Central Council; on Sept. 6 the Lieut.-Governor, C. B. Allan, J. H. Frink, R. E. Armstrong, A. O. Skinner and others aided in establishing a Food Control Committee; a Greater Production Committee was organized on May 4 with the object of obtaining work by school children in gardens and farms, granting prizes for increased farm production, obtaining the co-operation of the Educational Department and School teachers, initiating Church services and lectures and getting vacant lots planted; in October it was stated that during 2 years New Brunswick had given nearly 15 Battalions, or 15,084 men to the War.

Education in New Brunswick. The school system of this Province was in the hands of W. S. Carter, M.A., LL.D., Chief Superintendent of Education, and, as with Dr. MacKay in Nova Scotia, he had no Minister of Education to control him or his policy. In his 1916 Report Dr. Carter mentioned the recent regulation of Nova Scotia permitting the employment in that Province under certain conditions, of qualified New Brunswick teachers and urged reciprocity: "I see no good reason why this should not be done; on the border of this Province nearest Nova Scotia there are demands for the teachers of both provinces. Clergymen and others moving from one Province to the other and having teachers as members of their families are placed at a disadvantage by this lack of reciprocity. The supply of qualified French teachers of the higher classes is greater than the demand in Nova Scotia. It is much below the demand here, and we need the services of some of them." His Report for 1917 stated that the supply of teachers was not equal to the demand and that the Normal School attendance had dropped owing to war-calls from 372 in 1916 to 369 early in 1917 and 330 in September. Dr. Carter pointed out that teachers on entering the Normal School promised to pay the Province $20 if they left the service before serving 3 years as teachers; but that from various causes, these refunds were seldom made and he urged an increase to $100 with security against default. The Pensions paid in the year of Oct. 31, 1917, totalled $8,393 with 71 recipients; the total of employees in the Educational service, who were on active service on June 30, numbered 182 with 57 casualties; a Committee had been appointed to report on Technical Education, but the Superintendent considered the matter too expensive without Federal assistance; he reported much aid by the schools in increased farm and garden production. Dr. Carter described a personal visit to the schools of the West, where the intense interest in education and the energy with which its problems were handled, greatly impressed him, with free text-books as the chief subject of inquiry. He reported that: "Free readers are supplied in all the Provinces west of Ontario. Free materials in some and free arithmetics, agriculture texts, atlases and libraries in others; Montreal spends $3,000 in supplying free material and texts in Literature; Ontario supplies handbooks in each subject to each teacher. Toronto, Hamilton and I think Ottawa, supply free texts to all pupils; British Columbia is the only Province which supplies free texts throughout." As illustrating the way the West took teachers from the East he stated that in Saskatchewan during 1906-16, 4,235 had been engaged from the Maritime Provinces, Ontario and Manitoba-New Brunswick 221. He urged that free text-books be supplied by school districts till after the War-with the Western books utilized, and recommended parish School Boards instead of District, county fund to be 60 cents instead of 30 cents per head of population, and that all property, wherever situate, be taxed for the support of schools. Manual Training Departments throughout the Province numbered 21 and those of Domestic Science 14, while 107 Home Efficiency Clubs were organized to help in war-work and food conservation; the N.B. School for the Deaf had 30 pupils and there were several successful consolidated schools. The following were the statistics for June 30, 1917:

Total number of different pupils in attendance during the Year.

1st Term 2nd Term

The University of New Brunswick reported for 1916-17 an enrolment of 95 with 19 graduates. The students included 57 in Arts (27 women) 22 in Engineering and 12 in Forestry. Of the graduates 15 received the B.A. degree, 2 the M.A., and 2 the M.Sc.; the Hon. degree of LL.D. was given Dr. W. W. White, M.A., of St. John, and Lieut.-Col. Murray Maclaren, M.D., of the Overseas forces; that of Hon. M.Sc. was given to A. Gordon Leavitt of St. John. The enlistments of the year were 20 and the fatal casualties to date were 22, with 16 graduates or students winning Honours. Donations were received from Lieut. P. P. Loggie, R.F.C., and Mrs. W. T. Whitehead, Fredericton, while Dr. A. P. Crocket of St. John established a Scholarship in honour of his father. Military drill was made compulsory and the Legislature gave a special grant of $850.89 to meet the deficit of 1915-16. Chancellor C. C. Jones feared that a deficit would continue until the War was over. Mount Allison University at Sackville had its Convocation on May 22, with 12 graduates as B.A., 1 as Mus.B., 5 as M.A. The Hon. degree of LL.D. was granted to W. J. Gage, Toronto, and Hon. John A. Robinson, St. John's, Nfld., and that of D.C.L. to S. M. Brookfield, Halifax. Mount Allison Ladies' College received a new Principal -Rev. Hamilton Wigle, B.A.,—and its registration of pupils was 311. The University attendance as a whole was much reduced owing to enlistments which totalled 70% in 1915-16—most of pupils in 1916-17 were below the age, but 24 of them joined the army by the end of the year with a total in all war-years of 410. In its list there were 2 brigadier-generals, 4 colonels, 16 majors, 52 captains and 70 lieutenants. The University of St. Joseph at its commencement exercises on June 14 had Bishop Le Blanc in the chair with addresses from Senator Bourque and Hon. J. B. M. Baxter, K.C., and 10 recipients of M.A., B.A., and B.L. degrees with a number of graduates in special courses. It may be added that Dr. W. S. Carter was elected President of the Dominion Educational Association at its meeting in Ottawa on Feb. 1-2-the Vice-President being Hon. Cyrille F. Dêlage, Quebec, and R. H. Cowley, Toronto, and the Secretary, Dr. J. H. Putnam, Toronto.

Prince Edward Island in 1917. This Province, with its population of a little over 100,000 and its Government system upon the same basis as Provinces of 2,000,000, had political conditions of a distinctively strenuous type in 1917. Its people were largely of Scotch and French-Acadian origin, nearly half and half, Catholic and Protestant, with a pretty close political division in its Legislature. This body met on Mar. 15 in the 2nd Session of its 38th General Assembly; its Speaker was the Hon. John Martin and the Hon. J. A. Mathieson, K.C., had been a Conservative Premier since Dec. 2, 1911, with J. H. Bell, K.C., as the Liberal leader since 1915; the majority was three without the Speaker, but J. A. Dewar (Cons.) was uncertain and during the 1917 Session voted mostly against the Government. The Speech from the Throne was read by Lieut.-Governor A. C. Macdonald, who referred to the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and “the undaunted courage with which the resources of the Empire are being marshalled for victory against the foes of freedom and justice"; dealt with the excellent work of the Development Commission organized in 1916 for the planning of means to meet after-war problems and promised a measure to open up unused lands for soldier settlement; described Education as becoming more popular with larger grants and improved equipment, despite the enlistment of many experienced teachers; mentioned the prosperity of Agriculture and the increasing success of Education along this line in the Prince of Wales College and the Public Schools; described the Province as prosperous in farming, fisheries, trade and revenues. The Address was moved by A. J. MacNevin and A. A. McDonald and, after a debate lasting till Mar. 27, it passed without division. An Opposition amendment to the War and Health Tax (Mar. 30) proposals declared that in view of the current re-valuation of the farm-lands of the Province and consequent increase of revenue, because of the rigid economy which should prevail in Government matters and because of the fact that a war gratuity of $10 had been given to some of the soldiers on leaving, therefore the Government should grant that sum to all soldiers on service-if funds were not sufficient then debentures should be issued for the shortage. It was ruled out of order by the Speaker as were other amendments and the ruling was supported by a majority of 15 to 13 in each case. The 3rd reading of this Bill was 13 to 12.

In connection with certain charges made by G. E. Hughes (Lib.) as to officials in the Provincial Hospital at Falconwood a Special Committee was appointed composed of A. P. Prowse, R. J. McLellan, A. J. MacNevin, J. H. Bell, K.C., and A. C.

Saunders, to inquire into and report upon the charges. The Committee divided on political grounds and submitted a majority and minority report—the former declaring the management of the institution excellent and the charges against an official name Byrne unfounded, the latter declaring the Hospital management to be clearly guilty of persecuting a cripple named Murphy whose legs had been amputated, and reviewed other sordid evidence in most unpleasant detail. The House accepted the majority report by 16 to 13. The sums voted on April 11 for the Public service included $27,955 for administration of Justice, $18,100 for Agriculture, $174,055 for Education, $65,320 for the Falconwood Insane and Tubercular Hospital and Infirmary, and $46,000 for Interest, $38,000 for roads and bridges—a total, with certain minor items, of $480,118. A Liberal vote of censure (Messrs. Bell and Hughes) was proposed (April 23) against the Government for making alleged unauthorized expenditures and incomplete statements to the Auditor; a Government amendment eulogized the Audit system and condemned the Opposition Leader for not attending the Public Accounts Committee meetings; the latter was carried by 14 to 12. On April 26 a Special Committee in this connection reported the Public liabilities on Dec. 3, 1915, at $1,088,786 and in 1916 at $1,062,151. It may be added that the Receipts on Dec. 31, 1916, were $513,906, including $372,181 of Federal subsidy, and the Expenditures $513,183. The question of Fuel shortage and the development of Peat bogs was discussed on April 13 and a technical expert to look into the matter unanimously appointed on the 23rd. A Prohibition Commission proposal was carried on a 3rd reading by 14 to 12.

The legislation of the Session included a measure authorizing the extension of date of payment in Provincial debentures and advancing the interest from 4% to 5% payable half-yearly; continuing for another year the Act to levy a War and Health tax and levying, also, a tax of $1.50 for every $100 of Income derived from the sale of Foxes kept in captivity, with elaborate details as to collection and penalties; authorizing a Government Bill to assist in development of vacant lands and to help returned soldiers by settling them therein whenever willing, with due compensation and consideration for the owners and an appeal to the County Court, with power, also, to issue debentures not exceeding $20,000 for this purpose. The Opposition strongly opposed this Bill on the ground that the expropriation principle was unsound and dangerous to the farmers; that it would cost $1,000 to establish a ready-made farm for a soldier, that 3,000 men had enlisted from the Island, and that the expense of providing for even one-third of these (if they could be prevailed upon to accept the offer) would be too great a burden for the Province; that as the Conservative member, J. A. Dewar, declared, "You could not drive the soldiers with a bayonet on to unused lands"; that the scheme was socialistic and too indefinite. Another Bill created a Board of Commissioners, for the better enforcement of the laws relating to the Prohibition of intoxicating liquors, with power of control over licenses and inquiry into the conduct of Inspectors, constables, etc.-expenses but no remuneration to be paid the Commissioners; an Act was passed to consolidate and amend the various Prohibition Acts-the object of various amendments being to strengthen the administration and enforcement of the law; so with a measure dealing with the powers of stipendiary magistrates and County Court Judges and another respecting the office of Judge of Probate of Wills; another Act empowering the Governor-in-Council, under the Motor Vehicles Act, to make regulations and impose penalties and forfeitures in order to further restrict the use of the public highways by motor vehicles; the Statutes were amended to give a vote at school meetings and eligibility to act as Trustees to any married woman or widow with one or more children of school age.

An Act was passed to incorporate the P. E. Island Development Commissioncomposed of F. R. Heartz, Nelson Rattenbury, J. O. Hyndman, J. D. Stewart, W. F. Tidmarsh and others, with power to consider and report upon present advancement of the Province and also in after-war conditions; another Act reconstituted and incorporated St. Dunstan's College as a University. It may be added that the Government was severely criticized during the Session for not controlling more thoroughly the exploitation of the Fox industry in recent years where Companies had capitalized foxes at fantastic figures-in some cases at 30 times the intrinsic value of the animals. Of nine members of the Executive, at least eight, it was charged, were Presidents of Fox companies. On June 13 Sir W. W. Sullivan, Chief Justice of the Province, resigned after 28 years' service and was succeeded by Mr. Mathieson after a Premiership of six years. The Hon. Aubin Edmond Arsenault, a French

Acadian and son of the late Senator J. O. Arsenault, Minister without Portfolio since 1911, acceded to the post. On July 1 the new Premier issued a Confederation message to the people full of patriotic thought and appeal to war-duty. Two bye-elections followed and the Conservatives were elected--the Premier defeating Dr. Delaney (Lib.) by 684 to 585 in the 3rd District of Prince's and J. D. Stewart winning the late Premier's seat in the 5th King's by 353 to 266 over W. W. Jenkins (Lib.). The House, therefore, remained 17 Government and 13 Opposition. In 2nd King's on Nov. 7th Dr. R. J. MacDonald (Cons.) defeated J. P. McIntyre (Lib.) by 362 to 357 and won a seat which gave the new Government 6 majority. The new Government and the late one were composed as follows:

As to the War the Island's contribution of men enlisted was 2,600 for Overseas up to April, 1917, and 400 for special duty, with an equal number of Island men enlisted in other Provinces-as estimated by Mr. Premier Mathieson; contributions to the various War Funds, both Government and public, totalled $431,730; the contribution of Government House as a Convalescent House for Soldiers and the gift of a Charles Dalton Sanatorium for 75 returned men suffering from Tuberculosis. Prohibition remained a difficult problem in 1917 with considerable drunkenness prevailing and a juror on Jan. 16 in the Supreme Court was actually guilty of the offence. This Jury on Jan. 9 reported that the law was not properly enforced and recommended that the importation of liquor into the Province be prohibited. Under the succeeding legislation a Prohibition Commission was appointed (June 21) composed of Rev. Messrs. R. G. Fulton, A. J. McLeod, James McDougall, M. J. Smith, J. J. MacDonald, D. P. Croken-all denominations represented. The P. E. Island Development Commission reported during the year through F. R. Heartz, President, a series of recommendations as to Agriculture, Education, Fisheries, transportation, cold storage, new industries, immigration, resources and products, Peat deposits and other matters incident to this Inquiry; the Education Department through H. H. Shaw, Chief Superintendent, reported for Dec. 31, 1916, 476 schools, 595 teachers, 18,362 pupils enrolled and a total expenditure by Government and Districts of $244,572 during the year. The Island was prosperous in 1916 and again in 1917 with progressive improvement in the Sheep industry, dairy herds, beef cattle and purebred hogs; the Fox industry was got upon a stable basis with the Fur Sales Board reporting in August 1,180 skins selling at prices which ran from $945 each to $250 and constituted 85% of a business once capitalized at $28,000,000; the completion of the Car Ferry Service in October by means of improved docks and a steamship system which ran via Port Borden and Cape Tormentine, virtually connected P. E. Island with the mainland by rail, and established a daily freight, passenger, mail and express service. The Live-stock of the Island totalled 38,948 Horses in 1917 valued at $3,408,000; 101,002 Cattle worth $4,998,000; 88,797 Sheep worth $1,245,000, and 35,236 Swine worth $947,000—an increase in horses and sheep only with a general advance in prices. The Federal appropriation for Agricultural Education was $30,443 in 1916-17 and $31,749 in 1917-18. The Agricultural production of the year (Federal figures) was as follows:

THE WESTERN PROVINCES OF CANADA

Manitoba:
Government,
Legislation,
Agriculture
and
Education

Sir James Aikins, Lieut.-Governor, took an active part during 1917 in public affairs and made a number of speeches notable for clear thinking and careful data. To the Agricultural organizations of Manitoba on Feb. 14 he stated that "as it is the people's privilege to govern themselves, it is the people's duty to defend themselves, and, for this, military training should form part of the education of every boy and girl"; declared that "speculators holding vacant lands should be compelled to cultivate them or dispose of them at resaonable terms"; stated that "many causes, after the War, will combine to multiply farm produce, but prices will be lower in all countries and you must lower the cost of production"; declared that "there should be compulsory farming education in the schools and that after the War simple living and economy would be imperative as Canada will be pitched into a vortex of nations struggling desperately to recover themselves while Germany, disappointed in extorting vast indemnities to pay her debts, will endeavour by lower-priced production and transportation to make us pay her way. The gist of this and other addresses was that an after-thewar War must be fought and won with the weapon of thrift. To a Provincial Teachers' gathering on Apr. 11 His Honour urged as of primary import the teaching of religion in schools, the inculcation of self-discipline, training in the science of things and the roots of knowledge, devotion to duty by teachers, Pensions given by the State. During a visit to Springfield, Illinois, early in May Sir James was formally welcomed by both Houses of the Legislature and the British National Anthem sung at a State luncheon; he opened, on July 6, a Returned Soldiers' Rest-House situated near Winnipeg. The War and its support was a never-failing subject of earnest speech on many occasions.

The Hon. T. C. Norris as Prime Minister, in speech and policy and legislation, expressed similar feelings. Speaking in Winnipeg on Jan. 4 he declared that there were a number of people opposed to the statesmen of the nations who had decided that the right thing to do was, and is, to fight: "We have gentlemen in Canada who think they know better. These people should have been interned a year ago. The struggle is not a quarrel between two nations. It is the most terrific struggle between two great ideals that has ever been fought in the history of the world. Where shall we be if Britain is defeated?" Speaking in the Legislature on Jan 16 the Premier stated that three members were on active service: "The oldest son of the Leader of the Opposition has declared that he must go and Mr. Préfontaine has told him to do his duty; the Provincial Treasurer (Mr. Brown) has one son at the Front and another ready to go, while the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Winkler) has his only son in the trenches." Mr. Norris visited St. Paul,