During his visit to London in the summer the Hon. Mr. Ross, Premier of Ontario, made a number of references to emigration and pressed the matter strongly upon public attention in his speeches. Under date of September 9th he wrote a letter to the Times pointing out that 70 per cent. of the people leaving the United Kingdom were going to foreign countries and that the Empire was thus losing not only men and women but all the money and work that had gone into their training as skilled labourers or in other capacities. He urged more ample teaching of Colonial geography and resources in British schools and asked for concerted action in the promotion of emigration to the Colonies. "Canada has now a population of nearly 5 millions. Make it 10 or 12 millions-as it might be made if we got a proper share of the emigration from the United Kingdom-and Canada would furnish a basis for the food supplies of the Empire and an admirable recruiting ground for army and navy."

The Chinese and Japanese Immigration

Question

Under the terms of the Act of August 20, 1885, and its various amendments up to June 30, 1901, the number of Chinese entering the Dominion was 31,571. Those who left Canada in that time were uncertain in number, as they did not all register, but those obtaining certificates of leave numbered 12,669. The Census figures for 1901 showed, however, 17,299 persons of Chinese origin in the country and 4,738 of Japanese origin. The total amount received by the Dominion from fees upon this immigration was $1,632,942 and the sum refunded to the Provinces was $397,212. British Columbia showed much alarm and the white artisans much indignation over this influx of a foreign element. An extreme view may be seen in the following extract from the Nelson Miner of February 13, 1901:—

The Chinaman is a curse to this country. That sentence seems to be about the strongest which can be written in denunciation of him, therefore it is repeated. The Government must some day rid the country of that curse. If they do not do it the people who make and unmake Governments will do it for them. That is all there is about it.

During 1900 legislation had been passed in British Columbia restricting Chinese and Japanese immigrants but it was vetoed by the Federal authorities on the ground of Imperial relations with Japan. A measure was passed at the succeeding Session imposing upon all immigrants the condition of being able to write in some European language, and this, it was thought, would get around the question of international relations involved in the preceding legislation. In the Legislature, on March 23, 1901, Mr. Dallas Helmcken, K.C., moved a Resolution, seconded by Mr. A. E. McPhillips, declaring that the Federal Elections Act should be so amended as to "prevent the franchise being exercised by naturalized subjects of Japan and China" and asking that an Address be presented to the Lieut.-Governor urging him to communicate to the Dominion authorities the opinion of the House in this connection. The Resolution was passed unanimously. On February 23rd, the

Japanese Consul, Seizaburo Shimizu, visited Ottawa in this connection and subsequently Toronto. He was interviewed by the correspondent of the London Advertiser on the date mentioned and eloquently described the progress of his country and its loyalty to British interests in the East. He referred to the offer of his people in British Columbia to raise a corps for service in South Africa and to their generous contributions after the great fires in Ottawa and New Westminster. There were, he claimed, only about 3,000 of his people in British Columbia and they were not numerous enough to seriously affect prices and wages. There was practically no emigration from Japan to the Province now, as the Japanese Government had forbidden it in the interest of good relations with Great Britain and Canada. He pointed out the friendly treatment accorded British subjects in his country and asked for a change in the unfriendly British Columbia legislation referred to. Japan would grant every freedom to foreigners, but "she expects no discrimination against her commerce or people."

On March 30th the Outlook of Victoria dealt vigorously with the question of Chinese immigration. It calculated that the annual loss in that city from Chinese cheap labour and living was $616,000 and expressed surprise that the newspapers or people were not showing more interest in the proceeding of the Royal Commission then investigating the subject in the Province. To this paper Oriental immigration appeared to be "detrimental to the moral, physical, commercial and industrial interests of the country." Amongst other addresses upon the subject delivered during the year was one by Captain Clive Phillipps-Wolley of Victoria, on November 22nd. He had not much that was good to say of the Chinese. Convictions in law were difficult to obtain against them because of their many combinations; they were skilled criminals with an extreme disregard for the truth; they evaded the payment of taxes; their presence produced epidemics of disease and he knew of no excessive filth for which they were not responsible; their process of market-gardening was repulsive in the extreme and dangerous to health; their laundry system was a fertile source of disease; as servants they were dishonest and as miners dangerous, because of their ignorance and cowardice. He concluded with an appeal to keep this a white man's country. The Japanese he considered upon an entirely different footing and the only objection to them was the fact of their race. There were only two ways to deal with the question. Make the head-tax so high as to exclude the Chinese altogether or let them come in quite freely as coolies. He preferred the former.

The subject was discussed in Parliament at Ottawa, on April 30th, at the instance of the Hon. E. G. Prior. Sir Wilfrid Laurier took occasion to make a very explicit statement concerning the proposal to increase the tax on Oriental immigrants. "We must insist at this moment, so that there can be no misunderstanding at a future date, on drawing a line between Chinese and Japanese and that whatever policy of restriction we may adopt against Chinamen, whether it be

right or wrong, we cannot afford, for the sake of Imperial policy, to treat the Japanese as we have been treating the Chinese." The subject was also discussed in the Senate on May 10th. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into this subject which was appointed by the Dominion Government on September 21, 1900, and was composed of Messrs. R. C. Clute, Q.c., of Toronto; Ralph Smith, M.P.P., of Nanaimo -succeeded in January, 1901, by Christopher Foley, of Rossland; Daniel J. Munn, of New Westminster; and the Secretary, T. J. Deane, of Kamloops, met a number of times during the year but did not submit their report until early in 1902.

Administrative and

Political

Incidents

Section XII-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

The ninth Parliament of the Dominion met in its first Session at Ottawa on February 6, 1901, and was opened by H.E. the Governor-General. The Hon. Lawrence Geoffrey Power was appointed Speaker of the Senate and Mr. Louis Philippe Brodeur elected Speaker of the Commons. According to the first division in the House of Commons, on April 14th, the vote stood 42 Liberals and 3 Conservatives from Quebec; 22 Liberals and 37 Conservatives from Ontario; 13 Liberals and 3 Conservatives from Nova Scotia; 7 Liberals and 2 Conservatives from New Brunswick; 2 Liberals and 2 Conservatives from Prince Edward Island; 3 Liberals and 2 Conservatives from Manitoba; 2 Liberals from the Territories, and 4 Liberals and 2 Conservatives from British Columbia-a total of 95 Liberals and 51 Conservatives. The estimate after the general elections of November 7, 1900, was 128 Liberals, 79 Conservatives and 6 Independents. Parliament was prorogued on May 23rd. The only change in the Dominion Government during the year was the retirement of Sir Louis Henry Davies from the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, on September 24th, in order to accept a position on the Supreme Court Bench. His successor, the Hon. James Sutherland, M.P., a Minister without Portfolio, was appointed on January 15, 1902.

There were no Government changes in Ontario during 1901. The Legislature met in its ninth term and fourth Session, on February 6th, and was opened by His Honour, Sir Oliver Mowat. Prorogation took place on April 15th. The normal Liberal majority in the House was ten. A matter of constitutional import occurred toward the end of the Session, on April 9th, when the Premier introduced a Bill providing that the existing Legislature should not expire on March 29, 1902, as it would do by law, but should continue until the next Session had been completed. The object, he stated, was to enable the business of the next Session-which would commence about February 1st-to be satisfactorily terminated. Mr. J. J. Foy, K.C., at once protested that the proposal was of doubtful policy and doubtful constitutionality. If the life of a Parliament could be legally extended 20 days, it could be legally extended 20 years. If the House chose to adjourn instead of proroguing at the end of the next Session, the Government could prolong the life of the Legislature for six or nine months. Mr. Ross, in his reply, declared that the only object of the measure was to provide a reasonable time for public business. He had consulted authorities which left no doubt in his mind as to the power of the House in the matter. There was no political advantage to be gained. Mr. Whitney, and others, protested that the House could be called in January, if necessary, and that there could be no reason -unless an unfair one-for this prolongation of the term. The Bill passed by a party vote of 38 to 27, on April 12th, after a sharp

debate in which the Opposition charged the Government with passing the measure in order that they might force through a Redistribution of Seats which would be to their advantage and, in the ensuing elections, not be endangered by a compulsory shortness of the Session.

In Quebec the first Session of the new Legislature, which had been elected on December 7, 1900, met on February 14th, and was opened by Chief Justice Sir L. E. N. Casault. It was prorogued on March 28th. Mr. Henri Benjamin Rainville was chosen Speaker of the Assembly, and the Hon. Horace Archambeault, K.C., of the Legislative Council. There were 8 Conservatives in the Assembly under the leadership of the Hon. E. J. Flynn as against 21 in the preceding House. During the year Mr. G. W. Stephens resigned his place, without Portfolio, in the Ministry. There were no other changes except that in accordance with legislation which finally passed the Houses on March 25th, the designations of some of the Departments were altered, and the title of Commissioner was replaced by that of Minister, as follows:-

Premier and Minister of Lands, Mines and Fisheries... Hon. S. N. Parent.

The only change in the Nova Scotian Government was the retirement, on August 31st, of the Hon. Charles Edward Church, M.P.P., from his post of Commissioner of Works and Mines after 17 years of service. He also resigned his scat in the House, and was succeeded in the Government by Mr. Arthur Drysdale, K.C., M.P.P. The Legislature of the Province met, on February 14th, in its fourth and last Session, and was prorogued on April 4th. It was composed of 35 Liberals and 3 Conservatives. Mr. Clifford William Robinson was unanimously elected Speaker of the Assembly. The New Brunswick Government remained unaltered during the year, and the House was composed of 35 Ministerialists and Liberals as against 11 Oppositionists and Conservatives. The Legislature met, on February 28th, in its third Session, and was prorogued on April 3rd. The personal position of the Premier, the Hon. Lemuel John Tweedie, who had succeeded Mr. Emmerson, on September 1, 1900, came up for discussion in the Assembly, on February 28th, when Mr. Douglas Hazen, K.C., the Opposition Leader, remarked that "the Hon. member for Northumberland had been in the House 27 years ago, had taken a prominent and responsible part in its affairs, and it was, therefore, fitting that upon the resignation of the former Premier he should have been called upon to form a Ministry." Mr. Hazen went on to express the belief that if the Premier had not been considered a Conservative, he would have succeeded the Hon. Mr. Mitchell in 1897. "But he had profited by that lesson, and had taken the earliest