Mr. BOBB.

In this debate, the question concerning the mutuals seems to be confined to the New England Mutuals. I do not oppose the tax on New England Mutuals, but I would like to say that a very small percentage of the mutual business in Canada is done in these companies. As I understand it, as a member of the Banking and Commerce Committee, this tax was not placed here by the committee until it had been recommended to them from the Manufacturers' Association. We know that our friends the manufacturers are always in favour of a policy of protection. I want to point out to the committee that outside of the cotton mills, the woollen mills and the sawmills, there is a very large mutual insurance done in Canada by a commerce that cannot afford much of an increase, that is the grain business-the flour mill business. In the western part of our country we have possibly $30,000,000 of insurance on the elevators held by mutual insurance companies Mr. LALOR.

of the United States. The National Mutual Insurance Company of Chicago carries a grain business of over $46,000,000, the Ohio Mutual has over $13,000,000, the Michigan Mutual, the Mill Owners' Mutual, the Indiana Mutual, the Western Millers' Mutual and others are all doing business in Canada. The bulk of the Canadian grain is sold at a profit of about one-quarter cent per bushel. On this basis and on the basis of the value of the wheat to-day, the nr^nosed tax would cut out about one-eighth of that profit. I submit to the minister and the committee that we must go very carefully in increasing the expense of handling this business, because it is a business that cannot stand much of an increase. I am disposed to favour the idea submitted by the hon. member for North Simcoe.

Mr. ROBB.

So far the debate seems to have been confined to hon. gentlemen on both sides of the House who are in favour of the expansion of the military system in Canada. I feel I would be an unworthy representative of my constituency if I did not take advantage of this occasion to say that the people in the county I represent look with considerable disfavour upon any system which will tend to create and encourage in Canada what may be known a3 a military aristocracy. Now sir, this view possibly has been encouraged by the fact that for some reason or other the battalions from that part of the country had not been completed, with the result that when they arrived in Montreal they recruited them very largely from the wharf rats there. The military drill has been looked on as a sort of a joke. Possibly this is very largely due to the prevalence at the annual camps of the canteen. I submit to the Minister of Militia that the first thing necessary to encourage young men and especially farmers' sons to identify themselves with the militia, is to abolish the canteen at the drills because no mother [DOT]who has a respect for heT son, will permit that boy to go to the annual drills when she knows that the most he will learn will be to smoke cigarettes, drink whisky and mingle with the worst elements in the community. I offer this suggestion in no spirit of criticism of the estimates because it seems that the committee is unanimous in adopting the military policy as outlined by the minister. But I feel it is my duty, as a representative of the people of that 73

part of the country, to point out to the minister one of the great obstacles, to the encouragement of the right class of young men, the bone and sinew of the country, to attend the annual camps.

1. What jurisdiction has -the Railway Commission or the government of Canada over the Bills of lading or forms of Bill of lading issued by the vessels plying on Canadian waters ?

2. Is the government aware that in the unanimous resolution adopted by the Dominion Marine Association which provides that a new Bill of lading for vessels carrying grain out of any Canadian port, there is the following cl "use: ' provided that the vessel shall not be responsible for shortage exceeding one-half bushel for one thousand bushels carried?

Mr. ROBB asked:

Is it the intention of the government to make such repairs and improvements to the dike along Hungry Bay, Lake St. Francis, as will insure the prevention of floods on farm lands adjoining the lake?

1. Has the government any information regarding the present condition of the foot and mouth disease in New York and other States ?

2. Has the embargo on horses coming from New York State to Canada been so amended as not to interfere with the daily interchange of traffic along the frontier ?