Sir ROBERT BORDEN moved:

That the recommendation of the Honourable the Speaker, laid on the table of the House on

the 3rd instant, relative to the yearly increase in salary to certain officers, clerks and employees of the House, pursuant to section 37 of the Civil Service Amendment Act, 1908, be approved.

Mr. MARCIL:

I ask the Prime Minister what the Government intends to do in respect to the sessional employees during the adjournment?

'Sir ROBERT BORDEN: The subject has not been brought to my attention; I really could not answer my hon. friend.

Mr. MARCIL:

Would the hon. gentleman give the matter of these sessional employees Sfime consideration? He understands what I mean.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

I shall ask his Honour the Speaker to take the matter into consideration, as this is a subject more particularly coming under his jurisdiction, and that of the Commission on Internal Economy.

Sir SAM HUGHES:

I observe that in one of the morning papers I am credited with having mentioned the name of General Stanley Von Donop as as ordnance officer in connection with certain matters that I referred to last night. I neither directly nor indirectly mentioned General Von Donop; nor did I refer to him-I do not know how the name got into print.

I observe also that the hon. Solicitor General in his opening remarks yesterday- following, I assume, the lead of certain distinguished statesmen, who wish to balance one against the other and show that they are always taking a middle course- stated:

At the same time we are attacked by the exMinister of Militia because we authorized this substitution too soon.

I shall be pleased if the Solicitor General, who is not in his seat now, will show where I have attacked the Government on this matter. I was not aware that I attacked him. When I attack the Government, I will realize it, and I think they will too.

, WESTERN COAL MINING.

On the Orders of the Day:

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

With reference to an inquiry which was made yesterday by the hon. member for Medicine Hat (Mr. Buchanan) with regard to the strike in the

coal mines in Alberta and British Columbia: the information which has been received indicates that the men resumed work yesterday in all the mines except Coalhurst, and that they were to resume work in that mine to-day.

Mr. BUCHANAN:

Is the Prime Minister acquainted with the terms of settlement? 1 have been advised from Lethbridge that the coal strike has been settled on the basis of a war bonus of $1.75 per week per man from the middle of November last to the end of March, the Government to indemnify the operators for the bonus.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

The terms of the settlement will be made known when the Minister of Labour returns; he is expected to arrive here to-morrow. In the meantime, I do not think it desirable that I should make any statement on the subject.

Hon. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX:

I do not see the Postmaster-General in his seat, but I should like to ask the Government if it is their intention to appoint a postmaster in Montreal at an early date? I am told that the service there requires the appointment of a postmaster at the earliest possible moment.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

The Postmaster General has not brought the matter to my attention. I shall direct his attention to what my hon. friend has represented.

156TII BATTALION-THE NOVA SCOTIA HIGHLAND BRIGADE.

On the Orders of the Day:

Hon. A. E. KEMP (Minister of Militia):

The hon. member for South Renfrew (Mr. Graham) referred on Wednesday last to a matter concerning the 156th Battalion. The hon. member for Pictou (Mr. Macdonald) referred on the same day to the matter of the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade. On Thursday a cable message was sent with regard to these matters to the Minister of the Canadian Overseas military forces. An answer was received on Sunday, and did not reach my desk on Monday until after I had left for the House. The answer is:

At an early stage instructions were given for absorption of 156th (Battalion into 109th Battalion, but subsequently in order to aid recruiting in district from which raised and in view of 5th Division being formed order was cancelled, battalion reconstituted and

allotted 5th Division. It was impossible to allot all battalions Nova Scotia Highland Brigade to fighting formations; 85th Battalion selected for service with Canadian corps, Prance; 185th posted to 5th Division; remaining two battalions absorbed into 17th Reserve Battalion Highlanders for purposes supplying reinforcements to 85th, 185th and other Nova Scotia battalions in the field.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

In pursuance of what -I said yesterday upon the motion of the hon. member for West Lambton (Mr. Pardee), it is my purpose to-morrow to move as follows:

That a committee of nine members be appointed for the purpose of considering, inquiring into and reporting upon:

(a) The reception, treatment, care, training and re-education of the wounded, disabled and convalescent who have served in the Canadian expeditionary forces;

(b) The provision of employment for those who have been honourably discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and the training and re-education of those so discharged who are unable to engage in their former occupation.

Iu shall not make this motion to-day, hut I should be glad if the member for West Lambton would give consideration to its terms. I have asked my right hon. friend to name four gentleman on that side of the House who, with five whom I shall name, would constitute that committee.