operated 107 elevators; stated that ten new elevators had been built for special binning purposes, that most of the Milling Companies had refused to sell their elevators to the Government and that when expropriation was resorted to much and effective hostility was aroused; described various difficulties and received a vote of confidence in the work of the Commission. "One of the difficulties was that at a number of points where we had purchased and attempted to run elevators, the Milling companies paid the track price for street wheat, and in a few instances 1 cent a bushel over track price, and very many of the farmers jumped at these prices. Another discouragement was the fact that many farmers, even those who had petitioned for a Government elevator, loaded over platforms instead of using our elevators." R. C. Henders of Culross was elected President and J. S. Wood of Oakville Vice-President.

This question came up again when the Commissioners' Report for 1910 was submitted to the Legislature in February and showed an expenditure of $929,000 on Elevators and receipts to the end of the year which did not pay for operation and maintenance. An appropriation of $70,000 was made and on Nov. 7th following Mr. McCuaig expressed the belief that the 1911 operation would be a financial success. The demand for accommodation had been great, four elevators had been rebuilt and others fitted with modern appliances while many petitions for new ones had to be refused for lack of funds. At the close of the year there was a controversy between the Commission and dealers in Winnipeg, handling coarse grains, in respect to a discrepancy of weights between country elevators and city receipts.

The Manitoba Agricultural College did good work during the year. The Government had under way the construction of a $2,000,000 building for the students who, in 1910, numbered 236 or an increase of 31 over 1909. A special train was sent out by the College on May 30 for a month's tour of the Province and consisting of a palace car and field-husbandry car, a domestic science car, a horticultural car, a diner and sleeper, and an engine -each car specially fitted up with a space at one end cleared of seats to allow the arrangement of tables and materials necessary in the Demonstration work while on the sides of each car were suitable displays of the subjects taken up in the lecture. A large staff of lecturers and demonstrators accompanied the car and almost every part of the Province was visited.

In other elements of progress, it may be added, the Province possessed, though it did not control, school lands totalling 723,640 acres an estimated unsurveyed area of 730,705 acres and, in the new region acquired at the close of the year, an estimated total of 6,110,293 acres; the investments of Life, Fire and other Insurance Companies in Manitoba were placed at $34,500,000; the Premium income of Life Companies in 1910 was $2,127,700 and

of Fire Companies (joint stock and mutual) $398,621 with a total at Risk of $59,000,000; the water-power of the Nelson River was estimated by the Conservation Commission at 6,780,000 horse-power-to come into the Province with the new territoryand that of the Saskatchewan at 80,000 horse-power. Immigration continued during the year and the destination of those arriving at Ocean ports or from the United States for Manitoba were stated at 34,653 (12 months ending Mch. 31, 1911).

An organization was formed at Dauphin on Oct. 19th, composed of representatives from 30 surrounding municipalities, and calling itself the North-West Manitoba Immigration Association. J. McNeil of Dauphin was elected President and George Bain of Gladstone Vice-President. On Dec. 21st a large deputation of the Boards of Trade of the Province waited upon the Hon. George Lawrence, Minister of Agriculture, and urged a more active immigration policy while claiming that Manitoba did not get its share of Western immigrants. Brandon, Crystal City, Dauphin, Gladstone, Killarney, Minnedosa, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, St. Boniface, Virden, Shoal Lake, Stonewall, Winnipeg, Pilot Mound, and a number of Provincial organizations were represented. An elaborate Petition was read, various speeches made and then Mr. Lawrence replied. "The Railway companies carry the people further West to settle upon their own lands. The immigration officials work to settle up Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is a wonder that the Province has got on as well as it has. I do not think it establishes anything to show a decrease in the population of certain towns, as the railways have opened up more new towns and people naturally live along the line of the nearest Railway instead of in the old-settled towns." "A new immigration policy was promised for the new year.

Government and Legislation of the Year in Manitoba

On Aug. 1st Sir D. H. McMillan, Lieut.-Governor of the Province since 1900, retired at the conclusion of his second term and was succeeded by Douglas Colin Cameron, a miller and financier of Winnipeg and Kenora. Sir Daniel and Lady McMillan were given a most representative banquet on Sept. 28 with Sir William Whyte as Chairman and with an Address read by Mr. A. M. Nanton. A re-arrangement of Portfolios took place in the Government on Oct. 11 when the Hon. R. P. Roblin became Provincial Secretary as well as Premier; Hon. Colin H. Campbell retired from the Attorney-Generalship and became Minister of Public Works in place of Mr. Rogers who, after long and active service in the Government and Provincial party, had joined the new Administration at Ottawa; Hon. James H. Howden became Attorney-General and the Hon. George Lawrence, who had been in the Legislature since 1899, became Minister of Agriculture and Immigration. The Hon. G. R. Coldwell, Minister of Education, and Hon. Hugh Arm

strong, Provincial Treasurer, retained their old positions. Amongst those mentioned as of Cabinet rank, and from whom Mr. Lawrence was selected, were James Argue, Harvey Simpson, George Steel, William Ferguson, T. W. Taylor, Robert F. Lyons, Joseph Bernier and A. H. Carroll. At the same time George Patterson, K.C., resigned the post of Deputy Attorney-General to become Master in Chambers and was replaced by R. B. Graham, LL.B., and, a little later, Arthur L. Bonnycastle, ex-M.L.A., was appointed Deputy Provincial Secretary.

There were only three Bye-elections in 1911. Russell was vacated by A. L. Bonnycastle refusing to take the seat on a recount and on Feb. 11, F. Y. Newton (Cons.) was elected over William Valens (Lib.) by 916 to 651 votes. In Killarney the new Minister was elected by acclamation on Oct. 23rd and in Manitou, vacated by Hon. Mr. Rogers, James Morrow (Cons.) was, on Oct. 31, elected by acclamation. The strength of the Roblin Government was, at the close of the year, 28 to 13 Liberals. The Prohibition question was discussed in 1911 as the result of an immense petition asking for the abolition of the bar, and said to have been signed by 15,000 electors, which was presented to the Government on Feb. 16. The Rev. Principal Patrick, Rev. Dr. Eber Crummy, and W. W. Buchanan were the spokesmen. Dr. Patrick urged the enactment of a measure at the present Session which would leave to the judgment of the people the question of whether the bar should be abolished or not. Dr. Crummy recognized features of excellence in the Provincial local option law, but pointed out that technical difficulties existed which defeated the purpose of the Act. There were difficulties in the way of carrying Local Option in large cities but the abolition of the bar would bestow great benefits upon the whole community without causing great inconvenience to any portion of it. Mr. Premier Roblin pointed out that the proposal, while not a new one, had never been adopted by any Province in Canada. But if public opinion justified it he hoped Manitoba would be the first Province to adopt the principle. "The changes asked for would have the sincere and earnest consideration of the Government. It was a complicated question and would require much study, for there was no evidence that public opinion was preponderatingly in favour of either side of the issue." He contended that the Local Option law gave little ground for complaint. "Personally," he added, "I am in full sympathy with the movement looking toward the abolition of the bar."

The first Session of the 13th Legislature of Manitoba was opened by Sir D. H. McMillan on Feb. 9th with a Speech from the Throne in which reference was first made to the King's death, and to the new Sovereign, and the year described as one of continued prosperity. It was stated that the Government had, in the recess, held unsuccessful conferences with the Federal

authorities in the vexed Boundary question; that a number of Elevators had been acquired for the receiving and storage of grain and a Commission appointed to control the work; that the service of the Manitoba Government Telephones continued to be so satisfactory that the Government had been unable to keep pace with the popular demand but would continue a policy of vigorous extension; that the growth of public business made it necessary to provide for new Legislative and Departmental buildings and that negotiations were under way for the Fort Osborne lands; that a Good Roads Commissioner had been appointed to look after what was described as one of the best agencies in opening up the Province; that a Provincial Commission on Technical and Industrial Education had been appointed to try and provide training for those at present unable to take advantage of secondary and higher education.

The Address was moved by J. G. Harvey, K.C., and J. C. W. Reid. The former in his speech suggested that Telephones should have been taken over, in all the Provinces, by the Dominion Post Office and Elevators by the Department of Trade and Commerce. Mr. Reid stated that under Provincial administration the Telephone system had grown from 15,000 subscribers in 1908 to 34,000 in 1911 with 3,300 additional farmers supplied in the past year. After short speeches by the Opposition leader (T. C. Norris) and the Premier-who stated that when he first came to the Province and farmed, 34 years before, he had sold No. 1 hard wheat at 50 cents a bushel-the debate was closed on Feb. 21st without division. One of its notable speeches was that of S. Hart Green (Lib.) of Winnipeg which dealt with the needs of Labour and the principles of direct legislation. He urged the policy of allowing the people to initiate legislation by petition to the Legislature which, if refused, would go to a referendum and, if then approved by a majority of the public vote, would become law after receiving the Lieut.-Governor's assent. The Premier claimed that this would make the Legislature a mere machine and government a farce. Meanwhile the Reciprocity question-elsewhere dealt with-had been discussed at length on a motion of approval by T. C. Norris and T. H. Johnson and an amendment denouncing the policy moved by Hon. Messrs. Rogers and Roblin. The amendment carried by 26 to 12.

The Budget speech was delivered by the Provincial Treasurer (Hon. Hugh Armstrong) on Feb. 28th. He was able to show a large surplus, a Provincial Loan at rates indicating very high credit, a general condition of prosperity. He stated that the 1910 crops and produce had realized $72,261,863 for the farmers and spoke of industrial advancement and Bank clearings. The Revenue for 1910 had been estimated at $3,426,000; the actual returns were $3,847,321. The total Expenditure for the year

ending Dec. 31 was $3,543,044 leaving a Cash surplus of $304,277. There had also been expended, out of revenue, a total of $308,103 which, he claimed, really belonged to capital account and made the actual surplus of the year $612,380. The yearly Manitoba and North-Western lands account showed a total paid on this debenture Debt of $2,280,000, against which the Government had received $1,736,810 on account of land sales, with deferred payments of $715,645, and lands unsold totalling 62,967 acres. During the year an issue of £1,000,000 stock had been sold at 102-said by Mr. Armstrong to be the highest price ever realized by Manitoba or any Province of Canada.

The Telephone matter was dealt with and the estimated Revenue for 1911 was stated at $4,140,247 including $838,247 from Dominion Subsidy, $190,000 from School lands, $1,300,000 from Telephone service, $140,000 from Grain Elevators, $129,000 from the Corporation tax and $140,000 from Railway taxation, $171,500 from Public institutions, $550,000 from Provincial lands, $105,000 from Liquor licenses, $70,000 from Succession duties, $230,000 from Land Titles Offices; Miscellaneous license fees, $199,000. The Expenditures were estimated at $3,532,944 with $482,000 of capital charges and included $543,480 for Education, $278,219 for Agriculture and Immigration, $1,000,000 for telephones and telegraphs, $1,062,590 for Public Works and the balance allotted to various Departments. As stated later on* the actual Revenue of 1911 was $4,454,180 or $300,000 more than the estimate; the actual Expenditure was $4,002,826 which, with certain deductions on capital account, left a surplus of $492,426; the total Surpluses since 1900 had been $4,111,912. Of the important matters provided for during the year and specified in succeeding Supplementaries were $800,000 for Agriculture College buildings, $300,000 for the Hospital for Insane at Brandon, and $500,000 toward the new Parliament Buildings at Winnipeg. A sum of $20,500 was also granted to increase the indemnity of members of the Legislature by $500. Some official salary increases were also added.

The Opposition view was expressed by its leader, T. C. Norris, on Mch. 1st. He claimed that the Government was replacing the land Assets of the Province by unreliable securities and had saved itself from showing a deficit in 1910 by putting $648,000 of land receipts into revenue and charging up $308,000 of maintenance charges to capital expenditures. There was, he alleged, really a deficit of $300,000. As to the rest "the present Government has added to the Debt which now amounts to about $13,500,000 at the rate of about a million a year for the last ten years and at the same time the only Asset of the Province is disappearing." The Opposition laid stress, also, on the cost and alleged unpopularity

NOTE.-Budget speech of 1912.