Mr. KYTE (for Mr. Carroll) moved:

For a return showing the names of those who have enlisted for overseas service from South Cape Breton with their home addresses and the battalions with which they are connected.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

I have already explained that it would be useless to pass this motion, because it would involve the examination of 295,000 names in order to ascertain those of soldiers from a certain district. We have had other motions and questions on the Order Paper with regard to the same matter, having reference to other districts throughout the country. As my hon. friend will understand, the enormous labour involved in extracting information of that kind, renders it impossible to be undertaken at the present time. I suppose my hon. friend is not in a position to consent to the motion being dropped. In that case, it may stand.

Mr. KYTE:

I am altogether unfamiliar with the object which the hon. member for South Cape Breton (Mr. Carroll) had in regard to this motion. I accept the statement of the Prime Minister as to the difficulty of getting the information.

Motion stands.

Mr. LOGGIE:

I have received an important letter which I would like to read to the House in the public interest, and especially for the information of the Minister of Trade and Commerce. The letter is from one engaged in the lobster packing business, and the writer says:

In view of the possible embargo against shipments of canned lobsters and their importation into European countries, we are not at the moment anxious buyers for the coming season's pack. The uncertainty prevailing adds another difficulty to this year's business. The question of getting space for our goods in transatlantic

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steamers, high rates of freight prevailing, increased war risk charges, and the reduced rates of exchange prove a serious handicap to the business, and now this is further increased by the rumour that canned lobsters are likely to be considered among luxuries and therefore prohibited from Great Britain. Circulars from some of the English receivers have been received by many packers in these provinces during the past week. The fact that canned fruits are being classed as luxuries causes fear that canned lobsters because of their high price, will be so considered. We understand that the Department of Trade and Commerce is in communication with the Imperial authorities endeavouring to arrange so that all fish foods emanating from the colonies may not be discriminated against, but they are not yet in a position-so we are informed-to give us any satisfactory assurance on this point. You can readily see that if canned lobsters are prohibited from Great Britain, or if the steamship companies are instructed not to accept them as part of their freight that this will have a most disastrous effect upon the canned lobster business of 1916. Even the uncertainty that prevails causes a weakness in the market that renders a loss of revenue to the country itself.

In reference to the same matter, you will see by this morning's Citizen that the Hon. Reginald McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced in the British House of Commons:

That the Government had resolved to deal with the importation of luxuries by stopping importation altogether rather than by tariffs.

Under the circumstances, I am sure that the Minister of Trade and Commerce would be looking after the interests of a very important branch of industry in Canada if he would take this matter up, and see if the Imperial authorities would consent to exclude canned lobsters from the commodities refused entry into the United Kingdom.

Sir GEORGE FOSTER:

Correspondence has already taken place with reference to this matter. I will do the best I can to try to persuade the British Government that lobsters are not luxuries, but if, in the end, it is their judgment that they are luxuries, and if they think it is of public importance that they should not be allowed into Great Britain, I suppose we shall have to abide by that decision, and make the best of it. The steamships will not take them if they are not allowed entry into Great Britain, but there will be no effort on the part of this Government to prevent the steamships carrying them until the attitude of the British Government has been, definitely ascertained. I do not think I can give my hon. friend any clearer answer in the meantime.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER:

It is not very clear.

Hon. A. E. KEMP (Acting Minister of Militia and Defence):

On Monday my right hon. friend the leader of the Opposition inquired with reference to an alleged riot of soldiers in Winnipeg. The District Officer Commanding at Winnipeg telegraphs as follows:

Militia Headquarters, Winnipeg, Man.,

April 4, 1916.

The Secretary,

Militia Council, Ottawa.

Yours third re disturbances. There has been no trouble since four o'clock on the 2nd instant. Immediate cause of trouble was arrest of three soldiers by the city police, on charge of being drunk and disorderly. The arrest caused a collection of crowd in which were a number of soldiers who attacked the police and released the soldiers. The police reserves were brought up, rearrest the soldiers and some civilians. In a few minutes a crowd of several hundred was collected and a running fight kept up between the police and the mob. Some street car windows were broken. Provost Marshall's piquet came up and endeavoured to restore order. City police charged them among the others, apA parently not noticing their police badges. Apparently this ended the matter as far as actual rioting was concerned. An hour or two later, however crowds collected again and wished to attack the police station. On Sunday the mob assembled about the police station and broke the windows, also took some prisoners away from the piquet. I placed about one thousand men in charge of the central section of the city and although the crowds to the extent of several thousands lined the sidewalks until late at night we'h'ad no trouble after four o'clock afternoon of the 2nd instant, and there has been none since. City patrolled by small piquets from various regiments have picked up all stragglers. Much of trouble occasioned by men on week end leave from outside battalions. This has been stopped for the future, also all bar rooms placed out of bounds for the present. Only men hurt were three duty men run into by fire department. They are doing well. Investigation being held; matter will be reported fully.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER:

There have been several instances of riots in which soldiers have taken part. Everybody recognizes that the majority of these soldifers are young men, and we can forgive them a great deal; but they must be taught that the first duty of a soldier is to maintain discipline. Has a court martial, or an investigation of any sort by the military authorities been held in any case?

Mr. KEMP:

I quite agree that the first duty of a soldier is to maintain discipline. But, considering the large number of men who have enlisted, I do not think the riots, or the alleged riots, have been very serious.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

The men who have been guilty of conduct such as has been described have, I think, been handed over to the civil authorities.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER:

Yes, and what I had in mind was that it might have been better for the military authorities to deal with these cases. I think they could inculcate the necessity of maintaining discipline better than the civil authorities.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

I think the practice in garrison towns has been to turn those who have been guilty of contravention of the civil law over to the civil authorities, and they are punished accordingly. There may be some military punishment besides; I do not know about that, but no doubt the acting minister will make inquiries.

Mr. ROGERS:

Perhaps there has been no evidence to show that the soldiers were to blame.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER:

I have no fault to find, but I have not observed that there has been any military inquiry in cases where it has been alleged, rightly or wrongly, that soldiers have participated in riots. I think the military authorities should impress upon the .soldier that his first duty is to obey the law. We know that these young men like to have a lark sometimes, and nobody will be severe on them for that; but they must be taught the necessity of discipline.

. THE MINISTER OF MILITIA.

On the Orders of the Day: