In answer to my hon. friend I have only to say that I do not think he has warrant for stating that the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is unable to discharge his duties. It is a purely gratuitous insinuation, to say the least of it. The Lieutenant Governor of Ontnario is not physically strong enough to go out of his house, but apart from his physical infirmity, his mind is clear, and his judgment is just as good as ever, and his faculties are entirely unimpaired. I would say moreover that in view of the distinguished career of Sir Oliver Mowat and the high functions he has discharged, it would perhaps be more becoming on the part of any hon. gentleman in this House to speak of 'him only in a respectful manner.

Mr. MACLEAN.

Mr. Speaker-

Mr. SPEAKER.

Order.

Mr. MACLEAN.

I think the House will allow me to answer the insinuation made by the right hon. gentleman. I have not spoken disrespectfully of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. I have as much respect for him as has the right hon. gentleman.

Mr. SPEAKER.

Order. The hon. gentleman has only a right to make a personal explanation.

Mr. MACLEAN.

I wish to make such explanation now. The leader of this House has questioned my conduct in bringing this matter before the House, and has said that I reflected on the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. I have not. I am dealing with the office of the Lieutenant Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario to-day is not accessible to the people of Ontario.

Mr. SPEAKER.

Order, order.

Mr. MACLEAN.

He is not able to discharge his duties-

Mr. SPEAKER.

Order, order.

Mr. SPEAKER.

Mr. MACLEAN.

And it is in the public interest that this question should be brought before the House.

Mr. E. A. LANCASTER (Lincoln and Niagara).

I desire to call the attention of the right hon. premier to the fact, in view of what has been stated by him in answer to the hon member for East York (Mr. Maclean), that the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was not able to open the legislature the other day, and his duties had to be performed by a substitute in the person of the Chief Justice of the province of Ontario. Under these circumstances I think it was quite proper that the premier's attention should be called to the fact that another Lieutenant Governor should be appointed.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN (Halifax).

I do not understand that the hon. member for East York cast the slightest reflection in the world on the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and I think it was gratuitous on the part of the right hon. gentleman to suggest that he did so. What language of the hon. member for East York conveyed any such insinuation-was it the mere statement of the physical condition of Sir Oliver Mowat ? As you are aware, his condition has been announced by members of the family of the Lieutenant Governor, announced only a few days ago-

Nothing of the kind.

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

I beg my hon. friend's pardon, I am speaking of a matter which I know. I am not making this statement without the book. I think I know about as much of what I am speaking as did the right hon. gentleman a moment ago when he spoke of the condition of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Every one respects that hon. gentleman, he has had a great career in public life in Canada, but surely it is no insult to him to say that his physical condition is not at the present time such as would enable him to discharge the very trying duties that possibly he may be called upon to discharge in the near future. No one supposes a statement of that kind involves any discredit to Sir Oliver Mowat.

I think the remarks of my right hon. friend were not in very good taste when he undertook to lecture the hon. member for East York as he did. Now, unless matters have changed a good deal within the last few days, it is certain that the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario iS) in a very week physical condition, there is no doubt about that. We are al sorry for it, we regret that it should be so, but our regret does not alter the fact. Under these circumstances, I consider the observations of my hon. friend from East York were pertinent and in perfect good taste, and I trust the government will take them into consideration.

I would ask the hon. leader of the opposition to remember that it is a reflection upon Sir Oliver Mowat to say that he would continue to occupy his position if he were unable to perform the duties of his office. My hon. friend says that a gentleman occupying the high position of Sir Oliver Mowat should not continue to occupy that position if he is unable to perform his duties. That seems to be a distinct reflection upon him. Either he is competent to discharge his duties and should continue in the office, or he is holding on to an office that he ought not to retain.

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

He might be physically so weak that he could not take the matter into consideration at all.

The MINISTER OF FINANCE (Hon. W.

S. Fielding). It is another reflection on the Lieutenant Governor, I submit, to say that he is holding on to the office under these circumstances.

Mr. LEIGHTON MCCARTHY (North Sim-coe).

The leader of the opposition said he was speaking by the book when he said that Sir Oliver Mowat was in such a physical condition that in all probability he would not be able to perform the functions of his office.

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

I said I knew that he was physically very weak, and that it had been so announced in Toronto by members of his family.

Mr. MCCARTHY.

He is either in one condition or the other, either in a condition to discharge his duties, or in such a condition that he is not fit to discharge them. If he is in a condition which enables him to discharge his duties, there is no need of calling the attention of the House to the matter ; if he is in the other condition, then he is not fit to fulfil his public duties. I desire to say, speaking by the book, that I have been told by relative^ of the Lieutenant Governor that he is much better, that within the last three days his condition has improved, and that he has been writing letters, personal and otherwise, with his own hand. His condition is much improved from that which prevented him from opening the House last week.