Sir WILFRID LAURIER moved:

That the committee ordered by this House on the subject of proportional representation be composed of Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King, and Messrs. Monk, Turcotte (Quebec County), Burrell, Magrath, Wilson (Laval), and Kyte.

Mr. SPROULE.

Explain.

Mr. FISHER.

This is a Bill which has been handed to me by the Minister of Trade and Commerce as it comes under his administration. It involves an amendment by which the words 'no cargo' and 'cargo or cargoes' are struck out. The effect of this is to provide that the weighing of cargoes shall not be continued. They have found it impracticable after a year or two of trial and they desire it to cease. The second clause in the Bill is simply to give representation to Alberta and Saskatchewan upon the grain survey, board. The third clause is to correct a mistake by which this Act was put under the control . and administration of the Department of Trade and Commerce instead of the Department of Inland Revenue. The last clause defines the weight of a barrel of potatoes when potatoes are sold by the barrel.

LENNOX (South Simcoe) moved' for leave to introduce Bill (No. 41) to amend the Criminal Code.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

Explain, please. .

Mr. LENNOX.

Briefly, this Bill is intended to protect the owners of copyrights. It has been frequently said in this House and in Canada that our copyright law is defective, but it will be sufficient for me to say that last session, when the Minister of Justice was amending the Criminal Code, I presented an amendment in the form that the Bill now takes. The Minister of Justice took time to, consider the matter and the Minister of Agriculture who was also interested was in the House. The amendment passed this House unanimously but it was rejected with other amendments re musical compositions by the Minister of Justice by the Senate. I, therefore, beg leave to introduce this amendment to the law.

Mr. FISHER.

Is this amendment with regard to copyright in music?

Mr. LENNOX.

No, the amendment with reference to music was introduced by the Minister of Justice. The amendment I propose is to protect the owners of dramatic copyrights.

1. Are the two water lots on the St. Charles river situate in front cadastral lots Nos. 582A and 583B, of the parish of St. Roch, in the county of Quebec, the property of the Quebec Harbour Commissioners, under the statutes governing that body?

2. Have the said two water lots above described, been sold by the Quebec government

to private individuals within the past four years? If so, to what persons have the said lots been sold, and for what price?

3. Who are to-day the registered owners of said two water lots, and in what proportion for each person?

4. What is the superficial area of said water lots, in arpents and in foot measure?

5. Has the conveyance of said water lots been ratified by the Governor General in Council pursuant to paragraph 2 of article 20 of chapter 34, of 62-63 Victoria?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

Stand.

Mr. MONK.

This question was put on the 12th November. One of the questions could have been answered on that very day. I was told that the question had been referred to Quebec for information on the 12th. It seems to me that the delay is unduly long unless a messenger has been sent down to Quebec on foot to get the information.