Mr. SPEAKER.

I have the honour to inform the House that I have received Mi. FOSTER.

a Message from the Senate, agreeing to the following Bills, without any amendment, viz.:-

Bill (No. 79) An Act respecting the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

Bill (No. 117) An Act for granting to His Majesty certains sums of money for the public service of the financial years ending respectively the 31st March, 1909, and the 31st March, 1910.

Mr. HENDERSON.

Mr. Speaker, I notice that in reading the announcements from the Senate you say that the Senate has passed the Supply Bill ' without any amendment.' I beg to ask the minister if they have any right to amend it, or why they say that?

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

We had better accept the situation.

Mr. HENDERSON.

I think the Senate is taking a little too much upon itself.

Mr. GEO. TAYLOR.

While we are waiting for the arrival of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod might I ask the hon. Minister of Labour (Mr. Lemieux) if he has received any late news from the west in reference to the coal strike? I see by the papers that there is a strike on in Alberta and British Columbia and I hear further rumours that it is likely to be settled. Perhaps the minister could give us some definite information.

Hon. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX (Minister of Labour).

Mr. Speaker, in answer to my hon. friend I may say that on the third of April, I received the following telegram:-

Hosmer Mines, B.C., April 3.

Agreement between scale committee representing United Mine Workers and Operators' Association was reached at Macleod. This agreement was submitted to locals for referendum and was carried by majority of over 200 votes. Upon meeting at Macleod to execute agreement Sherman, president district 18, refused to sign agreement. Believe Indianapolis officials will instruct officials dis-tiict 18 to sign agreement as made at Macleod and will insist upon its execution.

(Sgd.) LEWIS STOCKETT.

Since the arrival of this telegram I have received another stating that the officials of the International Union had accepted the agreement and had urged all the miners to abide by that agreement. I regret that I have not this telegram in my possession just now. It is at my office, but from what I learned this morning I believe that by the end of this week all the mines will be in operation. From what 1 understand there is only one man in Canada objecting to the agreement. All the miners have accepted the agreement reached at Macleod.

4:21

Mr. SPROTJLE.

I think it would satisfy the curiosity of a good many people if the hon. Minister of Labour (Mr. Lemieux) could give the House any information regarding the whereabouts of the prospective Minister of Labour. The Minister might tell us whether he has been taken possession of by the Mikado or in what part of the habitable world he is resident at the present time, and, if ever, when he is likely to return.

Mr. HUGHES.

Was he sent away to get rid of him?

Mr. LEMIEUX.

I do not know to whom my hon. friend refers when he speaks of the prospective Minister of Labour. Probably he refers to some rumours in the papers that Mr. Mackenzie King might be Minister of Labour. That is only a rumour. My hon. friend wishes to know where that hon. gentleman is. Mr. Mackenzie King has attended the sittings of the International Commission appointed to look into the question of the suppression of the opium trade. I understand that the sittings of the commission are at an end and that Mr. Mackenzie King is presently in Pekin. He will sail for Canada very soon now and he will probably report to the House the result of his mission. From the information that we have in the department the mission has been highly successful, and there is every hope that the trade will be regulated in such a way that within a few years it will be completely suppresed in the far east, thanks to the attitude taken by the British authorities who are leading in that very efficient movement. I must say that Mr. King had rather an easy mission so far as Canada is concerned, because, as my hon. friend is aware, last year parliament passed legislation to suppress that trade. A few months were given to the traders of British Columbia to get rid of what opium they had in stock. That time having elapsed a few days ago, Canada is to-day probably the first country on the continent in which the opium trade is completely suppressed except for medicinal purposes.

Mr. SPROULE.

The minister has not yet told us the whereabouts of that gentleman

and as opium has a narcotic influence we may assume that Mr. McKenzie King is asleep somewhere.

Mr. LEMIEUX.

My hon. friend is aware that Mr. Mackenzie King is never asleep, as he proved during last election.

Mr. HUGHES'. What percentage of the mine owners and mine workers in British Columbia are British subjects owing allegiance to the British flag?

Mr. LEMIEUX.

If the hon. gentleman will put that question on the Order Paper I will be glad to get a formal answer for him. There is something in the point that the trouble we have experienced in the west has been caused by the large percentage of foreigners there.

Mr. HUGHES.

Sure.

Mr. FOSTER.

I have received communications from certain associations in Toronto with reference to the old fort on the Garrison Common property, and I have not yet been able to place them formally before the House. These gentlemen fear that the street railway may be allowed to pass through the grounds and they have the idea that the government is now assenting to the transfer of the old fort property _ to the city without insisting on the condition that it shall not be used for other than park or exhibition purposes. I would ask the Minister of Finance if he would bring this matter to the attention of the Prime Minister, so that in the meantime, until I can present these petitions in a formal way, the government may do nothing which would lead to the result which these gentlemen fear.

Mr. FIELDING.

I am not familiar with the case but I shall be very glad to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to it.