Mr. SPEAKER.

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery a certificate of the election and return of Duncan Alexander Stewart, Esq., for the Electoral District of Lisgar.

PUTTEE (Winnipeg) moved for leave to introduce Bill (No. 32) to amend the Conciliation Act of 1900. He said : The object of the Bill is to widen the scope and extend the application of the present Conciliation Act. That Act is restricted to the sphere of voluntary conciliation, but although it has only been in force during the past two years, it has become evident that its scope should be extended. During the past year there have been industrial disturbances which the Act was unable to touch. At present, when differences occur between employers and employees, the minister has power to order an inquiry, and then he may, on the application of either employer or employee, appoint a conciliator, and in addition, on the application of both parties to the dispute, he may appoint an arbitrator, who will proceed with the arbitration and make an award, but acceptance or observance of the award is not compulsory in any respect. The object of my amendment is to broaden the scope of the law by giving a greater initiative to the Labour Department, in the first place, and in the second place by giving the minister power to appoint an arbitrator, on the application of one of the parties to the dispute. This arbitrator will have authority to take evidence under oath, and give a decision, indicating a basis of settlement, a copy of which will be sent to each of the parties and be also published in the ' Labour Gazette.' In the present Act, public opinion and the desire to do justice is what is relied upon to make it operative, and it seems to me that the publication of the award of an independent arbitrator is likely to be more effective.

There is also in my Bill a further provision which I think very necessary, namely, that in no agreement arrived at, either as the result of conciliation or arbitration, must there be any clause compelling an employee to give up membership in any local, national

Bill (No. 33) to amend the Criminal Code.- Mr. German.

Mr. SPEAKER.

Seconded by Mr. Ross ?

Hon. Mr. ROSS (Victoria, N.S.) Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to second any more Bills.

Mr. CHRISTIE.

I will second the Bill. Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.

1. What steamers has been fitted up with cooling plants to cool the compartments containing perishable products in conformity with agreement with the government of Canada ?

2. What other steamships than those named in the House by the Minister of Agriculture last year have been fitted with fans to produce a circulation of fresh air in the compartments in which perishable products are carried, if any ?

1. The ' Ontarian,' of the Allan Line, the ' Tritonia,' of the Donaldson Line, the ' Devona ' and ' Hurona ' of the Thomson Line, carried products in 1901; other steamers have been and are being fitted for service in 1902.

2. The ' Corinthian,' ' Orcadian ' and ' Sardinian,' of the Allan Line, the ' Cervona ' of the Thomson Line, the ' Manchester City ' and ' Manchester Commerce ' of the Manchester Liners, the ' Lake Simcoe ' of the Beaver Line.

I. C. R.-ACCIDENTS THROUGH CATTLE ON TRACK.

1. How many cattle sheep and horses ware

killed by being struck by engines on the Canadian government railways during each year since 1S90 : (a) At points of intersection of highways ? (b) Elsewhere on the lines ?

2. How many engines, if any, were derailed or disabled during each of the same years, owing to their striking cattle, sheep and horses :

(a) At points of intersection of highways ? (b) Elsewhere on the lines ?

3. How many railway employees and passengers, if any, were killed or injured on account of engines colliding with cattle, sheep and horses : (a) At points of intersection of highways ? (b) Elsewhere on the lines ?

I shall be obliged to ask the hon. gentleman (Mr. Erb) to move for a return. The information asked for is very voluminous.

I. C. R.-PURCHASES OF CANADIAN COAL.

Mr. KENDALL asked :

What quantities of Canadian coal have been purchased by the Railway Department during the last four years ; from what companies, at what prices, and at what points of delivery ?