OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 3

OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

CFnou Otib Own Cobbebpondeitt. 1 OTTAWA, July 3. There is deep anxiety throughout the dominion with regard to crop conditions. A month ago,the outlook was favourable; but hot weather and lack of rain have done much harm. In many localities there will bo a very poor yield of hay, and for tho whole oouutrv there will not bo more than half a crop. Grain has also suffered, particularly in eastern Ontario. In tho West timely rains have saved the wheat just as the danger became acute, although there are some sections still in need. This sotback followed upon tho announcement that over 70,000 acres more of wheat, had been sown than in 1912, and 391,600 acres of oats. In all grains tho additional area aggregated 459,500 acres. In May the conditions wero officially reported to be close up to perfection. The light fall of rain in Juno was most exceptional; but there is no warrant at this moment, for assuming more serious damage tfyaji a low yield of hay. Nevertheless, the first two or three weeks of the current month will, have a most important bearing on the harvest as a whole, and in this situaiton there is amplo ground for apprehension. In the fiscal year ended March 31 the foreign trado of Canada crossed tho billion dollar mark, the total having been £201,000,000 in round figures. The increase over 1912 amounted to £41,500,000. In tho year imports totalled £136,000,000, and exports £75,000,000. The former wero £25,600,000 in excess of tho preceding year, and the later, £15,900,000. The duty collected reached ■ £23,025,000. .Tho purely domestic exports were divided into classes as follows:—The mine £11,500,000, the fisheries £3,300,000, the forest £8,652,000, animals and their produce £8,960,000, agricultural products •£30,200,000,. and' manufactures £8,740,000. ; Of the exports £3,600,000 went to Great Britain and £3,450,000 to the United States. Of the imports, on the other hand, £27,730,000 camo from the Mother Country and £88,231,000 from the United_ States. Such a situation calls for explanation. Our. purchases from the United Kingdom consist almost wholly of manufactured products, while those from the United States are very much in the nature of raw materials, such as cotton, coal, etc. It is particularly interesting to note tho growth of our imports from Now Zealand, which in 1913 amunted to 3,066,699d01. For the past four years tho figures are-as follow:— ■■ Dollars. 1910 ... 775,365 1911 .' 907,104 1912 1,331,337 1913 3,066,699 An increase of 295 per cent, within that period is most gratifying. We have, on our side, also done fairly well in the matter of exports to New Zealand. The showing for four years has been as follows: — Dollars. 1910 ... 354,079 1911 1,004,370 1912 1.340,882 1913 1 1^693,093

Our export trade has doubled. Joining exports and imports, we have a trauc oi 1,0<i9,444d0i growing to 4,764, i92d0l in three years. That must bo regarded as satisfactory. New Zealand has liow passed Australia in trade with Canada, with this ditlercuce, however, that wo import live times as much from New Zealand as we do from Australia. On the other hand, our exports to Australia are nearly three times as'large as are our exports to New Zealand.

Of course, the real value of any foreign trade is not to be measured in dollars 'and cents. A great deal depends oa the nature of both the imports and exports. The details are not yet available ot our exchange with New Zealand during tho fiscal year ended March 31 laet, and we shall have to wait for them in order to make an intelligent analysis, While waiting, however, we may at least felicitate each other on the basic facts. That a trade of such proportions has sprung up within a few years affords ample grounds for pleasant anticipations. We are getting together. Wc have learned that distance docs not necessarily compel separation. We can buy from eacn other to mutual advantage although apart by nearly half the circumference of the globe. Mr Lee Smith's dream of 1894 has come true. Had anyone told him that tho realisation would exceed a million pounds within 19 years it is probable he would have suggested the addition of a few years on the side ot time; but Mr Lee Smith was one of thoso men who believed in doing things for the sake of returns a long way in the future. That is the spirit of the true Empire-builder. ,

Canadians are coming to senses in the matter of licensing medical practitioners. Ever since Confederation in 1867 each province has exorcised abeolutc jurisdiction within its boundaries over the practice of law and medicine. Beginning in a spirit of narrowness they grew more exclusive as time proceeded. A graduate of M'Gill—one of tho best equipped schools of medicine in the world—could not practise in Ontario until he had obtained a certificate from the Medical Council of that province. The reverse wa6 also true. A graduate in Ontario was not allowed to. practise in Quebec. Tho other provinces also set up their own standards, From time to time earnest efforts were made to set up a dominion qualification; but _ they came to nought. At last tho situation was felt to be discreditable and intolerable, and ■witlun the past month effect was given to an Act which establishes a Dominion Medical Council. Physicians in good standing will be given certificates on payment of a prescribed_ fee, and hereafter licentiates of the council may practise :n any part of the dominion. Confederations are seldom perfect. Of counse, each province will retain control of medical practice within its own boundaries, although only over euch practitioners who have not obtained the dominion certificate. In Ontario the local Government has appointed a commission to inquire into the whole question. It is felt there has been altogether too much restriction in the past. For many years the homoeopathists were not recognised, and osteopathy is even now on a mere footing of toleration. Christian Science—which the writer regards as a business and not* a religion—is outside the pale. It remains to bo seen how widely the door will be opened to healeis of all classes. Public opinion is not prepared to sanction the licensing of ignorant men nor to give a legal status to all forms of quackery; but there is a profound feeling against the exclusive power which has been wielded for nearly half a. ccntury by the'allopathic and homoeopathic schools. Out of the pending investigation may come a measure which will give liberty without creating license. Cognate to tho foregoing .paragraph is the caso of Dr Friedmann. This German specialist came to America several months' ago with tho announcement that he had Joveloped a serum which was an abeoluto cure for tuberculosis. It will 'be difficult for tho people of Now ZcaJand to understand the intense interest which Dr'Friedmann's visit aroused in Canada. Consumption is our great scourge. He gave clinics in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and London, at which 161 patients in all were inooulated. Expert physicians were appointed to study and report upon these cases. The.y, have jusc ciono so, and tho Whole country is groanill;! with discouragement. The not result U that Dr Friedmann has utterlv failed lo eftablish his claims. Nothing whatever has transpired to justify oonGdcnco in the remedy nor to warrant its further use. Sufferers will therefore bo thrown baok upon tl'.e fresh air and rest treatment, which is sueeecsful in a largo porcentago of cases when applied .'n t/he earlv stages of the disease and followed up over a long period.

Thcro has ccrtainly never been a time when money and men wcro more available in Canada for the cause of healing. Toror.bo has just opened a general hospital which is regarded as the largest and best on this continent. It Iki6 cost upwards of £650,000, tho greater part of which was provided by private subscription. The new institution will not only afford nccomuiodntion for the eiolc of Toronto, but it will be associated with tho University of Toronto for ihu teaching of medical science. It ii magnificently equipped The operating rooms arc the last word in completeness and convenience; while the provision for ,mtrses is excellent. The training of nurses hivs como to be a most important work, ami ranks next to the training of doctors. Forty years ago there was not a trained nurse in tho whole dominion. To-day tihero ars

thousands. Nursing has become a profession.

Doctors have much to lecrn. One of the things fciiey arc commencing to learn 10 t3 be slow in pronouncing life extinct. A remarkable case arose at Grimsby a summer resort on Lake Ontario, a few days ago. A lad swimming in the water was seized with cramps and sank. Companions dived many times, and finally recovered tiie disabled swimmer. Life was believed to do extinct. Physicians were summoned, however, «,nd for three hours they worked on tho body. Tho new pulmotor, which pumps oxygen into the lungs and sccures artilicial respiration, was used At last despair led to the abandonment of all efforts. The body was placed on an outgoing steamer for Toronto, where the boy's parents lived. Two nurses on board refused, however, to give up hope, anri finally, miraculous as it may seeih, thev brought the boy back to life, and he is now sound and well. It may be observed tlvii many cities. in Canada are providing the pulmotor apparatus for fire brigades and hospitals to aid in the resuscitation of perGrins who have been drowned, smothered, or shocked by tho electric current.

Criminal statistics recently issued by the Department of Agriculture afford material for 6crious thought. They bring the facts down to tho end of 1911. In that year there were 113,260 convictions, as compared with 79,170 in 1907. Drunkenness accounted for 41,379 in 1911. For the 10 year-pericd population increased 34 per cent., convictions 168 per cent, and convictions for drunkenness ■ 225-.pcr cent. Of course, it does not do to tlraw sweeping conclusions from such figures. The higher percentage of convictions , for drunkenness probably reflects the conditions produced by a largo influx of foreigners, among whom tho English immigrant of a certain class is conspicuous for his drinking and noisy habits. He is more liable to arrest than is a native born, simply because ho grows' assertive and defiant when under tho influence of liquor, Still, tho statistical facts arc discomforting. Convictions for misdemeanors and crimes do not ncoc6sarily reflect the moral sentiments of a people. They may, in fact, testify to an acute regard for law and order, An event in Toronto during the pqst month illustrates at least one aspect of the moral convictions of that community. A company of reputable players presented " Deborah " in one of tho theatres, and the Committee of Forty, which look after the morality of tho city, had all who took part summoned before the police magistrate. They were convicted and heavily fined. The decision was appealed against, and the appeal judge took a novel course. lie demanded that the play be produced before him. This was done, and the decision of the magistrate was reversed. This led to a vigorous protest from the committee, and the declaration that watchfulness would not cease.

The growth of life insurance in Canada has been striking. The writing oi policies i 6 in the hands of 58 companies, and at tho end of 1912 tho amount of insurance m force aggregated over £220,000,000. The increase for the past year was £25,050,000. Of the'6B compnuicG doing business in the dominion 27 arc Canadian, 16 British, and 16 American. Canadian oompanies have policies outstanding far in excess of the British and American companies. Among an educated and prosperous people it is not surprising' that life insurance is generally regarded as a moral duty, Practically every man Who is not a drunkard or a pauper carries life insurance in some form. He has a policy either in one of the live companies or in a mutual benefit society, of which there are many Probably fraternal insuT ance in Canada ranks close up to the figures just given. Such organisations -are growing rapidly in numerical strength.

A competent authority estimates that throe times as much timber is destroyed annually by (ire as is cut for commercial use. The extension of railways and the prospecting of forest areas for minerals arc given as the two chief causcs of fin;?, although they are sometimes started by lightning. This year conflagrations on a larcjo ecale have been numerous, owing to tho unusually dry weather which has prevailed. All the provinces appoint, fire wardens, and the law requires railways to equip their locomotives with rpark arresters. Yet with all these precautions the yearly waste is enormous. It is estimated that, under ordinary forest conditions, it takes 100 years to grow a tree of sufficient size to produce merchantable lumber, and if that is true it will be seen that the persistency of lires must' in time make alarming inroads on the wood resources of the country. The Department, of Labour announces that during the year 1912 memberships of unions increased from 133,132 to i 00,120. Of these members. 136,389 are affiliated with unions having their centre in the United States, leaving a relatively small number as belonging to purely Canadian organisations. There are, however, estimated to be 1,300,000 wage-earners in the dominion, so that barely 12 per cent, arc identified with unions. The majority is scattered. Nevertheless, the power of unions in tho country is very large. For example, railway employees of all classes arc strongly banded together, although not in one union, and in all centres of population a high percentage 9f men connected with the building trades is definitely organised. These unions, it may be safely said, do not exorcise any particular power in national politics. Hero and there Labour leaders have become candidates in elections; but they have not achieved much success. There is, of course, a good deal of catering to the Labour vote, but tho Labour vote itself is not organised. On the whole, unionism lias made a good showing in Canada. It has not gone to extremes. There have not been many serious strikes. At the pre sent time there appears to he r-bsolutc po-nce. Wages run high, and there is nothing < n the horizon which -would point to anything but a steady me in the scale. In fact, the rising cost of labour of all classes constitutes the very germ of our most serious economic problem—the high cost of living.

The Royal Commission on Industrial Training tnd Technical. Education, after a prolonged study of the matter, has made a strong recommendation to Government for the expenditure of £600,000 per a'nntihi for the training of workers. Seven distinct fields of effort are suggested by the commission, aa follows: —(1) 'Hie service in each province of an adequate supply of persons (teachers, instructors, demonstrators, executive officers) property qualified to carry on industrial training and technical education. (2) The establishment or extension and maintenance of ctajscs, courses, schools, or other institutions or means for industrial training and technical education. (3) The provision of suitable and adequate appliances, apparatus, and equipment for teaching purposes, but not including school buildings, furniture, or consumable supplies. (4) The publication of scholarships to equalise opportunities to young people and other workers to profit by classes, .■•nurees, schools, or other institutions. (5) The provision of experts with experience in industrial training and technical education, whose, services for council would bo'available to provincial and local authorities. (6) The service of central institutions when and where required to supplement the work curried on by the several provincial and local development authorities either by providing and maintaining or by assisting in providing and maintaining each central institution. (7) Tho promotion of scientific, industrial, and housekeeping'' research and the diffusion of knowledge therefrom. The whole question remains yet to bo considered by Government; but it is confidently expected favourable action will bo taken. A rather extraordinary situation )i»9_ developed in Prince Edward Island. This is tho province which ha 6 prohibition against two things—the selling of liquor • no the running of automobiles. It is also tho province which has taken up the breeding of black foxes on a largo scale, and it is tho foxer, which have indirectly made trouble. Tho industry of fox-breeding is carried on in country districts on what are tailed " randies." Somo of tliceo ranohes are small and, some are quito extensive, with a large capital investment. A young black {ox ia worth from six to ten thousand dollars, not for his or her skin, but for stud purposes. There is great demand for them, particularly in Russia. They havo therefore become tho object of a more or less organised system of robbery. Watchman, burglar alarms, traps, and other protective devices ■ have not prevented the successful raiding of many ranchcs. Special le-giß-lation has been passed on tho eubjoct, and tho law now prescribes exceedingly sovoro ponalties; but all these imeasurefl havo failed to stop thn theft of foxca. Recently in one county thero wcro 12 won tried at the aesizcn under tho new law, and heavy son-

fences wero imposed on those found guilty. Two weeks ago a. tragedy occurred at Niagara Falls which brings to ii'.ind what happened two winters ago, when the ice bridgo broke away and carricd two young men and a young woman to their death in tho whirlpool rapids. In this instance three lads, between 11 and 13 years of age, were playing in a fiat-bottomed boat which wae tied to the land. The boat suddenly.broke away. One boy jumped overboard anreached a place of safety. The others, paralysed by fear, remained in the boat Many people saw what was happening, but were powerless to render aid. As thr craft swept under tho last hridge the two little clini*, who were brothers, stood up, waved a farewell to tho onlookers, shook hands, and went caJmly to their death in the boiling ra.pids. It is always a question whether the bodies in such a case will ever be found, although they are sometimes picked up far out in Lake Ontario.

The foregoing suggests the frightful loss of life which takes place annually at this season from drowning. Til ?, country likr Canada, wlero rivers and lakes are numbered l>y the thousand, swimming and boatjng accidents ( aro appallingly numerous. Ten days ago a motor boat was upset in the Saskatchewan River, at Edmonton, and six prominent persons lost thoir lives, including throe ladies.

Tho hot weather in June drove thousands of people to tho lake and seaside resorts Thousands of others have also gone abroad As wealth increases the number of Canadians who can avail themselves of such luxuries multiplies rapidly.

Tho pricrs rf stocks continue low, owing to money stringency; but the sanation i? bv i:o means serious and is nrvt causing i>ny alarm. Can it-si is demanded on n. risinr f-cale for industrial and commercial purnoses. and tho binks a.re ob'iged to curta" advances for pure .speculation.