OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 11

OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

(From Qua Ows Cobeespondent.) OTTAWA, September 30. The country is again in the throes of a general election. The last appeal to the federal electorate was in November, 1904- ; so that not quite four years have intervened. There was no particular cause for a dissolution at this time, and for thi3 very reason the campaign now in progress is one of the most remarkable on record. There is not a vestige of any issue between the parties. It is simply a case of the outs asking to be put in. The chief ground upon which this request is made ia that the existing Government has been extravagant and corrupt. The first allegation, does not xest upon the assertion that they have not tad the money to spend and therefore have gone into debt t but rather that the Liberals in 1903 declared an annual expenditure of £7,000,000 to be unwarranted and wasteful, whereas in office the yearly outlay has gone up to three times that sum. This is met by the defence that the Dominion has j expaaided enormously in the interim, and . the increased expenditure has* not involved any addition to the pubiic debt. The charge of corruption is founded upon ! the management of the public "domain. The"' Conservatives assert that timber berths and Crown lands have- been disposed of to partisan friends, who in turn have made j large profits by reselling. The Liberals make rejoinder by declaring that it has been the policy of all Governments •to encourage the opening up of new areas by disposing of timber and farming lands ; that the sales were made in a perfectly regular way; Aat the alleged profits from subsequent sales are imaginary; and that the general conduct of affairs by the I^ands Department has been entirely above reproach. It remains to be, seen which side in the controversy will be believed. There axe, of course^ other affirmations of scandal having to do with the awarding of contracts and so on ; but they do not appear to be of a serious nature. It would be imprudent at this juncture to predict the result. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has now held office for upwards of 12 years, but that is not extraordinary in Canada. His predecessors were in power for 18 years. The key to the situation may b& said to lie in the Western Provinces, into '■ which have come since 1904 perhaps 60,000 new voters, and ju6t how they will take i sides can only be^conjectured. The recent ; provincial elections in Saskatchewan would seem to show that they are not hostile to the Liberal cause. On the other hand, Ontario is practically certain to give a large Conservative majority, while Quebec '. is just as certain to give an overwhelming j plurality to the Liberals. The Eastern Pro- | vinces are uncertain. In the last general \ election Nova Scotia returned a solid contingent of 17 in support of Sir Wilfrid, while New Brunswick showed jtee-if inclined toward the Opposition. At this moment the outlook would appear to be favourable for the Government. Polling tabes place on October 28. While the battle of political parties has been going on Canadians have been enjoy- ] ing a singularly fine September. Through, out the month the weather has been simply delightful, the temperature varying between, | 65deg and 86deg during the daytime, and not sinking below 40deg during the coolest night. The only drawback to these pleasant conditions has come from persistent forest fires. Juet how these fires have been started no one seems to know ; but in consequence of prolonged dry weather they have sprung up this year all over the country. The aggregate loss has ,been large, although for the most part they have prevailed in bush districts of little value. The j damage has only been serious, apart from the British Columbia conflagration, when the flames have been carried to farm pro- ; perty and small villages. The smoke, how- | ever, has been a trying nuisance, and at one time navigation on the St. Lawrence had to be suspended. Imports continue to decline, as compared -with last year. This would appear to be wholly due to a spirit of caution, inasmuch as the general activity jn business shows no diminiution as against 1907/ Of course, there might have been overbuying during the past year or two, and this, joined to the instinote of prudence suggested by the situation in the United States, would naturally bring- about a shrinkage in imports. The effect immediately observed ie a falling revenue. Since April 1 there has been a shortage of £1,800,000 as compared with the same period in 1907, although the signs just now point to a steady recovery. At this rate the surplus of last year will etntirely disappear before the fiscal year closes. It may be, .too, that a greatly lowered immigration is having some effect on our purchases abroad. The figures for July have just been made up, and they show that only 11,332 immigrants reached our shores during that month, as compared with 26,341 for July of last year. This decline is not viewed with serious disapponitment, since it was obvious that foreigners were coming hen© faster than we could properly assimilate them. The disturbed state of the labour market , may ailso have operarted as a restraining influence on both trade and immigration. The strike of 8000 mechanics on the Camadian-Pacific, which began nearly two months ago, is still on. It has been conducted ■without violence of any sort, and, haying regard to its magnitude, it is surprising that it has not hindered the work of the railway. There would appear to be good reasons, however, for assuming- that the struggle will end in the course of a few days. The leadens have just declared their ■willing-ikes to accept the award of the Board of Conciliation, which was gnen early in the summer, but which was then refused by the mechanics. That they will now do so is practically certain. They have not had public opinion with them, and ifcheir refusal fco accept the finding of the Birbitraitors left them in a very weak posi- ■ bion. They were not etrikng for higher rates of pay, but for a broader recognition of their union. It seems a pity that they Bhculd have lest a large amount in wag-ets, only to come back without any measure of compensation. A strong revival of interest in the Cobalt mining camp has taken plac^ during tho p&et two or three months, although it is not likely to brinj? back the wild spirit of •peculation which took possession of the whole country early last year. It is noncertain that Cobalt has one of the richest silver deposits in the ■world, and that an immense volume of wealth will bo annuillv taken out of the ground for some tim-o to come ; but as in all such cases, it has keen demonstrated i-ha£ thj6 work can only

'be successfully carried on by men who have the capital to conduct operations on a, large scale. In the Klondike country over £1,000,000 in gold has beera^taken out this year, which is better than the results of 1907. There, too, the small operators have found that they are more or less helpless. The Guggenheims have taken hold of some of the larger properties, and have already made a capital expenditure of over £2,000,000 for plant. Other men of experience and means are doing the same, and to a large extent the placer washings have come to an end. Next year a very large output of. gold is looked for. The Laymen's Missionary Movement has taken possession of Canada in a marvellous way. The campaign is now on. The obiect is to provide means for the evangelisation of the world, and, whatever may be done elsewhere, it seems certain that the Canadian people will do their share. In Ottawa men of all denominations have thrown themselves into this effort with a zeal and enthusiasm which is astounding. They have undertaken to bring the contributions of the churches during the next year up to £15,000, which is on the basis ,of more than £1 per member. Toronto has undertaken to raise £100,000, and in other cities the same purpose has seized the people. Each denomination will control ite funds as in the past, and the only element of novelty in the situation is the introduction of business methods based on systematic- rather than spasmodic giving. The Presbyterians have just resolved to make their contribution this year £200,000. If this movement has not already extended to New Zealand it soon will. It is in the hands of very capable men, who are not themselves either collecting or disbursing money. They are simply bringing before the men of the ohurehes^-or, more properly, before men generally. — the business aspects of the mission situation, and arousing interest therein. They make it clear that if the members of churches give £1 per head annually to missions it will be possible to reach all the dark places of earth during the present generation. This estimate is based on an allowance of £+00 for each missionary, to whom would nominally be assigned 25,000 heathens. It is estimated that 675,000,000 persons have not yet heard the Gospel, and to reach these it is wholly a question of money. Getting the money is only a matter of business methods, and these the laymen's movement is intended to supply. Certainly there 16 nothing unreasonable in the expectation that by organised effort a contribution of £1 per capita, may be obtained from the members ot Christian churches in Great Britain, the United States, and Europe. The fall fairs are now pretty well over for 1908. They have been very -^successful tihi« year, both in attendance and in" respect of the purposes they are designed to serve. Primarily they were meant to demonstrate successful methods of agriculture, and hence the finest prodwts and the latest developments in machinery constituted the exhibits in earlier years. The social aspects soon claimed attention, and the work of women, both useful and decorative, came in for a large place. It was an easy step from that stage to a general display of things connected with home and industrial life. Then the festival idea came in, with elaborate schemes for entertaining the masses, and to-day the fall fairs bear tho composite character which all these elements suggest. People from the country districts flock to their natural centres for a holiday, and the exhibition provides the means for recreation and instruction. It does a good work. These fall fairs often lead to serious casualties, as the result of special features provided for tho entertainment of the people. In Toronto this year a lady acrobat was performing the daring feat of sliding down a long wire while suspended by her teeth. When 40ffc in the air the wire broke, and she fell heavily to the gTound, sustaining injuries which will leave her helpless for life. Some years ago a young man h"ere in Ottawa wae carried up to a great height by a balloon, and was dashed to pieces before the eyes of thousands when he oouLd no longer hold on. The horse- races also lead to many accidents. Not many years ago a young lady in London was caught by a revolving shaft in such a way that every vestige of her clothing wa3 torn off, <v . ehe was seriously injured. Yet the special attractions are % r ery popular, and are being rapidly extended. This year fche Ottawa Exhibition conducted a fully-equipped theatre ac a substitute for the evening display of fireworks, and made it pay. The co-operative idea is being developed by oivil servants in Canada, and may before long attain to large proportions. The initial experiment was begun early la6t summer, and had reference to the importation of anthracite coal for the purposes of winter .fuel. The success achieved in this venture looking to warmth during the cold months has led to an organised effort to provide ice for summer comfort. Civil servants he-re in Ottawa have arranged to store their own ic c during the approaching winter, and to deliver ife as required next summer. They hope to do this at a cost not exceeding £1 per family, on the basis of a daily allowance of 101b. Nature oarrics out the freezing process, and the cost is confined to cutting, storing, and delivering. The purchase of other necessaries will follow as rapidly as organisation can take place. The cooperative loan and savings society among civil servants has already begun operations, and later it? methods may be of interest to Government employees in New Zealand. Th « autumn has brought us back to the football eeason, and durinjr the noxt six or eight weeks playing- will be carried on all over the country. Last year there vrai a good deal of dissatisfaction over the introduction of professionalism, which was all the more objectionable because it was masked. Practically all the senior teams were blacklisted; but the matter was straightened out during the winter, and this year the game is being conducted on a strictly amateur basis. The principal league is limited to four club", located in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton There are many minor organisations, and apart from these is the Interoolleg-iate-League, which always attracts a great deal of interest. There was last year a. great doal of undue roughness in all the contents due, Ipoth directly and indirenctly, to the professional element; but theie is no sicrn thin far of a return to that undesirable footing 1 . Public seniimcnt is clearly a^sertinjr itself on the side of amateurism. This was demonftrated very striking' a \\e>'k ago, when the eh il service '■ports took p'ac; hero in Ottawa. They njre perhaps the most successful ever held in the Doniimon, and in this organisation the strktot niles are applied, i-o shut out e\oii trace of piofessionalism. Lacro=-e, conduct-cd on &

professional basis, was not popular during the past summer. In fact, it is no longer encouraged by those who gave this great national game their hearty support a few years ago. When it is restored to amateur control it will re\ive, for it is one of the greatest games played anywhere. Hockey will begin as soon as the ice of winter forms, although the schedule proper will not be in force until early in January. Here again professionalism has s the upper hand, and no particular objection will be made, so Jong as it is all done openly. If hockey were to be placed on the footing of American baseball it would be satisfactory, since it has been shown that both games are seen at their best when" played by men who give their whole time to keeping' in training. Activity in athletics was never more marked in Canada than at the present time. This may b© in part due to prosperity, as well as to the natural craving for recreation which a healthy and vigorous people always manifest. Other forms are also taken by this love for entertainment. In all our larger cities vaudeville now fills a conspicuous place, and pays well. Branching off from, this are the smaller

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moving picture shows, coupled with vaudeville. They were unknown in this country five years ago. Now theiv are from two to 20 in all the principal centres, and, what is still more remarkable, they aJI appear to make money. The.. annual rifle match for the Dominion took place during the early days of the past month, and brought together the number of riflemen who have ever in this country. Representatives from all parts came, and the shooting was of a high order of excellence. The average reached by the first 30, from among whom the Bisley team is chosen, was unusually high. » A theatre ana four or five adjoining buildings were wrecked in the very heart of the city of Brantford, Ontario, by an explosion of gas about the middle of the month. In that district natural gas is ] found, and " into the basement of the. theatre this gas had slowly leaked far some time. In some wav it was ignited, and the whole city was shaken by the explosion which followed. One life was lost and a number of persons were badly injured. Fortunately the theatre was net in use at the time.