LEWIS (West Huron) moved for leave to introduce Bill (No. 74) respee-ing wireless telegraphy on ships.
Hon. L. P. BRODEUR (Minister of Marine and Fisheries).
Explain.
Mr. LEWIS.
The Bill is very simple, and provides that ships of over 500 tons carrying passengers, shall have a wireless telegraph apparatus on board, and an officer who can manage it, and a freight ship of over 1,200 tons shall be similarly equipped. Bill applies to sea-going and ccasting vessels registered in Canada.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.
Mr. R. L. BORDEN.
February 5, 1909.
Mr. A. K. MACLEAN (Lunenburg).
I desire to ask the government when the proposed convention between the United States
and Canada respecting a reference to the Hague tribunal, will be laid on the table.
I understand it has been approved by the United States Senate.
Rt. Hon. Sir WILFRID LAURIER (Prime Minister).
I have no information to give my hon. friend. It will have to pass through the usual process, and go through the foreign office before we receive it.
Mr. FOSTER.
I desire to call the attention of the ministers to the fact that the Public Works orders in council and the Interior Department orders as to increase of pay to civil servants, have not yet been brought down, and that a similar request which was put in the form of an order for a return of all the other departments has not been honoured. I hope the Secretary of State will get after his colleagues, and have that information brought down.
Hon. CHARLES MURPHY (Secretary of State).
Has my hon. friend inspected the last return that was handed in ?
Mr. FOSTER.
Yes, all that have been handed down. The Postmaster General still remains delinquent.
Mr. MURPHY.
The Postmaster General has supplied a supplementary.
Hon. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX (Postmaster General).
I laid a statement on the table the other day.
Mr. FOSTER.
I expected to get these through the records office. They have not come there.