OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 62

OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

(Feom Our Own Correspondent.!

OTTAWA,

March 28.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.

The session of Parliament of Canada, which opened on the 16th inst., is the fourth since the Liberals took office, although they have only held power two years and nine months. The extra session was rendered necessary by the fa£l that during the last session of the Conservative regime the supplies were not voted, -and Parliament" had had ta.v be summoned immediately 'to vote money for the current expenses of the country. The speech with which his Excellencyopened Parliament will not go down in history as either a bninant or important document. It is about the usual length, but it was also very thin. Beyond the statement that the Government intends to introduce a Gerrymander bill, _ there is no promise of any legislation. Parliament was practically told that it had been summoned for the purpose of be-devilling the constituencies and voting the supplies ; and the Governor-gene-ral, with a fine touch of irony, which probably escaped the compilers of the speech, was made to invoke the blessing of the Almighty on the " arduous labours " which the legislators are expected to perform. Briefly summarised, the speech opened with an expression of pleasure on the part of his Excellency at meeting Parliament for tlie first time (Minio, it ■will be remembered, only came to Canada in October), and of satisfaction at "the largo degree of prosperity which the people of Canada at present enjoy, as evidsneed by the expansion of trade and commerce, the flourishing condition of the public revenues, and. the increased number of immigrants." Next followß a paragraph about the Washington negotiations, which merely states the fficts as already well known, of the commission having mot, of the death of two of the commissioners, of a deadlock occurring on the delimitation of the boundary between Canada and Alaska, and of the adjournment of the commission to 2nd August. In this paragraph there is a curious discrepancy between the English and French versions of the speech, with reference to the progress made by the commission. All parliamentary documents aye printed in both English and French, and either language may" be used by a member when addressing the House or Senate. . The -English version- of hk Excellency's speech reads: "Considerable progress had been on several of the subjects submitted." The French version reads : "On en etat arrive a une entente sur plusieurs dcs points en lilige." It will be noticed that the French version goes further than the English, and gays that an " entente," or " agreement," had been arrived at on several points ; while the Esglisli version merely says that " progress" had bc< ii made. It would be interesting to learn whether this was an error of the translators, or whether the stronger expression was used in French for the purpose of making the French-Canadians believe that the commission had really agreed on several of the questions submitted, and only" disagreed on one. In the absence of the paper, which will not be brought down on account of the commission having "ad journed," it will be difficult to settle this point. The speech next deals with the prohibition plebiscite, which is disposed of in the following sentence: "In compliance with the act passed last session, a plebiscite was held on the question of prohibition ; the official figures oi the vote will be placed before you." After this comes a congratulatory paragraph about Imperial penny postage and the reduction.of the postage rate to two cents, which latter reduction ia said to have been rendered possible by the '" satisfactory condition of the finances of the country." The next paragraph is devoted to the. Yukon, and the announcement is made that the Government proposes to build a telegraph line to the new troldfields. But, although practically no legislation is fore* shadowed, still what is " conspicuous by its absence" will provide ample ground for debate, and it is not to be argued that because the speech contains but little the session will be short and uninteresting. On the contrary, .it is expected to ho beyond the average length and extremely interesting, as the Opposition believes that the. Government is preparing to spring a general election on the country. As to the omisbionb from the speech, it is well to note that not a word is said about the Premier's pioposal to "reform" the Senate; that there is no reference to the extension of the intercolonial railway (the federal Government's line) into Montreal by way of the Drummond Counties' railway; that there is no mention of the decennial revision of the statutes, now nearly two years overdue ; that the Paris Exmbition next year has apparently 'been forgotten, although the Government has provided a Provisional Committee to prepare for a proper representation of Canada at it; that there is no indication that any provision will be made for taking the census in 1901. It may safely be taken for granted, however, that legislation in all these subjects will crop up in some shape or other.

ELECTORAL"" BILL.

The Gerrymander Bill, politely called a bill for the "better arrangement of the electoral districts," will be the piece de resistance of the session, and may lead to a deadlock between the Senate and the Commons, it may be as well to say a word about what the law ie with reference to a redistribution of scats. The British North America Act declares the duty of Parliament in this regard. Clause 51 provides that — " On the completion of the census in the year 1871, and of each subsequent decennial census, the representation of the four provinces shall be readjusted by such authority, in such manner, and from such time as the Parliament of Canada from time to time provides." Sub-section- 5 adds that such decennial readjustment " shall not take effect until the termination of the then existing Parliament." The intention of that ia plain. The constituencies are only to be altered as the occasion is created, through the movement of population as shown by the caneus taken in each 10 years, As the " read-

justonent" referred to in the act was made " on the completion of the census in the year 1871, and of each subsequent decennial census," the Conservatives claim that the bill for the " better arrangement the electoral districts throughout the Dominion " referred to in the Bpeeeh is, to say the least, irregular, and probably unconstitutional. Supporters of the Ministry, however, claim that the Government is amply justified in bringing down this measure. In 1882, they say, the Conservatives juggled with the boundaries of constituencies so as to "hive" their opponents, that they (the Conservatives) were enabled to hold office continuously for 14 years thereafter. Now it is proposed simply to revert to county lines. The Conservatives, who, as explained in a previous letter, have a majority in the Senate, will rely upon that body to throw out the Government's bill as it did in 1876, when a bill relating to the township of Tuckersmith was rejected on the ground that Parliament having "readjusted" the constituencies in 1872 had exhausted its power, and could do no more "readjusting" until after another census.

PROHIBITION.

Prohibitionists all 'over the country are very sore at the decision of the Government not to introduce a prohibitory law. They claim that they were led to believe the desires of the temperance people would be crystallised into legislation, provided a majority vote was secuFed at the polk. The Government's ultimatum is that as only 23 per cent, of the total electoral vote declared' in favour of prohibition that it would be futile to introduce prohibition based upon such a small percentage. The views of the Government have been' set forth in a letter from the Premier to Aldi Spence, of Toronto, Secretary of the Dominion Alliance. Sir Wilfrid Laurier says: — "When the delegation of the Dominion Alliance waited upon the Government last fall to ask, as a consequence of the plebiscite, the introduction of prohibitory legislation, they based their demand upon the fact that on the total of the vote cast there was a majority in favour of the principle of prohibition. The exact figures of the votes recorded were not at the time accurately known, but the official figures, which we have now, show that on • the question put to the electors 278,487 voted yea, and 264,571 voted nay. After the official figures had been made public it was contended by some of the opponents of prohibition that the margin of difference be- > iween the majority and minority was so slight that it practically constituted a tie, and there was, therefore, no occasion for the Government to pronounce either one way or the other. The Government does not share that view. We are of the opinion that the fairest way of approaching the question is by the consideration of the total' vote cast in favour of prohibition, leaving aside altogether the vote recorded against rt. In that "view of the question the record shows that the electorate of Canada, to which tho question was submitted, comprised 1,233,349 voters, and of that Dumber less than 23 per cent., or a trifle over cne-fifth, affirmed their conviction in the principle of prohibition. If we remember that the object of the plebiscite was to give an opportunity to those who have at heart the cause of prohibition, who believed iuat the people were with them, and that if the question were voted upon by itself, without any Other issue which might detract from its consideration, a. majority of the electorate would respond, and thus show the Cauadian people prepared and ready for its adoption, it must D 3 admitted that the expectation was not justified by the event. On the other hand it was argued before us by yourself and others that as the plebiscite campaign was carried out by the friends of prohibition without any expenditure of money and without the usual excitement of political agitation, the vote recorded in favour of it was comparatively a large one. This statement I did not then controvert, nor do I controvert it here and now. I would simply remark that the honesty of the vote did not suffer from the absence of thoee causes of excitement, and that even if the totality of the vote might have been somewhat increased by such cause its moral force would npt have been made any stronger. I venture to submit for your consideration, and the consideration of the members of the Dominion Alliance, who believe in prohibition as the most efficient means of suppressing the evils of intemperance, that no good purpose would be served by forcing upon the people a measure •which is shown by the vote to have the support of less than 23 per cent, of the electorate. Neither would it serve any good purpose to enter here into any further controversy on the many incidental points discussed before us. My object is eimply to convey to you the conclusion that in our judgment the expression of public opinion recorded at the polls in favour of .prohibition did not represent such a proportion of the electorate as would justify the in--troduction by the Government of a prohibitory measure."

CANADIAN RAILWAYS.

Canada has no reason to be ashamed of her Tailway development, according to the aunual report of the Minister of Railways and Canals •just presented to Parliament. On' the 30th June, 1898, there were 16,870 miles of completed railway in Canada, an increase of 183 miles during the year. Besides this there are 2248 miles of sidings. The paid-up capital of the Canadian Railway Companies amounted to 9<U,297,000d01, an increase of 19,439,300d01. The grosß earnings were 59,715, lOOdol ; working expenses, 39,137,550d01, an increase of 3,968,880d0l compared with the previous year, leaving »he net earnings 20,577,550d01, an increase of 3,392,940. The number of passengers carried •was 18,440,000, an increase of 2,272,710. Freight traffic amounted to 28,785,900 tons, an increase of 3,485,570 tons. The number of miles run by trains was 50,658,280, an increase of 4,977,432. Accident returns show that five passengers were killed during the year. Up to date the Government of Canada has spent on railways, on capital account, 123,551,000u0], and for railway subsidies 17,619,220d01. Since Confederation there nas been spent in maintenauce and operation of Government railways 73,029,630d01, the revenue derived from them being 64,510,650d01. The net loss on their operation has been 8,518,980d01. During the past year tho net loss on the operation of the Government railways (intercolonial and Prince Edward Island) was 263,400d01, including 70,000d0l rent paid for the extension of ■the I.C.R. to Montreal, to which point it has been running since March last. _ The gross earnings were 3,313,847d01, an increase of ,253,772d0l over the previous year, and the -working expenses 3,577,248d01, an increase of 399,979d01. During the year there was also spent on the I.C.R. and charged to capital f.ccount the sum of 252,756d01. Canal statistics for the season of navigation of 1897 show the revenue from tolls to have been 346,758d01, a decrease of 3302d01. The chief decrease was 6432d0l on tho Welland, due to a reduction of 10 cents a ton on tolls on certain agricultural products. The total capital expenditure on canals has been 72,504,400d01 ; last fiscal year the expenditure yu &207,249d01«

MILITARY AND DEFENCE MATTERS.

It was remarked upon as an innovation at the recent drawing room in the Senate Chamber the guard of honour in the corridor was ordered to give a "royal " salute as his Excellency entered, the custom heretofore being to give a " general " salute. It appears from the following militia order, that the royal salute is the correct thing. The order reads : " The following extract from the Queer's regulations, 1898, is published for gener?^\ information — ' The honours and salutes to be given by troops on parade are: To a viceroy, and to a governor or lieutenantgovernor of a colony, or special royal commissioners, acting on behalf of the sovereign, opening or closing the session of a colonial legislature — Royal salute, standards and colours lowered, officers saluting, men presenting arms, bands playing the first six bars of the National Anthem.' " There is an old adage that new brooms sweep clean. Evidently Canada has a new broom in the person of Major-general Hutton, who, it may be remembered, was for nine years in command of the forces in New South Wales. In his capacity as general officer commanding the Militia of Canada, Major-general Hutton proposes many ambitious schemes, which, albeit they may strike the average reader, to say 1 nothing of the militiaman, as measures dictated by a supreme desire for the perfection of Canada's machinery of defence, are apt to be closely scrutinised from the point of view of tlie taxpayer. The General proposes for the current year, "as essential to the troops under my command," that the entire active militia should be drilled in central camps, devoting the last two days to tactical instruction, in which the city regiments should take part. For the summer and fall of 1900 he recommends that the usual twelve days be extended to sixteen days. Another recommendation, ba<sed on his New South Wales experience, is: That a regiment consisting of two battalions' of mounted rifles should be raised in Manitoba and the North-west Provinces. In the opinion of Major-general Hutton, a specially selected field officer of the Royal Artillery (a lieutenant-colonel, if possible) be appointed from the first of May next to command the whole of the artillery ■of Canada for three years. He also recommends the adoption of the system of " messing " in vogue in England, under which marquees are purchased and loaned to batlalions as messing tents; and in this connection he further says: "I especially recommend that the arrangement of the contract for supplies, etc., be left entirely to the officers commanding the several military districts." The General is in favour of creating a "Canadian army, :> , and to that end suggests the following changes: (1) The position of the general officer in military coir mand to be amended ; (2) the creation of the existing militia force into an army complete in staff, in administrative departments, and^ in all the important elements i which constitute a modern, army ; (3) the provision of military stores and buildings fdr their custody. I'he Major-general attributes to the usurpation by the civil branch | of many of the functions of the military command much of .the friction of the past, and lays down the jjrineiple that "if any system of sound military administration is to replace that which exists, it can only' be by placing in the hands of the general officer commanding his legitimate military functions." After citing^the expenditure upon military defence which is .undertaken Iby Great Britain and her self-governing colonies, the Major-general says, in conclusion : "It will be of interest to note that the Canadian people, who have a frontier of 3260 miles, contiguous to a foreign State, pay less per head of its population towards the defence of its own soil than any other country in the world. It has been estimated that, exclusive of capital expenditure upon guns, stores, etc., an expenditure of 1,650,000d01, or 33 cents per head of the population, would be sufficient for tho requirements of the force proposed in paragraph 39 (2) during the next financial year. This will be au increase of 130,000d0l upon the Estimates of 1897-98. A comparison of the military expenditure with that of other selfgoverning colonies of the Empire will make it apnarent that tlie annual outlay of 2,000,000d0l upon her defences will be the lowest expenditure go expect of the Dominion in tl>e near future, with its vast resources, its increasing wealth, and its everwidening responsibilities. The creation of a militia army upon the lines indicated will transform the existing militia units into a military force, which sliall in some degree at least be worthy of the Canadian nation, and be equal to maintaining the rights and liberties of the Canadian people. It will be. in its true sense, a national army, and will, ~as such, be able not only to defend inviolate the integrity of Canadian soil, but it will be capable of contributing to the military defence of the British Empire in a manner and with a power which will place Canada in a position of unparelleled dignity and influence among all the possessions of the Crown."

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

The Department of Agriculture will take charge of all the exhibits of food products intended for the Universal Exhibition at Paris, and make them part of a grand Dominion exhibit. The several exhibitors who furnish exhibits which are accepted will each have a chance to receive an award on the merits of their products. The Canadian Commissioners have recommended^ that wherever a representative association exists in connection with a food-producing industry such association shall be invited to prepare exhibits of thoroughly representative character. For instance, the Dominion Flour INlillers' Association will be invited to arrange for an exhibit of Canadian flour; the Butter and Cheese Associations and Dairymen's Associations to prepare exhibits of dairy products; the Beekeepers' Associations to provide an exhibit of honey : and so in all other cases. The exhibits which come in the group of food products have been assigned particularly to the care of Professor Robertson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Dairying, who has trained many good men for dairy work, and some of whose graduates we are told, are now rendering excellent service in New Zealand. The list of the group includes : — Appliances anH processes used in the manufacture of food products ; bakeries — mechanical appliances for kneading and baking ; sea biscuit factories ; manufacture and preservation of ice; freezing machines and appliances; appliances and methods used for preserving fresh meat, game, fish, etc. ; works for canning meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit ; chocolate, cocoa, and confectionery works; commercial distilleries ; breweries ; various industries for the production of foods and food stuffs; sugar manufactories and refineries; farinaceous products and their derivatives; bread and pastry ; vegetable food products ; preserved meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit ; sugar and confectionery; condiments and relishes ; wines and wine brandies ; 6yrups — * i X^?-!xs ; various, snixita i. commercial

alcohols; various beverages; animal food products.