Mr. CONMEE.

I heard the motion put. I was in the House when the motion was put. I came in to the door of the

House, realized that the vote was on and heard the Speaker's remarks before he took his seat.

Mr. CONMEE.

I happen to know the ground over which this railway is pro jected. I agree with the hon. member for Macleod (Mr. Herron). There are no engineering difficulties. The line is coming from the southern boundary of Alberta on a gradual rise until it connects with the Crowsnest branch of the Canadian Pacific railway at Pincher. There are two towns of Pincher. Pincher on the Crowsnest is about three miles from the town of Pincher Creek, and while I think if propei representations had been made to the Minister of Railways and Canals when they built that branch line, it could have been built through that town, I do not see any reason, having regard to the alignment that the road must take to reach the point at which they are aiming, which is within three miles of the town, why they should not pass through it, and no hardship would be imposed upon them by compelling them to do so. Only justice would be done to the town of Pincher Creek.

Progress reported.

Mr. CONMEE.

Then I shall have to make reference to these various documents. I may say that the development of this power, which affects the public interest in the manner I have shortly outlined was entered into as a joint undertaking, an international work, upon the strength of an agreement that was entered into at the request of the town of Fort Francis, and, on their behalf, by the government of Ontario, in 1904. I conceive it to be necessary to make reference to the agreement, as it is the foundation of the whole transaction, and, perhaps, I may be permitted, instead of reading this document, which is somewhat lengthy, to hand it in to ' Hansard.'

Mr. CONMEE.

Well, unfortunately, I feel bound, then, under these circumstances, to read the document:-

Memorandum of agreement made in triplicate . this 17th day of February, 1901, between His Majesty represented by the Hon. the Commissioner of Crown Lands of the province of Ontario, hereinafter called the government.

Mr. CONMEE.

The Bill is to amend a private Act, but it deals with a'public question. The whole object of chapter 139 of 4 and 5 Edward VII. is to regulate certain works and the public rights in regard to those works. The Interpretation Act provides that all Bills, whether private or otherwise, are considered public Bills. Section 18 of that Act reads in this way:

Every Act shall be so construed as to reserve to parliament the power of repealing or amending it, and of revoking, restricting or modifying any power, privilege or advantage thereby vested in or granted to any per-

son, whenever such repeal, amendment, revocation, restriction or modification is deemed by parliament to be required for the public good.

I do not wish to take up the time of the House, and if the Bill can be read the first time and be sent to the committee, I am quite willing to accept that situation.