re-arrangement could be made so as to extend Manitoba in these directions. He concluded by moving a Resolution which was endorsed by the Hon. Mr. Greenway and carried unanimously. Without the long preamble it was as follows: That a Memorial be presented to the Parliament of Canada praying that the boundaries of the Province of Manitoba be extended so as to include as much of the said adjacent territory, for the reasons aforesaid, as may be consistent with economical and efficient government, and for the welfare and development of the people and territory therein comprised, having in view as one of the objects to be attained, the extension of the boundaries of Manitoba northwards to Hudson's Bay. In the House of Assembly at Regina, on May 20th, Mr. D. H. McDonald, Leader of the Opposition, moved the following Resolution upon this subject without remark or comment: "That in the opinion of this House no terms should be accepted for the erection of the Territories into a Province or Provinces entailing the annexation of any portion thereof to the Province of Manitoba." The Premier followed and criticised the mover for having nothing to say. He pointed out that the Assembly had no power to accept or reject terms in regard to the boundaries of Manitoba. They could only discuss financial arrangements under the existing constitutional status, and even then they could only propose and recommend. He, therefore, moved in amendment, seconded by Mr. Bulyea, that "this House is strongly opposed to any further expansion of the Province of Manitoba westward and is of the opinion that any such expansion would be opposed to the wishes, and detrimental to the interests, not only of any portion of the Territories affected thereby, but of the Territories as a whole." This was carried by 23 to 7 votes. Meanwhile, the subject was being discussed in Eastern Assiniboia as one of direct interest, and a Provincial Autonomy Committee was formed with Mr. Peter Ferguson, of Kenlis, as Chairman, and Mr. W. R. Motherwell, of Abernethy, as Secretary. On July 3rd, the latter wrote the Premier of Manitoba for an expression of his views as to the alleged heavy liabilities and financial difficulties of that Province and as to its Railway policy in the event of extension westwards. Mr. Roblin replied that Manitoba had no desire for expansion except with the entire sympathy of the people concerned. Should that wish be manifested, however, every means would be taken to extend Manitoban privileges, as well as institutions. "If extension of railways are required they would be provided immediately." As to taxes, they lay in the hands of the municipalities. Railway and other corporations were the only interests taxed directly by the Government. He thought the members of the Regina Assembly were thinking of themselves and their own interests rather than of the farmers bordering on Manitoba. In reply to this, Mr. Motherwell asked if municipal institutions were compulsory in Manitoba, and was informed, under date of July 13th, that the Municipal Act was only applied to unorganized districts on the request of the inhabitants. Mr. Nicholas Flood Davin, K.C., dealt with this correspondence in the Regina West, of August 7th, and opposed any kind of annexation because the Territories had no debt and Manitoba a considerable one; because the railway obligations of the Province were undoubtedly heavy, whatever the benefit of its railways might be; because the Territories should start with a clean slate unmarked by the policies and follies of other Governments. He thought a better arrangement could be made with Ottawa than Manitoba had been originally able to make. On August 26th, Mr. Haultain wrote to Mr. Motherwell, in reply to a letter of inquiry received from him in connection with his correspondence with Mr. Roblin. "I regard the transportation question as the most important public question of the day and as the question of all others for the consideration of the Federal Government and of any future Provincial Government in the West. Believing this, I should consider it the duty of any Provincial Government and Legislature to supply adequate transportation facilities so far as their powers and resources might permit." In the Regina West of two days later, Mr. R. S. Lake, M.L.A., stated that during his recent contest in the Grenfell district the question had been considerably discussed, and had left no doubt in his mind as to the people's opposition to any Manitoba annexation. Mr. Davin, in an interview with the Winnipeg Telegram, on October 11th, was equally explicit. "The people of the Territories, from one end to the other, are absolutely opposed to any such delimitation of the boundaries." On December 18th, an important meeting was held at Indian Head, N.W.T., for the purpose of hearing Mr. R. P. Roblin, Premier of Manitoba, present reasons for the incorporation of a portion of the Territories with Manitoba, and Mr. F. W. G. Haultain, Premier of the Territories, in opposition to the proposal. Mr. Roblin was the first speaker and dealt at length with the general condition of Manitoba, its finances, municipal institutions, taxes, school lands and laws, railways and railway policy. He stated the surplus of direct Provincial assets over direct liabilities to be $21,932,628, and explained the position of the Province toward the Canadian Northern Railway, and its assumed obligations in that connection, so as to give the impression that there was no chance of Manitoba or any incorporated territory ever suffering from the liability for their guarantee of $11,000,000 of railway indebtedness. Moreover, he declared that these and other liabilities had been incurred for giving railway facilities which were as much required, and would be as much used in the future, by the people of the Territories as by those of Manitoba. They would also be proportionately extended. Mr. Haultain spoke at length, and his position may be summed up in the following extract: "I am impressed with the fact that with the rising fortune of this country, with our population increasing, our resources undeveloped, our credit unimpaired and untouched, we shall be able with our own Provincial institutions to do as well, to do as quickly, and to do as cheaply, whatever has been promised will be done by the Province of Manitoba." He then outlined his proposals to the Dominion authorities. They included a per capita allowance of 80 cents, not limited to 400,000 of a population, as in Manitoba, but without restriction; the usual Provincial grant and debt allowance; the full control of Territorial lands; a refund on account of all grants made in this connection by the Dominion to the Canadian Pacific Railway or other railways; the extinction of exemptions from taxation previously granted to the Canadian Pacific Railway by the Dominion Parliament; and larger Parliamentary representation. He concluded by declaring that "what we have we'll hold," and by asking the audience if they were staggered at the idea of being part of a Province "exceeding all others in area, in population and in resources." The most important of the subjects and discussions in the House of Commons and Senate during the Session of 1901 may be given here for purposes of reference. They will be found by consulting the bulky pages of Hansard on the dates mentioned : Principal in the Dominion Parliament THE SENATE. Alaskan Boundary Question, April 16th. Bell Telephone Company, May 9th, Mr. H. H. Cook, Case of, March 12th, Immigration Matters, March 26th, Judicial Appointments, March 14th. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Alaskan Boundary Question, February April 2nd, April 25th, May 8th. Bell Telephone Company, May 17th. C. P. R. and the North-West, April C. P. R. Land Tax Exemption, Febru- Federal Grants to Provinces, May 8th, Immigration Matters, April 11th, April April 29th, May 8th, May 20th. May 6th, May 8th, May 10th, April 14th, April 19th, May 2nd. Mint and Assay Offices, March 14th, Montreal Harbour Improvements, May Nipissing Election Case, April 24th. Railway Passes for Members, February Railways, Government Control of, South African War, March 12th. Transportation Matters, February 22nd, March 4th, March 6th, March 8th, March 25th, April 10th, April 17th, April 18th. Usury and Money Lenders, February 28th. Valleyfield Labour Strike, April 3rd, April 25th, May 7th. West Durham Election Case, April 29th. The Active Strength of the Militia Section XIII-THE CANADIAN MILITIA In reply to an inquiry made in the House of Commons, on April 3rd, the Minister of Militia and Defence stated to Mr. Clarke Wallace that there were 43 battalions of active Militia in Ontario, 30 in Quebec, 9 in Nova Scotia, 6 in New Brunswick, 2 in Manitoba, 3 in British Columbia and 2 in Prince Edward Island. Of these troops 2,298 were Cavalry, 3,843 Artillery, 328 Engineers and 29,476 Infantry. There were 140 men belonging to Army Service Corps, 344 to the Bearer Companies and 192 to Field Hospitals. Sixty-nine Corps were armed with the Lee-Enfield rifles and carbines and the remainder with Snider rifles. In camps all troops used the former. There were, at the time of speaking, 6,164,828 rounds of ammunition at the headquarters of battalions in Ontario; 4,443,826 in Quebec; 232,850 in Nova Scotia; 318,517 in New Brunswick; 195,540 in Prince Edward Island; 181,615 in Manitoba; 479,833 in British Columbia. There were 90 field-guns attached to the various Cavalry battalions. There was only one arsenal-that at Quebec. Parliament and the the Militia Lieut.-Col. A. T. Thompson spoke at length upon this subject in the House of Commons on April 19th. Condition of He claimed to know something of the Militia, to have spent 14 years in the service, and to have been connected with both a city and a rural corps. He pointed out that the reserve force of the Militia comprised a fair portion of the population of the country and that in times of actual trouble the increase in the active Militia would come from amongst the very men who now think more of the price of binder twine than the defence of their country. Every one should be interested in the subject. He objected strongly to the inadequate pay given the rank and file during the summer camps. Inadequate physique was one result. Practical refusal to return to camp and fill the three years' engagement was another. He thought that each soldier should receive for his first year 50 cents a day, for his second year 65 cents and for his third and subsequent years 75 cents a day. The Regimental chaplain, who did much good work in camp, should be paid like other officers, and it was very curious that he should ever have been omitted. Increased comforts for the men were necessary and mess tents, especially, should be provided. He did not believe in central armouries but preferred the old system of a small armoury at the headquarters of each company. present system of storing the arms during the year prevented the men from becoming really familiar with them and tended to decrease local and proper pride in the service. The establishment of rifle clubs would do away in some degree with this objection but only in part. The country Militia should have ready access to its arms. The The speaker had been greatly impressed by the lessons of the Boer War in connection with mounted infantry. "We have in Canada the greatest opportunity for mounted infantry that any country in the world possesses. A sparse population, vast areas, splendid horses and plenty of farmers' sons were the prominent factors. Yet not a single squadron existed. "I believe that a company of mounted infantry should be attached to every infantry regiment in Canada; every rural corps at least." Picked men only should be admitted and the consequent emulation would do good all round. The establishment of a transport corps should be undertaken and he considered the formation of the Army Medical Staff a wise measure. Rifle shooting must be encouraged and this could be done very effectively for an increased expenditure of $40,000 upon ammunition. "I would like to see some of the money now squandered upon too luxurious city armouries devoted to the establishment of ranges throughout the country so that every man might learn to shoot." He did not believe in militarism or a large Permanent Force but he favoured one just large enough to supply good teachers for citizen soldiers. Before long, he thought, Canada should take up seriously the establishment of a second cartridge factory and also a factory for the manufacture of rifles. He approved strongly of the annual drill for the Militia and praised the work done by civilian surgeons in South Africa. In the debate which followed in Committee, upon the Militia estimates, the Minister of Milita (Dr. Borden) gave particulars of the new Royal Canadian School of Musketry which was to be establised at Ottawa after the pattern of the Hythe School in England. The duties of the Chief Instructor would be not only local to the School but would include the inspection of regiments and rifle associations throughout the country. The assistants were to be drawn from the Permanent Force. The scheme included a certificate which all subalterns in the Militia must hold before promotion to a higher rank. Lieut.-Col. the Hon. David Tisdale, feared that this regulation would prove one more difficulty in the way of obtaining officersalready a serious situation. If the instruction could be localized so as to avoid the expense of going to Ottawa from all parts of the Dominion, in order to qualify, the trouble might be averted. Minister recognized the force of this point and in reply intimated that it might be wise to limit the qualification to Commanding Officers and possibly to Majors and Adjutants. Mr. G. W. Fowler also dwelt upon this matter. Expense for qualification should be simplified and diminished instead of increased. "There is two much gold lace in connection with our Militia. There is too much expense so that persons in rural communities, farmers' sons who would make excellent officers, who are excellent fighters, who are men of good education, are not able from the financial point of view to go for three or four months to the Schools and undergo the expense of procuring the necessary uniform." The Mr. A. B. Ingram drew attention to the value of the Cadet Corps in the High and Public Schools and urged that something be done |