Hon. G. P. GRAHAM.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to make clear a statement in the report presented to the House in reference to the estimate of the Hudson Bay railway project. Hon. gentlemen will have noticed that although the amount for elevators, docks, &c., appears in the items, it does not appear in the totals. In order to make it clear I wish to put the following statement upon 'Hansard':

*5208

HUDSON BAY RAILWAY SURVEYS. Churchill Route.

Railway construction $11,351,520

Railway shops and accessories.. .. 7,757,152

Port work 6,675,000

Nelson Route.

Figures are shown as $16,426,340 and should

read:-

Railway construction $ 8,981,800

Railway shops and accessories.. .. 7,444,540

Port work 5,065,000

Mr. MONK.

Is it the intention of the government to refer the Insurance Bill which is now being considered by the Senate to the Supreme Court in order to obtain a decision as to its constitutionality? There was a rumour to that effect when a judgment was rendered by Mr. Justice Leith at Montreal a couple of months ago in the case of King vs. Witlis, Fabre & Company to the effect that that legislation was unconstitutional. It seems that it would be an advantage to find out the opinion of the highest court on that subject before we go more fully into the study of the proposed Act.

Hon. A. B. AYLESWORTH.

Mr. Speaker, the interesting question to which the hon. member has called your attention is but one phase of a larger question as to the powers respectively of the Dominion parliament and of' the local legislatures in regard to the incorporation of companies. That question was not long since raised for the decision of the Supreme Court, and the members of that court differed among themselves very decidedly in the opinions they expressed. The question being of such large practical importance, communication was had from the department of which I am in charge with the Attorneys General of the various provinces with a view to arriving, if possible, at some means by which these difficult and very weighty questions of the construction of the British North America Act may be definitely settled. That correspondence has resulted in a proposition from several of the provinces that a conference on the subject be had between representatives of the provinces and representatives of the Dominion government and such a conference is being arranged for. Communications are now being addressed to the various lieutenant governors of the different provinces proposing a meeting of representatives of the provinces and of the Dominion government to discuss the -whole subject, not the mere question of in-Mr. GRAHAM.

surance legislation but the larger one as to the right to incorporate companies in the provinces and in the Dominion respectively.

Mr. BURRELL.

As the naval debate is to be resumed to-day I beg to call the attention of the Prime Minister to the following paragraph in the Toronto 'Globe' of February 4, referring to the Prime Minster's speech:

Its conclusion was marked by the inspiring spectacle of the whole House rising and singing the National Anthem.

The House knows that the inspiring spectacle referred to took place at the conclusion of the speech of my friend the leader of the opposition (Mr. R. L. Borden). I am not saying for one moment that this statement was sent out intentionally, but in view of the fact that it was given prominence not only in the recognized organization of the Liberal party but also in the Hamilton 'Times', the St. John 'Sun', the St. John 'Telegraph', the Halifax 'Chronicle', the Montreal 'Daily Herald', the Belleville 'Daily Ontario', the London 'Advertiser', the St. Thomas 'Journal' and the Winnipeg 'Free Press' and in view also of the fact that the Prime Minister was very severe last session on the immorality of false telegrams, I think I am voicing the sentiment of everybody on this side, and I am sure also of many on the other side, when I say we should be glad to have some little statement from the right hon. gentleman.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I do not understand what my hon. friend means. What have I to do with that?

Mr. CROSBY.

I find in the Ottawa Evening 'Citizen' of February 5, a statement made, at Hamilton, Ontario, on the 4th of February, to the Trades and Labour Council.

A letter was read from Hon. Mackenzie King, stating that he had not moved postponement of government action in regard to technical education, but the protest came from the opposition.

I want to ask the Minister of Labour (Mr. King) how that letter came to be put in that shape in view of what had taken place in that debate, and of the fact that he himself moved the adjournment of the debate on that occasion.

Mr. KING.

I have written no such letter. I should be pleased to lay before the House any letters I have sent to the Hamilton Trades and Labour Council. I take it that the hon. member (Mr. Crosby) is reading from a press report which does not

do justice to any communication I have sent.

Mr. CROSBY.

Is the report I have read wrong?

Mr. KING.

YTes.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I desire to point out to the government that by warrant under the Royal Sign Manual of the 13th day of July, 1907, His Majesty created a new medal to be entitled the Edward medal to be awarded for heroic acts performed by miners, quarrymen and others who endanger their own lives in endeavouring to save the lives of others from perils in mines and quarries. And, by a further warrant, under His Majesty's Royal Sign Manual, on date of 1st of December, 1909, it is provided that this medal shall be awarded to those who, in the course of industrial employment, endanger their own lives in endeavouring to save the lives of others from perils incurred in connection with such industrial employment. I would ask the government whether this medal can be awarded to those who perform acts of heroism in saving the lives of others who are engandered in connection with the work of the railways of this country? The reason why I ask is that a very notable act of heroism has been performed by a conductor of the Canadian Pacific railway, Conductor Thomas Reynolds, who, at the risk of his own life and with unexampled courage, succeeded in saving the lives of nine others who had been imprisoned in the dining car which fell into the river and through the ice in the recent accident on the Sault line. If this medal could be awarded in connection with such acts of heroism, I earnestly hope that the government will bring Mr. Reynolds' signal heroism to the attention of the imperial authorities.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I am sure that hon. members will agree that, if any are entitled to medals for heroism, Conductor Reynolds stands at the head of their number. There is a society which generally looks after these things, and calls the attention of the government to acts of heroism. As soon as we have received such recommendation, we shall be glad to call the matter to the attention of the proper authorities.

Mr. CROSBY.

On Friday last, I asked a question with reference to the line of Atlantic steamers running via Havre, calling at Halifax. The first minister promised me an answer on Monday. I desire to ask if he has that answer?

102 .

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I have the information for my hon. friend. I have to inform him that, under the contract with Messrs. H. & A. Allan for the Canada-France service, the call at Halifax or St. John is optional with the contractors. Recently, however, to meet the view of the Department of Trade and Commerce and the Halifax Board of Trade, the Allans advertised calls at that port on eastbound voyages for the remainder of the winter season in order to carry forward lobsters and such other export traffic as might offer. Such call, however, is contingent on there being something to carry. With reference to westbound voyages, the Allans claim there is little or no westbound freight offering for Halifax; but they state that should there be a reasonable amount of westbound freight offering to at least pay the cost of such a call, they will make a call at that port; but that at other times, should they have any freight for Halifax but not sufficient to warrant a call at that port, such Halifax freight will be forwarded from St. John without further charge.