1. Is the government aware that in the newspaper ' Le Devoir,' on the 30th January last an article appeared which reads partly as follows:-

' Mr. Lemieux.and the Dismissals.

' Editor of ' Le Devoir.'

' Dear Sir,-In reply to the defiance of Hon. Mr. Le-mieux to produce the names of ten employees that were dismissed in 1896, you will 6nd inclosed a list of the names of those

who were dismissed on the 30tli Deeemher, 1896, by the Laurier government, of which Hon. Mr. Lemieux was then one of the most zealous friends, although simple member for Gaspe.

' On the 30th December, 1896, these brave fathers of families were, on the eve of New Year's Day, cast out on the street, . . . and one of the number was my poor father. Hence it is that I speak whereof I know. They were sent off without any reason whatsoever, unless it be that they were Blues, and that the Rouges governed.

' Now, Mr. Editor, Mr. Lemieux rages against Mr. Monk, asserting that he has dismissed hundreds of brave fathers of families. How comes it that, even as I write, in the county that the hon. Minister of Public Works represents, at Lachine, no dismissals have yet been made? The Liberals of Lachiile who may be dismissed have only to thank Hon. Mr. Lemieux. . . Learn, Mr. ex-minister, that in vain you shout, ... it will have no effect. We know the love for the French-Canadian that Mr. Monk has, and you. . . will never make us forget the one who has ever been devoted to us.

'You have asked for ten names; read now the following list and remember as you count them that these dismissals were only on the Lachine canal, at the Lachine locks. On the 30th December, 1898. were dismissed: Adolphe Leblanc, lockman, Lachine; Alex. Carignan, lockman, Lachine; Ephron Picard, boom guardian, Lachine; J. B. St. Aubin, lockman, iachine; Alex. Clement, lockman, Lachine; Camille Cousineau, bridge keeper, Lachine; Damase Chartrand, bridge keeper, Lachine; Oscar Belanger, lockman, Lachine; James Teiirney, lockman, Lachine; Edouard Lauzon, fockman, Lachine; Urgel Yiau, lockman, La-ehine; Theo. Davis, lockman, Lachine; Roderick Hogan, lockman, Lachine, Alexander Snider, lockman, Lachine.

' And I will add that two years later they found a way to superannuate Messrs. J. B. Deschamps, canal collector, and Louis Pare, each with a small pension not sufficient for livelihood, happily they had some savings.

' Amongst the dismissed was Mr. Damase Chartrand, who had had the misfortune of losing a leg through an accident at the locks during the summer of 1896. The Conservative government had made him a bridge keeper, in order to let him have easy work. With the others, on the 31st December, he received, mercilessly, his dismissal. Is this enough, Mr. ex-minister? You asked for ten names; count them well. . .

' Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for your kindness, I remain, &c.,

'RAOUL CARIGNAN, Lachine, son of one of the dismissed.

2. If so, does the government intend to take steps to find out the truth concerning these statements ? .

1. The attention of the Minister of Public Works has been called to the article in question.

2. The accuracy of the statement contained in this article can easily be verified on reference to the records of the Department of Railways and Canals.

1. Who was the postmaster of Scotch village, Hants county, Nova Sootia, previous to 1903?

2. For what reason was there a change made in the postmaster of that place in that year ?

3. What is the name of the new postmaster appointed in 1903?

1. Jeremiah NoTthup.

2. The postmaster resigned.

3. Thomas E. Nelson.

1. Was Auguste Michaud, an employee of the Intercolonial railway at St. Elavie station, county of Rimouski, dismissed?

2. If so, on what grounds was he dismissed and at whose request?

3. Has an investigation been held in his

case ? .

1. Yes.

2. For offensive political partisanship, to the personal knowledge of Mr. H. Boulay, M.P., by whom the charge was laid.

3. Instructions were given, by the department on February 2, 1912, to C. E. Geliy, of Quebec, to hold an investigation.

1. How many fishing boats engaged in fishing in Canadian waters are equipped with gasolene engines?

2. What was the number of engines in nse in Canadian fishing boats each year for the five years ending December 31, 1911?

1. At the end of the fiscal year 1910-11 there were 4,588.

2. No figures are available for any year previous to 1910-11. The statistics for the present year are not yet complete

1. How much was expended during the last fiscal year by the Department of Marine and Fisheries in assisting in the transportation of fresh fish?

1. $48,141.97.