Mr. SINCLAIR:

I do not regard it as important. I have no doubt at all that the minister will make the necessary investigation, and that everything will be done

carefully and in order. I have every confidence in the minister and the department that this matter wall be attended to as he states it will be. This measure is now practically a Government measure, and the minister, of course, takes the responsibility in regard to it.

The point that I wish to impress upon the House is that the House has functions in regard to these matters as well as the Department of Finance, and that it cannot discharge its functions by passing them over to the department. It is well understand that the functions of the Department of Finance are administrative and that the functions of the House are legislative. It is the duty of the Department of Finance to issue a license to a company when it complies with the terms of the charter granted by this House. If the House chooses to grant a charter to a company to do insurance business in Canada with a capital of $5,000, and if the company comes next day knocking at the door of the Department of Finance with the charter, complying with the terms of it and furnishing the $5,000 capital, or the proof of it, it is the duty of the department to issue the license, notwithstanding that the minister may be of the opinion that the company ought to have at least $100,000 capital. Therefore it is important that the House in all these matters should provide clearly and distinctly what is required because, as to what is required, the Department of Finance will carry out the mandate of the House. It is especially important, when we remember the unfortunate incident which took place recently in regard to the Union Life and incidents of a similar nature. Therefore I hope the minister will see the point which I make, namely, that in all these charters that are granted it is proper and right that the House should be clear and distinct in regard to the conditions on which they shall be granted.

Mr. A. K. MACLEAN:

Do I understand the minister to say that the section in the Bill fixing the capital at $100,000 shall be construed by the department to mean that there must be assets over liabilities to that extent?

Mr. W. T. WHITE:

Yes.

1. An official of the Cana'dian Northern railway.

2. Shortly before the statement was made to the House, so far as the Prime Minister can recollect.

3. No.

1. On what date was C. Fred. Avard appointed to a position in the freight department of the Intercolonial railway at Sackville, N.B., at what rate of wages or salary, and to what position was he appointed?

2. On what date was the said C. Fred. Avard dismissed from the Intercolonial railway service, and what position did he hold when dismissed?

3. What was the salary or wages being paid him at the time of his dismissal, and was he the senior freight porter at the Sackville freight shed at the time of his dismissal?

4. Under the schedule which came into effect

on June 1, 1911, did it grant the following scale of wages: Senior freight porters $1-80

per day ; junior freight porters $1.50 per day; second year $1.70 per day; junior freight

porters third and subsequent years $1.75 per day?

5. How long was the said C. Fred. Avard in the railway service as senior freight porter at Sackville, and what was the rate of wages paid him after June 1, 1911?

6. For what cause was the said C. Fred. Avard dismissed, and upon whose recommendation was the dismissal made?

7. Was the said C. Fred. Avard senior freight porter at Sackville station on the first day of June, 1911, and since that date?

8. If not, who was and who has been since the dismissal of the .said C. Fred. Avard, and what rate of wages were paid him since his appointment?

1. April 17, 1903; $1.20 per day; occupation, porter.

2. January 31, 1914; senior porter.

3. $2 per day; 63 years of age; senior in the service.

4. Yes, for sheds where porters are numerous enough to be classified.

5. Classified as senior porter nine months, from April 1, 1913, to January 21, 1914. $1.70 per day, June 1, 1911, to March 21, 1913; $1.90 per day, March 21, 1913, to April 1, 1913; $2 per day, April 1, 1913, to January 31, 1914.

6. Incapable of performing duties satisfactorily, on account of being too old.

7. No, but he was so classified from April 1, 1913, to January 31, 1914.

8. No one. Claude Estabrooks, at $2.

1. Referring to the statement made by the Minister of Finance, in 'Hansard' 1912-13, page 11713, in the following words: 'It is estimated that by the summer of next year, if the same conditions prevail as have prevailed as to labour, the Canadian Northern Railway Company will be running trains across the continent from Quebec to the Pacific coast;' who made the estimate referred to?

2. Was the said estimate made in writing?

3. Was the estimate communicated to the Government? If so, by whom and on what date?

1. Officials of the Canadian Northern Railway Company. In the annual report to the shareholders of the company at the annual general meeting of October 23, 1912, it was statekl that it was hoped the transcontinental line of the Canadian Northern railway system would be completed by the end of 1913.

2. No.

3. Yes, during the session of 1912-13, but upon what date and by whom the minister does not recall.