Mr. MONK.

I suppose this will apply to Wednesday next and I thought I had understood from the right hon. the Prime Minister that the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper might be gone on with on Wednesday next, Monday being allotted to the motion of my hon. friend from Westmoreland (Mr. Emmerson), I would ask that the order take effect only after next Wednesday.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

If the motion of my hon. friend (Mr. Monk) is not reached on Monday next, it will no doubt be reached the following Monday and that ought to be satisfactory.

I beg to move for the hon. the Minister of Marine and Fisheries: that on Tuesday next the House go into Committee of the Whole to consider the following proposed resolution. I beg to inform the House that His Excellency the Governor General assents to the resolution:

Resolved, That it is expedient to authorize the Governor in Council to enter into a contract or contracts for a term not exceeding ten years with any individual or company, for the performance of a steamship service between a port or ports in Canada and a French port or ports, on such terms and conditions as the Governor in Council deems expedient, and to grant therefor a subsidy not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars a year, based upon a minimum service of fifteen round voyages a year, and a subsidy therefor not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, and so in proportion for a more frequent service.

Motion agreed to 64

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I would ask the Prime Minister, in the absence of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, whether any and what progress has been made in the negotiations which at one time were being carried on between the government of Canada and the provincial governments with regard to the respective jurisdictions of this government and the provincial governments over the fisheries. The Prime Minister will recollect that we had an intimation from the government last session that a certain officer was named to us as having been commissioned for the purpose of visiting the various provinces and consulting with the Ministers so as to arrange, if possible, some effective plan by which the work would be carried on by the several provincial governments or the federal government without let or hindrance and without any doubt as to jurisdiction. I made inquiry early in the session in regard to it and did not receive much information. If the Prime Minister is not able to answer to-day would he be good enough to communicate with the Minister of Marine and Fisheries and let me know as soon as possible?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I am afraid I cannot give as full information as the Minister would be able to give were he present. I understand that Mr. Bastedo was appointed last vear to confer with the provincial governments with, a view of obtaining, if possible, a basis for a settlement. Mr. Bastedo was engaged in that work when he was called upon to serve in the Trade and Commerce Department in connection with the annuities law. Some few weeks ago several of the provincial governments were represented in Ottawa on a matter which was not directly concerned with this question, but I understand that at the conference it was to some extent discussed. It is the intention of the minister to resume the discussion, but further than this I cannot say.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I notice that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries has now entered the House; would he be good enough to look in ' Hansard ' at the question I have put to-day so that he may be able to answer it on Monday?

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

Is there any information available as to when the waterways treaty will be laid upon the table of the House?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

We have just received a despatch on this subject which I will be glad to lay on the table 6f the House on Monday or Tuesday next.