Report of the Commission of Conservation upon the Trent Watershed Survey.- Mr. Borden.
Hon. W. J. ROCHE (Minister of the Interior) moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 114, to amend the Indian Act. He said: The object of this Bill is to amend the Indian Act in several particulars. At the present time Indian children can only be sent to industrial schools. We wish to amend .the Act to give us authority to declare a school an industrial school in provinces where there are no industrial schools. Another amendment is in reference to securing sites for schools and enlarging the present sites. There has been some difficulty in the past in securing sites and in enlarging the present grounds. This amendment will give us power to secure a certain portion of the reserves for school sites, and will decide how compensation shall be made. Another amendment provides for the administration of the estates of deceased Indians. It extends the Act's application to cases where no widow or minor children are left. We are also amending the Act of 1911, which gave the -Government power to expropriate Indian reserves adjacent to towns of 8,000 population or over, when such lands were required -for public purposes, and the Indians Tefused to surrender them. These cases are disposed of by the Exchequer -Court. This amendment extends the application of that Act to lands which are not necessarily adjacent to a town of 8,000 population. Another amendment is in reference to sanitary regulations on the reserves, to prevent outbreaks of contagious and infectious diseases. Another amendment is to prevent Indians selling immature thoroughbred cattle supplied to them by the department. At present some of the Indians sell these animals without the knowledge of the Indian agent. The purchasers, however, are liable to have the animals confiscated.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER:
They cannot sell without the consent of the agent?
Mr. ROCHE:
They do sell without the consent of the agent, and this is to make selling prohibitive except with the agent's consent. Another amendment is to prevent the participation of Indians in dances or stampedes outside their own reserve without the consent of the Indian agent. This privilege has been abused in the past, and we find it advisable to restrict it. The last amendment is in reference to a half-breed withdrawing from a treaty. At present a separate application is required for a wife to withdraw, but under this amendment the wife withdraws without separate application.
Motion agreed -to, and Bill read the first time.
(Questions answered orally are indicated by an asterisk.)
1. Was there a Trent canal investigation held in 1912?
2. If so, by whom?
3. If a report was made, will the acting Minister of Railways and Canals lay a copy of the said report on the table of the House?
1. No general investigation. Charges of political partisanship -against Overseer Sam. Clegg and Storekeeper Frank Fairen were investigated.
2. W. H. Moore, Peterborough, Ont.
3. No report was made. The evidence, however, was -submitted -to the minister, but no action was taken. Copy of the evidence will be laid on the table.
1. Are the shops being erected by the Transcontinental Railway Commission at Quebec, located on the line of the National Transcontinental railway?
2. If not, on what line or lines of railway are they located, and at what distance from the National Transcontinental railway?
1. Yes, when completed.
2. Answered by No. I.
1. Who has the contract for carrying mails from Shubenacadie to Deans, Musquodoboit?
2. When was this contract let?
3. When did it expire?
4. Was it renewed or extended and when?
5. Was it advertised for tender? If not, why not?
6. If renewed or extended without tender, was it at an advanced price, and how much increase and why was increased price paid?
7. At whose request was it renewed and
advanced?
8. Who recommended the renewal and
advance?
Mr. PELLETIER:
The contract of
Thomas Cox at $1,100 per annum expired on 31st December, 1913. The post office inspector at 'Halifax reported that a railway is in course of construction which will, when *completed in a few months, take the place of this service. It became necessary, therefore, to make a temporary arrangement from 1st January, 1914, instead of a permanent contract for four years. The inspector reported the best arrangement he was able to make was with Thomas Cox, the former contractor, at $1,800 per annum, and as this price was considered fair for a temporary service of seventy-two miles per day, the action of the inspector was approved of by the department.
1. Who is the postmaster at Lumley post office, Ontario?
2. How many families are served by the Lumley post office?
3. Is it situated on any rural mail delivery route?
4. How many offices have been closed lately on said route?
1. Miss Ellen Horton.
2. Three families. All others previously served by that office now accommodated by rural mail delivery. Instructions are being issued to close this office.
,3. Yes, Hensall rural route No. 1.
4. One, viz, Hurondale post office.