Mr. REID:

I think there is a general

amount that might start the work and get it under way. It was very important in the eyes of the general manager that the work be proceeded with at earliest possible moment, but I could not say in what position the matter is at the moment, not having discussed it for some timei. I shall take it up with a view of finding out at once what the situation is and shall let the hon. gentleman know.

Mr. MACDONALD:

There is lying in the harbour in my constituency one of the most important dredges of the department, the suction dredge, which has been operating in the East river for a number of years. Navigation has now been open for at least a month and a half and the dredge is lying there with a full crew, who are enjoying a pleasant vacation on the shore, doing nothing. The people in the district are wondering why this condition exists. Rumors are to the effect that the explanation given in some quarters is that the Estimates were not voted, but the minister must certainly know that we have been very generous with him in- regard to the voting of Estimates. That dredge ought to have been working for six weeks, there is no reason for delaying this important public work, and it is really a scandal that these men should be idle.

Mr. ROGERS:

It is true, there has been some delay in starting the dredge, but the dredging plan has been approved and all of the dredges -have received notice to get to work. The particular case to which my hon. friend refers was mentioned in the department the other day, and the reason given, I think, was that there were some repairs on this particular dredge that had not been completed; but I understand that everything is ready to go full steam ahead.

Mr. MACDONALD:

The men have been having a great holiday.

Mr. OLIVER:

I would like to call attention to the following question on the Order Paper:

1. What were the gross amounts of customs duties collected during the fiscal years of 1912-13 and 1913-14, on the articles affected

by the changes in the tariff proposed by the Minister of Finance in his Budget Speech this session?

2. What would such gross customs duties have amounted to had the tariff changes now proposed been in effect?

If this is the last day of the session there will be no possibility of the question being answered. It has heen there for some time, and I would like to ask if the question be turned into a motion for a return, and if the return, when made, could be forwarded to the hon. member (Mr. Knowles) asking the question.

Mr. J. D. REID:

It is impossible for us to give an answer to the second part of the question; it would only be an approximate statement, and I do not think we would feel justified in giving an answer in the way in which the question is put. I would have no objection to having the question turned into an order for a return provided the second part of the question were struck out.

Mr. OLIVER:

I would take the responsibility of asking the House to strike out the second part of the question if the first part could be considered as an order for a return, and if the minister would be good enough, after preparing the order, to forward the information to the hon. member asking the question.

Mr. REID:

Ves, if I can get the statement, and if you have no objection to striking out the second part of the question, I will be glad to do that.

Mr. SPEAKER:

This could not be regularly done unless you moved that questions be called.

Mr. REID:

I will try to get the information and forward it without an order being made.

Mr. BORDEN:

My hon. friend, the member for Pictou (Mr. Macdonald) moved to insert a clause providing for the representation of the province of Prince Edward Island in case the British North America Act should be so amended that the province would be entitled to four members instead of three.

The same proposition was mentioned to me by hon. members from Prince Edward Island a day or two ago, but at the time I was very much occupied, and neither then nor since have I had sufficient opportunity to give it the consideration it deserves. However, it has had their consideration, it has had the consideration of my hon. friend from Pictou, and I cannot see at present any reasonable objection to it. I would have preferred to submit it to the Deputy Minister of Justice, as it involves a constitutional question, but since my hon. friend from Pictou introduced it there has been no opportunity. I am inclined to accept it, and if there is time, to submit it to the Deputy Minister of Justice afterwards; and, if it should be found that there is any objection to it, it may be struck out in the Senate. I do not apprehend there will be any objection, and I therefore desire to accept the amendment. It is as follows:

Provided, that if the British North America Act, 1867, should be amended by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, in accordance with the address of both Houses of Parliament of Canada in that behalf, passed at the present session, immediately upon the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom amending the said British North America Act, 1867, in accordance with such address coming into force, there shall be in the province of Prince Edward Island three electoral districts defined as follows:

(1) The county of Kings shall form and constitute the electoral district of Kings and shall return one member.

(2) The county of Prince shall form and constitute the electoral district of Prince and shall return one member.

(3) The county of Queens shall form and constitute the electoral district of Queens and shall return two members.