CANADIAN NEWS LETTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1933, Page 12

CANADIAN NEWS LETTER

PRISON REFORMS. Following investigations into riots in two Canadian penitentiaries new rules of conduct have gone into oifect which alter somewhat the conditions under which live -1.200 eonvicts in these, institutions. At *he same time there has been a sharp tightening-up in discipline and some staff readjustments. Relatives may visit prisoners once each month instead of once in two months as in the past. Sunday visits are forbidden except in cases ot illness. Two letters may be written each month by a prisoner, and itlhe visiting privilege is not exercised hmay write another letter. More leeway for replies to letters is providedPipes, tobacco in all forms, and cigarette papers will be provided on a ration basis and new facilities Lor smoking are giv>n. Stronger electric lights in dormitories and cells peimit more comfortable reading. Jhe rule of silence has been amended io permit well-behaved prisoners to converse during prescribed periods. Each prisoner on entering a penitentiary has his hair closely cropped. Subsequent trimmings may b e ‘ in the military or short-hair” style. Moi e recreation under certain conditions is provided. On the advice of a physician prisoners may be exempted from church service. . Corporal punishment may be inflicted on a convict only after he has been found guilty on evidence taken under oath and the punishment approved by the Dominion Superintendent of Penitentiaries. Flogging or strapping within these safeguards may be imposed for crimes of violence, acts ot gross misconduct and insubordination, wilful destruction of prison property, attempts at escape, and so on.

NATIVE BORN. Canada’s total immigrant population. according to a compilation fi oni the recent census, is 2,307.525. or about 22 per cent of the roll-call ot the nation. More than halt ot the:-e immigrants, or 1,138,942, were born in the British Isles and 45,157 in other British countries. Nearly 39 per cent of the total reported a year of arrival in Canada prior to 1911 and 255,662 have been resident in this country for thirty years or more. In British Columbia 46 per cent of the population are of other than Canadian birth, and the proportion varies between that figure ami the three per cent, of Prince Edward Island. Toronto has more immigrants in its population, both actually and proportionately, than any other Canadian city, with 238.212 out of a total of 631,207 claiming other than native birth.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. Water-power installations in Canada at the end of 1932 for generating electricity totalled 7,045,260 horsepower, an increase of 378,923 horsepower over the total installation at the close of 1931, The increase in installation for the year was accounted for chiefly by the Beauharnois development in the Province of Quebec, the Chats Falls plant on the Ontario-Quebec boundary, and the Corra Linn development on the Kootenay River in British Columbia. The Beauharnois development on the St. Lawrence River was placed in operation in 1932 with four 50,000 horsepower units giving a total capacity of 200,000 horsepower. Two 8,000 horsepower service units were also installed while the power station as now completed can accommodate additional units up to a total capacity of 500,000 horsepower. Most of the foundations and embedded parts are in place for the additional units. The plant, at Chats Falls on the Ottawa River has an installed catrncity of 224,000 horsepower, of which half the power was added during 1932 in four units of 28,000 horsepower each. Half of the installation is in the Province of Ontario, and the other half in the Province of Quebec. The outstanding feature of the year in the Province of British Columbia was the completion and bringing into operation of the Corra Linn development of the West Kootenay Power and Light Company, Limited, on the Kootenay River, a plant of 57,000 horsepower and the fourth to be installed on the river.

It has been estimated that unde'' ordinary conditions there is sufficient potentialpporerw r er in the rivers of Canada, including a half of the international waters to drive hydraulic turbines totalling 43,700.000 horsepower. Although some of the most favourable located sites have been developed, there are still great qualities of undeveloped power within reasonable transmission distances from industrial centres. Water-power Is one of Canada’s gratest natural resources and, unlike other resources, is not depleted with use.

EXPORTS PROGRESS. Displacing Belgium and Argentina, Canada, has resumed her old place as fifth among exporting nations of the world, it is shown by a preliminary survey. “The bal-d figures wi’h respect to her foreign trade over certain definite periods of Canada's history tells a remarkable story,” said Hon. H. 11. Stevens, Minister of Trade and Commerce for the Dominion, in a recent address. “The value of the- Dominion's exports to-day amounts to slightly over 60 dollars (£l2) per person. while a century ago, when Canada consisted of a. number of separate colonies. I he export, value per person was only 3.50 dollars (14 shillings). At Confederation in 1867, it amounted to over 13 dollars (£2/12/-.) per pct son. and at the opening of the present century to slightly over .‘ll dollars (£6 4/-).”’ , In the past year. Canada retained world leadership in the export of wheat, newsprint, paper and asbestos, held third place in the export of wheat, flour, fourth in automobiles and wood pulp, fifth in rubber tires.