Mr. A. C. MACDONELL:

Is the right hon. member aware that the Act to which he is referring provides only that soldiers shall have votes in elections and not on a referendum?

Mr. A. C. MACDONELL:

Parliament

has not done so; the Act is confined to elections.

Mr. A. C. MACDONELL:

No. My hon. friend is not correct, because that is not the question involved.

Mr. A. C. MACDONELL:

Let me point out to my hon. friend that power companies have two objects in view, and the general Railway Act provides for those two different classes of operation. The first is transmission lines-poles-which is not in any way touched by the clause now under consideration. This is absolutely under the general provisions of the Railway Act, and it is in the same position as the lines and poles of any other power company or of any telephone or telegraph company. What is aimed at here, and what is provided for, is the distribution of power, which is the second thing a power company does. The amendment under consideration in no way interferes with, impedes, or touches that transmission right. All that is dealt with in subsections 4 and 5 is the distribution of power, which is prohibited for the reason that this company had authority to distribute power without consulting anybody or any municipality, and is the only power company which has that right.

Mr. A. C. MACDONELL:

That is the

general law to-day.