways at crossings ?
Mr. GRAHAM.
I have heard nothing whatever about it.
Mr. SCHAFFNER.
It is reported in the Winnipeg newspapers.
Mr. PERLEY.
I would like to ask the right hon. the leader of the government (Sir Wilfrid Laurier) whether they intend to bring in an Insurance Bill this session, and if so, when; as I think it is very necessary that we should know as quickly as possible.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER.
It is expected that my hon. friend the Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) will be here in a few days and then perhaps I will be able to answer the question of my hon. friend.
Mr. FOSTER.
May I ask if the Civil Service Commission have presented their report yet, as required by the Act ?
Mr. FISHER.
That report does not come down until the end of the fiscal year, and the report of the commission as to their operations this year will not be due until next session.
Mr. FOSTER.
It seems that, having been appointed on the 1st September, 1908, they ought to give their report as required by the Act.