Mr. BURRELL:

I know Mr. Creelman; I do not know the other gentlemen, although I have heard their names occasionally. I knew Mr. Creelman as a contractor in the Kootenay railroad district; he is a man of some substance.

Mr. SEXSMITH:

I remember the Rill referred to by the member for North Simcoe (Mr. Currie), which came before the committee last year. Some men from Vancouver-apparently in good standing, so far as the committee knew-had applied some years ago for a charter to- do an insurance-business. The charter was renewed once,, and they came back for another renewal last year. It was brought out at that time that the company had secured $70,000 or $72,000 in subscriptions and has squandered $63,000 or $64,000 of that in commissions. They were insisting on having the charter renewed in order that they could prosecute some of the stockholders for certain amounts which the company claimed were due them. That application was thrown out of committee. No evidence has been furnished this morning to satisfy this committee that the Bill now under consideration should be passed this year, in the dying days of the session. No- doubt it has been applied for in the ordinary way, but I do not see why the promoters could not have had their names in long before this. Now, in the dying days of the session, it is asked that this Bill be put through. I do not think we should stand for it; I think it should be laid over.

Sir SAM HUGHES:

I observe that an hon. gentleman from Vancouver (Mr. Crowe) has entered the chamber. Perhaps he can give us- some light on the status of these gentlemen. A Bill has been introduced in the dying days of the session; it is not yet even printed in French.

The promoters of this Bill are a firm of lawyers in Ottawa. At the last moment, we are. informed that a number of gentlemen in Vancouver, who had not time to send their names here by letter, telegraphed their names, being anxious that they should be put in as tlhe promoters of this Bill. The whole thing is irregular, and I am anxious to know the status of these gentlemen. Their names are: H. S. Durkee, P. F. Wright, J. Kendall, O. S. Wood and

A. G. Creelman. Are these the men who are new supposed to be the promoters of the-Bill, but who had not time to mail their application t-o get it here so as to comply with the rules

Mr. CROWE:

I do not know anything about the Bill before the House, but I know several of these gentlemen, and I can vouch .for them. Mr. Creelman is a large contractor in Vancouver, a very wealthy man. Mr. Wood is a man of A1 standing. Mr. Durkee is in the jewellery business, but I do not know what standing he has. Mr. P. F. Wright is in the furniture business. I can vouch for three of these gentlemen;

the other two I cannot vouch for because I do not know them.

Sir SAM HUGHES:

Does not the rule of the House require that this Bill shall be printed in French?

Mr. SPEAKER:

That objection cannot be taken at this stage. It has to be taken at an earlier stage.

Sir SAM HUGHES:

I raised the objection at an earlier stage.

Sir HERBERT AMES:

At the opening to-day the House gave its unanimous consent that this Bill should be placed upon the Order Paper.

1. Is Sir George Foster, Minister of Trade and Commerce, the Chairman of the War Trade Board?

2. If so, did he select and appoint the members and the staff thereof?

3. If not, by what other members of the Cabinet were these selections and appointments made?

4. What are the names, salaries and ordinary places of residence of the members and staff of the War Trade Board?

Sir GEORGE FOSTER:

I. Yes.

2 and 3. The members of the War Trade Board were selected and appointed by the Governor in Council, of which the Minister of Trade and Commerce is one. The staff were selected 'by the (board, the certifications made by the Civil 'Service Commission and appointments made by Order in Council.

4. Board: Sir George Foster, Chairman; F. P. Jones, Vice-Chairman, Montreal; J. W. McConnell, member, Montreal;

J. H. Gundy, member, Toronto; C. B. Mc-Naught, member, Toronto; Jos. Gibbons, member, Toronto; G. A. Magrath, ex-officio member; H. Laporte, ex-officio member.

General: Wm. K. Trower, General Secretary, $500, Montreal; J. H. Wilkie, General Secretary, $250, Montreal; Mies G. Odium, Accountant, $100, Woodstock.

Filing: W. P. Murphy, chief file clerk,

$125, Montreal; Mies R. McFadden, file clerk, $50, Carleton Place; Francis Hallinan, file

clerk, $70, Ottawa; J. H. Arbick, file clerk, $65, Ottawa. *

United States Import License Department [DOT] John A. Clift, Chief Imports from United States, $200, Ottawa; Geo. H. Ince, Chief Imports from United States, $125, Ottawa; R. A. Pettigrew, Chief Imports from. United States, $100, Montreal; Paul Michaud, Chief Imports from United States, $100, St. Barthelemy; Miss F. Varcoe, stenographer, $60, Ottawa; 'Miss O. Goth, stenographer, $60, Carleton Place; Miss M. Vallillee, stenographer, $60, Ottawa; Miss A. Jones, stenographer, $60, Ottawa; Miss F. 'Casey, stenographer, $70, Ottawa; Miss 'G. Evans, stenographer, $60 Ottawa; Miss J. Dunbar, stenographer, $75, Toronto; Gerald Latreille, messenger, $30, Ottawa.

Canadian Export Department: W. P. McKay, chief, $200, Ottawa; F. D'Ornellis, assistant, paid by Customs, Ottawa; M. H. Ryan, assistant, $125, Renfrew; J. Byce, stenographer, $80, Ottawa; G. V. Jamieson, stenographer, $90, Ottawa; B. Roberts, stenographer, $75, Montreal; D. Casey, clerk, $70, Montreal.

Metals Department: H. D. Bayne, chief, paid by Customs, Toronto; E. M. Russell, assistant, $175, Montreal; T. O. Hosking, inspector, $150, Montreal; Wm. Gilchrist, inspector, paid by Customs; Henry B. Tim-leok, stenographer, paid by Customs, Brock-ville.

British Priority Department: A. E. D. Holden, (chief, $200, Montreal; Miss M. Morel, assistant, $60, Ottawa; Miss L. Owrid, stenographer, $70, Almonte; Miss M.

A. Jones, stenographer, $65, Ottawa.

"Telegraph and Telephone Department: G. H. White, telegraph operator, $238.66, Montreal; I. Rusland, telephone operator, $55, Ottawa; Albert Guneau, messenger, $30, Ottawa.

Members-' stenographers: Miss E. Imerie, $80, Westmount; Miss W. P. Corner, $90, St. Lambert; Miss L. Mc/Murty, $80, Kin-burn; Miss C. T. Henderson, $80, Ottawa; Mrs. A. M. Keats, $80, Ottawa.

Messenger Department: Frank Randall, $40, Ottawa; Henry Albert, $30, Ottawa; Jos. De Granpre, $30, Ottawa.

War Economies: Lester M. Green, $300, Toronto.

Inspection Department: T. 'M. Forrest, $208.33, Montreal; C. L. Wise, $200, Toronto; Miss E. H. Tomkins, stenographer, $80, Ottawa.

The former residence of each official is mentioned. The present residence of each

official is shown, except Mr. Wise, who is in Toronto.

The members of the board a>re allowed travelling expenses, and in addition a living allowance at the rate of $10 a day for the days spent in Ottawa.

1. Is it the intention of the Government to pay, in the near future, the workmen who have worked1 at Halifax, and for whom a statement of wages due has been lodged with the Department of Finance on the 2'6th of March last?

2. If so, when will the Government pay said wages and thus relieve a situation that is causing great inconvenience to many of these workmen?

1. The Department of Finance is not aware of any claim such as is mentioned in this question having been filed.

2. The Government disclaim any liability as to the payment of wages in connection with the Halifax disaster, and accordingly they do not propose paying any such claims.

1. Is it true that serious discrepancies were found in the accounts of the paymaster of the Welland Canal?

2. If so, what was the amount of money involved?

3. What reparation has been made, and by

what means? t

* 4. How far back have the defalcations extended?

5. By what means were the defalcations carried out?

6. Were other persons involved with the paymaster? If so, who?

7. Does the department intend to take action?