motorcycles 270 and 148 renewed, chauffeurs 801 and 577 renewed, garage 443, livery 1,088, Motors 23,152, moving pictures 183. The revenue was $694,868.

The Hon. J. A. Calder as Minister of Railways had a record for his Department of 633 miles constructed in 1912-when he was appointed to this office-897 miles in 1913, 438 miles in 1914, 238 miles in 1915 but very little in 1916 and 1917. This construction had meant much to Provincial development, to farmers in the marketing of their crops, to the Province in promoting settlement and production; incidentally, it involved between 1912 and 1916 the building of hundreds of depôts, landing platforms, elevators, warehouses, freight sheds and stock-yards. As to Highways the Minister on Apr. 19 told the Regina Leader that in the four-year period, 1912-15, the expenditures from Revenue were: Roads, $996,337; Bridges, $607,370; other services $747,292, a total of $2,351,000, or an average per year out of revenue of $587,750; that from Capital in 1912-15 the expenditures were: Roads $4,409,629; Bridges $914,928 -a total of $5,224,553 or an average per year of $1,306,138. The total expenditure for 10 years in this connection was $5,528,289 from Income and $5,224,553 from Capital. Mr. Calder declared that in time the rural municipalities should take over the construction of all roads and bridges and meanwhile begin to do so gradually. Some classes of the work they could now do to the best advantage: "It has been stated that a political party in power, having to do with large expenditures in constituencies, is in a good political position. In my opinion that position does that party a great deal more harm than good." The work of the Local Government Board was largely along lines of Municipal financing and in 1914 the amount of Debentures authorized for cities, towns, villages, schools, telephones and municipal purposes was $7,329,793, in 1915 $2,808,513, in 1916 $3,244,844. In January S. P. Grosch, B.A., succeeded A. J. McPherson as Chairman of the Board, J. R. Bunn remained a member, and J. N. Bayne became an Acting Commissioner. Late in 1917 the Board issued a statement that: "Having in view the circumstances created by the War, and their influence on the security market, the Board has consistently directed its efforts toward reducing to a minimum the borrowings of local authorities. A larger amount of Telephone debentures has been authorized during this year than in any previous year, 391 companies having been given permission to make extensions or construct new lines at a total approximate cost of $3,000,000. This seems a large amount but it has been felt that the extension and improvement of Telephone accommodation in the rural districts would be of material assistance in the campaign for greater production."

Mr. Martin as Premier had followed Mr. Scott in assuming charge of Education and he, also, followed him in close attention to the development of the Provincial system. In January, 1917, there was a decided increase in attendance at the Normal Schools with 655 compared to 542 in 1916-1st Class 64, 2nd Class 240, 3rd Class 351. At the close of this year it was found that there were 3,670 school districts with schools in operation, about 4,000 teachers

fully qualified in charge of these schools but changing so frequently as to make exact numbers uncertain because of the permanent teachers being so often in charge for only a short interval. Up to December 745 of provisional permits had been issued in the year and 8 schools had been closed for want of teachers; Normal School Sessions had been held at 9 different centres of the Province and the school children had raised for Belgian Relief a total of $67,058 and for the Patriotic Fund $26,422. On Dec. 14 the Premier told the Legislature about the operation of the new Attendance Act: "Last year we had an examination made of 1,450 rural schools in the older settled parts of the Province and the school attendance amounted to 68%, an excellent average in those schools. In September of this year we had practically the same 1,450 schools checked up and we find instead of 68% one of 76%. We found from the School census returns that there was a total of 60,723 pupils residing in the rural and village school districts over 7 and under 14 years of age. The total number of these pupils reported to have been irregular in attendance or in non-attendance was 14,043. Courteous letters were sent from the Department to the parents of these 14,043 children and the teachers were asked to make a report. The result has been very gratifying. Out of that total only 5,510 parents had to be sent what is called the "five-day warning" or final notice that unless the law is observed action will be taken. On this final notice all reported to the schools except 935." Action was taken as to these latter with good effect and Mr. Martin noted that 22% of the irregular attendance was due to illness. The number who wrote on examinations in 1916 was 6,837 and in 1917 6,928. It may be added from other official sources that the total number of teachers in 1915 was 2,240 and, in 1916, 2,724 with 1,222 of the former and 911 of the latter trained in Saskatchewan. The Interim certificates in 1916 were 733, 3rd class 895, Permanent certificates 299, Sundries 13 and Provisional 783. It may be added that the Legislative Library at Regina was small (20,000) but valuableJohn Hawkes, Librarian, drawing attention in 1917 to its possession of Sir John Macdonald's political scrap-books.

As to the War the excellent work of the Military Hospitals Commission, with Major James McAra as Quartermaster and Purchasing Agent at Regina, and Major E. J. Ashton, D.s.o., in command-with Hospitals at Moose Jaw and Regina and a Vocational Home at Saskatoon-was transferred in April, following legislation passed at Regina, to the Returned Soldiers' Employment Commission which met on Apr. 25 and elected Mr. Justice E. L. Elwood, Chairman. His Executive was composed of Dr. W. D. Cowan and J. W. Smith, Regina; R. H. Chadwick, A. B. E. Stevens and J. A. Maharg, Moose Jaw; Mayor A. M. Young, Dr. W. C. Murray and J. D. Wallace, Saskatoon; Hon. R. M. Mitchell, Weyburn; D. J. Wylie, Maple Creek; William Knox, Prince Albert; Malcolm Henderson, North Battleford; Levi Beck, Yorkton and John Law, Swift Current. This body took over 400 Welcome and Aid leagues throughout the Province; found 841 returned men to deal with, of whom 334 were pensioners, 424 under employment and none un

employed, 155 in hospitals of whom 58 were tubercular, 101 taking vocational training, etc. The Regina Red Cross Society under Mrs. T. B. Patton, President, reported $17,132 raised in the 11 months ending Sept. 30 and the Provincial body, meeting on Nov. 9, with 140 members present, reported total receipts for the year of $435,129 and collections on "Our Day" as over $80,000 while France's Day brought $23,000. The President (His Honour the Lieut.-Governor) stated that "the Province last year contributed one-quarter of the entire cash contributions to the Canadian Red Cross Society and the largest per capita cash contribution of any Province in the Dominion." There were 1,700 members in Moose Jaw alone, 333 branches in the Province and 1,096 cases of supplies shipped. Mr. Lake was re-elected President and Mrs. W. A. Graham, File Hills, with H. L. Pope, Moose Jaw, Vice-Presidents, P. H. Gordon, Regina, Hon. Secretary. The Provincial Branch of the Canadian Patriotic League met on June 29 at Regina and the Report to May 31 showed 91 branches organized in the year with a total of 399, $720,000 received as a Government contribution and $235,290 in popular contributions. Out of $877,689 collected from the public since 1914 the large sum of $122,617 was given by the Civil Service. His Honour R. S. Lake was re-elected Hon. President, Major A. B. Perry, C.M.G., President and Dr. W. C. Murray, Vice-President, with T. M. Bee, Secretary, and Hon. G. A. Bell, Treasurer. Toward the close of the year preparations were made for a new call of $1,000,000. In 1917 this amount had been fully collected with disbursements of $80,000 a month; on Nov. 27 the Committee explained the distinction between its Fund and the Patriotic Revenues Act -the latter being designed for supplementing the general revenue of the Province, in order that the Government in its discretion might grant assistance to the cause of Great Britain and her Allies.' It was, therefore, the duty of the people to continue their support to the Patriotic Fund.

The indirect War disaster at Halifax brought $25,000 from the Saskatchewan Government and Mr. Premier Martin, in the House on Dec. 11, stated that "the Government itself would act as a Central Committee with the Hon. C. A. Dunning as Trustee for all Provincial funds collected for this purpose." Meanwhile, on Aug. 21 a Provincial Food Control Committee was organized at Regina with representatives of all interests present and ex-Governor G. W. Brown as Chairman, F. Hedley Auld, Hon. Secretary. A SubCommittee on Food supplies and Prices was appointed-G. W. Brown, J. B. Musselman and W. C. Paynter. On Sept. 5 the General Committee urged upon the Dominion Food Controller that (1) the price of flour at the mill be fixed in direct relationship to economical supply; (2) that the price of wheat be definitely fixed for the whole of the present year's crop; (3) that a standard weight for a loaf of bread be set for Canada and that the price of bread be regulated; (4) that no prohibition of the sale and use of canned fruits should apply to Saskatchewan and that the order prohibiting the sale of canned vegetables should be abrogated so far as this Province was concerned; (5) that full investigation be made into the

causes of the present undue inflation of food prices; (6) that the Committee greatly deplored the continued wasteful consumption of grain in the manufacture of alcoholic liquors. It was also stated publicly at this time that certain interests were refusing to sell to Co-operative organizations and thereby keeping up prices; on Oct. 11 the Food Council passed a Resolution urging that "regulations be issued imposing severe penalties upon any Canadian manufacturer or jobber who refuses to sell food products of any kind to any Canadian wholesale or retail Co-operative concern, respectively, on as favourable terms as they regularly sell such products." W. W. Thomson was appointed to gather further information. The Saskatchewan G.W.V.A. met in Regina on Nov. 2 and were addressed by the Premier. They promulgated a series of demands including (1) collection of Funds for soldiers' dependants by taxation rather than voluntary gifts; (2) the counting of time spent on active service as residence in home-steading; (3) amending the Moratorium Act to protect the goods and chattels as well as land of a volunteer or reservist; (4) a contribution by the Provincial Government of $10,000 to the purposes of the Association; (5) asking the Dominion and Provincial Governments to dismiss all employees of alien birth who were not naturalized; (6) urging support for the Union Government and, finally, this Resolution:

That men in France and those whose disability is due to service, until their cases have finally been adjusted by the Board of Pension Commissioners, should remain on pay under the present arrangement. That the Government be requested to examine into the circumstances of such cases among the Forces and return to their former duties those men remaining in Canada or England who are unfitted for active service at the battlefront, unless employed at special work for which they are peculiarly fitted. Further, that those of this class who remain at present employed at other than combative services be sent to the Front. That representation be made to the authorities so that all officers who refuse to revert in order to go to the Front, be returned to Canada, so that they may be affected by the terms of the Military Service Act, 1917, in common with all of Canada's citizens.

Major James McAra, Regina, was elected President, Harris Turner, M.L.A., Saskatoon, and D. Hart, Swift Current, Vice-Presidents, and Grant McNeil, Moose Jaw, Secretary. The Victory Loan drive of December netted $21,752,250 for Saskatchewan, with $12,000,000 as the allotment. It was notable for a speech on Nov. 20 by Hon. C. A. Dunning in which he appealed to the farmers, in particular, to support the Loan to the limit. "The economic situation is now such that not one bushel of wheat can be purchased by Great Britain and her Allies, here, unless Canada extends the necessary credit. The War has been the economic salvation of Saskatchewan. At its outbreak men viewed the situation with alarm, but the Province and its people are more prosperous than ever before. The War has brought ruin and desolation to all the countries engaged in the War; it has brought money to you and me." The Saskatchewan Boy Scouts Association in 1917 showed 2,000 scouts and warrant officers with 96 troops and G. H. Barr, K.C., Regina, re-elected President. To the Belgian Relief Fund it was stated by the Premier on Dec. 10 that the Schools of Saskatchewan contributed $30,000 more than the children of any other Province; a Regina Leader's