Sir WILFRID LAURIER moved:

That the committee ordered by this House to investigate certain matters in connection

with Mr. Lumsden's resignation as chief engineer of the National Transcontinental Railway he composed of seven members instead of live, namely, Messrs. Geoffrion, Macdonald, Clarke (South Essex), Wilson (Laval), Lennox, Barker and Crothers.

Mr. J. D. REID..

I would like to ask the right hon. gentleman, the Prime Minister, if it is the intention to allow this committee to investigate the charges made by Mr. Lumsden of over-classification?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

It is the intention that the charges ordered to be investigated by the House shall be investigated.

Mr. J. D. REID.

The Prime Minister did not state the other day definitely whether his resolution really referred to the charge of over-classification, as made by Mr. Lumsden.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

If I have not succeeded in convincing my hon. friend of what I meant I am afraid that anything I might add will not do so.

1. How many persons are employed in the office of the inspector of agencies at Brandon?

2. How many days were they absent from the office during the period commencing 1st April, 1907, and ending 31st March, 1909, on duty and on leave, respectively?

3. How many days was the inspector of agencies absent from his office during the same period on duty and on leave, respectively ?

1. 3.

2. As the duties of the inspector are chiefly outside the office no account is kept of the period of their absence.

3. Answered by No. 2.

1. Is it a fact that the Banking Act of Canada will expire shortly?

2. If so, has the government obtained any reliable information regarding the Banking Acts of other countries ? If not, will the government endeavour to secure such information in the near future?

3. Does the government intend to allow that portion of the existing Banking Act to remain in force, by which the banks of Canada are said to issue nearly one hundred millions of dollars of currency; thereby making, as alleged, enormous profits, for which privilege the people of Canada do not receive one cent of interest in return?

Hon. W. S. FIELDING.

It is contemplated to provide a Banking Act during the present session. I cannot add anything to that statement at present.

1. What was the total acreage of pre-emptions and purchased homesteads sold in each of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, respectively, from the 1st November, 1909, to the 31st December, 1909?

2. What total amount of money receivable by the government does this represent in each province?

3. How much has been received by the government on account of pre-emptions and purchased homesteads in each of the provinces from the date of the passing of the Dominion Lands Act, 1908, to the 31st December, 1909?

1. Alberta, 153,600 acres; Saskatchewan, 287,360.

2. Alberta, $460,800; Saskatchewan, $862,080; exclusve of interest and entry fees.

3. Alberta, payments on pre-emptions, $50,114.75; payments on purchased home-teteadsj $89,515.30; Saskatchewan, payments on pre-emptions, $71,838.96; payments 'on purchased homeateads, $208,618.96.

Exclusive of entry fees (these figures show an increase over those furnished on the 18th January, in answer to Mr. Foster's question of that date, which is accounted for by the fact that the complete returns for the month of December, 1909, had not reached the accounts branch when the answer to Mr. Foster's question was prepared).