NORTHRUP (East Hastings) moved for leave to introduce Bill (No. 5). to amend the Dominion Elections Act, 1900. He said: The election law was consolidated and amended by the Dominion Elections Act, passed in 1900. In that Act, there are stringent provisions against bribery of electors and there is one provision against the bribery of a candidate. Section 108, clause (i) provides :-

Every person wbo, to induce a person to allow bin'self to be nominated as a candidate or to refrain from becoming a candidate, or to withdraw if he has become -a candidate, gives or procures any office, place or employment, or agrees to give or procure, or offers or promises to procure, or endeavours to procure any office, place or employment for such person or any other person, is guilty of an indictable offence under the Act.

There is no provision in the Act as it stands to prevent any person offering money to induce a person to become a candidate or to withdraw after being nominated as a candidate; and the Bill I have drawn is merely for the purpose of adding to this clause another subsection so that the same penalty shall attend the offering of money to bribe a candidate as is now provided in the case of offering an office to a candidate.

I am informed by the

Deputy Minister of Militia that it will be impossible to answer this question verbally. The hon. gentleman had better move for the papers.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

of the government of Canada, or the minister of the department concerned ?

1. There is no copy of any such report in this department nor is there any record of any such having been rendered.

2. There is no authority for such procedure nor any orders relative thereto.

COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE CADET CORPS. Mr. CLARKE asked:

1. Has the government received any petition or petitions from collegiate institute cadet corps, asking for facilities in rifle shooting and for swords for use by officers?

2. Has the government in store any swords suitable for use by officers of cadet corps, and if so, is it the intention to issue the same for this purpose?

3. Does the government intend to place collegiate institutes on the same footing in regard to rifle shooting as it has placed Upper Canada College, that is to say, by issuing Morris tube outfits and granting free ammunition?

4. Has the government received a petition from the Toronto - Collegiate Institute Board, asking for Lee-Metford rifles, and for encouragement to cadets to practice at the Long Branch ranges ? If so, what does the government intend to do in the matter ?

1. Yes.

2. No.

3. Morris tubes are no longer required. Free ammunition is isstfed to rifle associations only. None has ever been issued to educational establishments. They are only organized for drill.

4. Yes. By the application received it appears that the corps consist each of fifty young gentlemen between the age of fifteen and twenty years, and consequently all above sixteen years of age can form themselves into a rifle club and thus obtain the advantages they desire under provisions of G. O. 150 of 1901, paragraph 6.

As regards lads under sixteen years, the major general does not consider that they should be entrusted with ammunition and permitted to perform range practices.

Mr. WILSON asked :

Has the Dominion government appointed a commissioner to proceed to Patagonia to negotiate with the 4,000 Welshman now residing there, with a view to their settling in Canada?

If so, has the commissioner reported, and will the government lay his report on the Table of the House?

What was the cost of these negotiations, and is it the iidention of the government to give the Welsh colony in Patagonia any assistance to induce them to settle in Canada?

The government appointed a delegation to proceed to Patagonia

with a view to ascertaining and reporting to what extent the members of the Welsh colony there were likely to remove to Canada.

2. The delegation has not yet reported to the head office. The deputy minister, being now in England, has, no doubt, conferred verbally with the delegation.

3. The accounts are not yet in a position to enable an answer to be made to this question. The matter of further assistance is now under consideration.