were on the whole doing satisfactory work for the farmers; promised legislation as to bonuses to Loan Companies on payment of mortgages before due date; did not think it feasible to make threshing wages a first lien without registration.

Many addresses followed. G. F. Chipman of the Grain Growers Guide, Winnipeg-in which the Association had taken $1,000 worth of stock-urged a Federal educational campaign along the lines of the 1910 Delegation to Ottawa; E. A. Partridge advocated the formation of a Farmers' Joint Stock Company to build the Hudson's Bay Railway; F. W. Green of Moose Jaw, Secretary-Treasurer, reported a paid-up membership of 10,328, of whom 4,000 had been added during 1910, with a cash balance of $13,000-as compared with 3,136 members in 1908; D. W. McCuaig of the Manitoba Elevator Commission dealt with their experience in that Province and said that where the crops were good the Government elevators had been patronized and where they were poor there was a tendency to go to the Mill elevators; R. McKenzie, Secretary of the Manitoba Grain Growers, spoke on the advantages of Reciprocity; S. D. Carey of Belle Plains denounced the Imperial Privy Council and declared the Association powerful enough to make its demands heard even there and, amidst much laughter, added: "We have taken the heads of Kings off before now." The great question before the Convention, however, was that of Government-ownership of Elevators versus Co-operation of farmers with Government aid. E. A. Partridge, in a long and able speech, stood for the first policy while George Langley, M.L.A., and F. W. Green, members of the Government Commission which had reported in favour of a Co-operative plan, stood by the Government policy. Mr. Langley opposed State ownership because the Government should devote itself, first, to "using the credit of the Province to displace the Loan Companies and to lend money to the farmers at five or six per cent. and, in the second place, because politics would control the system as in Manitoba where, he declared, the Liberal farmers were boycotting the Government elevators. Many others spoke and, finally, a Resolution was approved-by so large a majority that it was decided to make it unanimous-endorsing "the Elevator scheme as outlined in the Report of the Commission."

Resolutions were also carried favouring (1) Direct legislation by the initiative, referendum and recall; (2) declaring freight, passenger, express and telegraph rates in the West to be excessive and demanding lower rates; (3) urging upon the Railways and the Railway Commission the provision of cars with two doors to load through and sufficient space so that two farmers might fill a car of large capacity; (4) asking the Provincial Government to grant municipalities the power to tax vacant lands as high as double the tax on occupied lands; (5) describing the Hail Insurance Companies as doing a business unsatisfactory to the farmers.

and urging a Provincial system with a revenue raised by taxing land two cents per acre; (6) urging the Provincial Government for legislation to compel a standard implement-sale agreement amongst the Companies; (7) declaring strongly in favour of conserving natural resources and stating that the Federal Government should not allow water-powers or coal areas to pass under private ownership or lease for more than 10 years without a re-adjustment of rental; (8) favouring Dominion Government control of the chilled meat industry and export trade, with ownership and operation of Hudson's Bay Railway and Terminal Elevators; (9) supporting municipal control of slaughter abattoirs; (10) approving Reciprocity with the United States and free trade as the ultimate aim of legislation; (11) urging the free admission of farm implements, direct taxation on land values, and Dominion and Provincial co-operation to prevent railways constructing in too close proximity to one another's lines. J. A. Maharg of Moose Jaw was elected President and A. C. Dunning of Beaverton VicePresident. Directors were chosen as follows: F. W. Green, Moose Jaw; E. A. Partridge, Sintaluta; George Langley, Marmont; A. G. Hawkes, Percival; F. C. Tate, M.L.A., Regina; John Evans, Nutana; John Reid, Arcady.

On Feb. 21st the 2nd annual Convention of Provincial Dairymen's Societies was held in Regina and addressed by agricultural and dairying experts. Resolutions were passed in favour of a system for grading cream and butter similar to that of Alberta and of a Provincial system of cold storage. Commendation was formally expressed of the Government supervision of creameries in both work and methods. At the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association F. T. Skinner of Indian Head urged various reasons for supporting a Sheep industry which, in the Argentine, brought that country $30,000,000 a year. "Sheep require less attention and are easier handled than any other farm stock; in times of grain scarcity they will live on grass; they will double their value every year and they afford the easiest available supply of fresh meat for summer months; there is an ever-increasing market for lambs, which can be marketed in August at a time when ready money is acceptable and they are excellent factors in maintaining the fertility of the soil." He also inquired if a duty of 12 cents per pound was necessary to save the United States' wool-grower, how much more was a substantial tariff on wool necessary to resuscitate a Canadian industry which had been nearly strangled for the lack of it! Other incidents of the year included the Provincial Government's policy of obtaining harvesters in the United States and admitting them under a modification of the Dominion regulations; the winning by Seager Wheeler, an English farmer at Rosthern, of the 1st Prize and $1,000 in gold at the New York Seed Show for the best wheat grown in North America; the promotion of Alfalfa-growing in

the Province by Angus McKay of the Experimental Farm, and others, with a variety different from that in American use.

Meanwhile Railways had been spreading out and transportation problems growing with equal rapidity. The mileage of the Province on Mch. 31, 1911, was 3,120-an increase in the fiscal year of 188 miles and of 1,100 miles in five years. Much construction by the great railways was also under way and the Regina Leader said on June 28: "Saskatchewan is witnessing to-day the greatest railway development any section of the world has ever known and over 1,000 miles of new railway track will be constructed in Saskatchewan this year; last year (calendar) Saskatchewan led all Provinces in the Dominion with a total of 475 miles; the C.N.R. is constructing 330 miles, the G.T.P. is constructing 340 miles, the C.P.R. is constructing 348 miles." At the close of the year it was stated that 817 miles of grading had been done and 475 miles of steel laid with a total mileage increase since 1905 of 2,182. Of the difficulties facing Saskatchewan in 1911 one was caused by the prolonged coal strike in Alberta which led the Provincial Government to make strong representations at Ottawa. A coal famine in the winter threatened and before the matter was settled the stocks in hand had dwindled to a vanishing point. Pennsylvania coal could, of course, be obtained as a last resource but only at an excessive price. The C.P.R. was an element in relieving popular fear by bringing in large quantities and, had the condition continued into the winter it would have proved a public benefactor. Another help was the temporary removal of the coal duties.

Then came the enormous and unexpected crop and the inevitable car shortage. There was a serious wheat blockade for weeks though the result, and the alleged losses to the farmers, were not nearly so serious as despatches to the East indicated. It was bad enough, however, and the Regina Board of Trade on Dec. 13th stated that at 66 places in the southern counties 6,855 cars were on order and 2,370 supplied during the six preceding weeks. The Liberal press blamed the defeat of Reciprocity for the whole situation yet the Regina Leader of Dec. 20th stated that the Railways had actually moved 11,000,000 bushels more of grain than in 1910. Outlets, however, were choked and railways blocked with loaded cars while grain was pouring into a funnel with a small mouth. More outlets were needed, it was claimed, and they could only be had to the South. "Saskatchewan is suffering to-day from the loss of Reciprocity to a far greater extent than even the most ardent supporter of that policy could possibly have predicted would follow its defeat. Ontario has fastened upon us

a condition which is threatening to rob us of much of the splendid progress already made." A conference of Grain Growers and the Canadian Council of Agriculture at Regina on Dec. 29th urged an immediate arrangement with the United States Railways for

the use of their cars and a change in freight rates to Duluth and Minneapolis.

In other lines of development Saskatchewan found itself with 50 new Bank branches during the year and a total of 323; its Clearing-houses showed $169,777,575 of business and its municipal bonds sold to a total of $4,314,389; its Lumber cut (1910) was 75,931,000 feet B.M. worth $1,092,000 and the new Buildings in 1911 were $12,579,000 in value or double that of 1910; the investments by Life, Fire and other Insurance concerns and Loan and Trust Companies in the Province totalled $42,734,000 in 1910 and continued to increase in 1911.

Government and Legislation in

On May 20th Chief Justice E. L. Wetmore was sworn in as Administrator of the Province during the Lieut.-Governor's absence and, while the Hon. Saskatchewan Walter Scott was away at the Coronation, the Hon. during 1911. J. A. Calder was acting-Premier, Attorney-General and Provincial Secretary and the Hon. A. P. McNab acting-Minister of Agriculture and Public Works. There were no changes in the Ministry during the year though rumours were rife that if the Laurier Government won in the Elections Mr. Scott would go to Ottawa as Minister of the Interior and Mr. Calder assume the Premiership with Hon. Frank Oliver upon the Railway Commission. On Jan. 26 the Premier and Mr. Turgeon, Attorney-General, received 100 members of the Social and Moral Reform Association who urged the Government to take up and push through a total Prohibition law and, meantime, to give a rigid enforcement of the License regulations and to change the machinery used in Local Option contests. A number of minor suggestions were also made.

Mr. Scott in reply said: "Speaking personally I do not think it would be possible or proper for the Government or the Legislature, at this time, to endeavour to pass Provincial Prohibition. Two of your speakers have expressed the opinion that the people of the Province at the present time are ready to support Provincial Prohibition. That may or may not be true. I may say frankly that I am not able to share the belief of those speakers." As to public support the Government had lost votes by the Local Option legislation of 1908 and similar results might well follow a Prohibition policy. Mr. Turgeon, in speaking of License enforcement, pointed out that Municipal co-operation was absolutely essential and was often not given. On Feb. 1st 300 members of the Licensed Victuallers Association waited upon the Government to ask certain amendments to the License Act-extending the Local Option period from 2 to 5 years; changing the wording of ballot papers so as to read for, or against, the Local Option by-law and not for, or against, the sale of liquor; the lengthening of closing hours to 8.30 on Saturdays and 11 o'clock on other nights. The Premier in his reply favoured an extension

of the Local Option period; as to the rest he urged that they join with other citizens in enforcing existing laws. In an address on June 10, C. B. Keenleyside, a vigorous Temperance agitator, freely denounced both parties in this connection and also the Local Option law, as having broken down at every point, with petitions ignored, technical objections maintained, fraudulent votes admitted, and By-laws quashed for trivial reasons. The Social and Reform Convention at Regina on Oct. 24 passed a Resolution urging Prohibition and, meanwhile, a more effective Local Option law.

The 3rd Session of the second Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was opened on Dec. 15, 1910, by His Honour George W. Brown, in a Speech from the Throne which referred to the continued prosperity of the Province, to the death of the King, the accession of George V., and the retirement of Lieut.-Governor A. E. Forget; described the progress in organizing the Provincial University and Agricultural College and the approach of the new Parliament Buildings toward completion; mentioned the acquisition of a suitable site near Battleford for the establishment of an Insane Asylum; described the Act for giving financial aid to rural municipalities as beneficial and worthy of continuance; stated that the Report of the Elevator Commission-Professor Robert Magill, G. Langley, M.L.A., and F. W. Green-was ready and would be presented to the House; referred to the organization of a Bureau of Public Health and promised some important legislation. The Address was moved on Jan. 17, 1911, by J. W. MacNeil of Hanley and J. J. Stevenson of Francis. After ten-minute speeches from Mr. Scott and the Opposition Leader (F. W. G. Haultain) the Address passed without a division.

The first debate of the Session was on Feb. 1 when Mr. Haultain moved, seconded by A. B. Gillis, that "the Hudson's Bay Railway should be owned, controlled and operated as a Government Railway." J. F. Bole and G. A. Scott (Liberals) moved in amendment that "this House is of the opinion that the Government of Canada should, in the interests of the people, build and own the Hudson's Bay Railway and that such arrangements be made for its operation, either directly by the Government or by an independent Commission, or otherwise, as will secure to the people of Western Canada, for all time to come, absolute control by the Government over all rates, tolls and other tariffs to be charged; thus insuring that this new outlet for our products to the world's markets shall constitute a competing line of railway, the operation of which can be carried out at the lowest cost consistent with the public requirements." The Amendment was carried by 25 to 14.

The Regina Standard of Jan. 17 having stated that Messrs. J. A. Calder and Alphonse Turgeon were not only members of the Government but members of the law firm of Turgeon, Fish