HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, November 11, 1909.

The parliament which had been prorogued from time to time to the 11th day of November, 1909, met this day for the despatch of business.

report relating to the election for the electoral district of Lotbinière, by which the said election was declared void.

In conformity with chapter 7, section 70, of the Revised Statutes, I issued my war rant to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery to make out a new writ of election

for the said electoral district.

I have also the honour to inform the

Mr. SPEAKER. I have the honour to inform the House that I have received the following communication from the Secretary of His Excellency the Governor General:

Office of the Governor General's Secretary, Canada,

Ottawa, 10th November, 1909.

SIR, I have the honour to inform you that His Excellency the Governor General will proceed to the Senate Chamber to open the Ses sion of the Dominion Parliament on Thurs day, the Eleventh instant, at Three o'clock,

p.m.

I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,

J. HANBURY-WILLIAMS, Colonel,
Governor General's Secretary.

The Honourable,

The Speaker of the House of Commons. A message was delivered by Capt. Ernest J. Chambers, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:

Mr. Speaker, His Excellency the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of your honourable House in the Chamber of the Hon. the Senate.

judges selected for the trial of election petitions, pursuant to the Dominion Controverted Elections Act, certificates and reports relating to the elections:

For the electoral district of Quebec Centre; For the electoral district of Quebec West; For the electoral district of Montmorency; For the electoral district of Portneuf; For the electoral district of Peterborough West;

For the electoral district of Quebec county. by which the said election petitions were severally dismissed and the sitting members declared duly elected.

VACANCIES.

Mr. SPEAKER. I have the honour to inform the House that during the recess I have received communications from several members notifying me that the following vacancies had occurred in the representation, viz.:

Of Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King, C.M.G., member for the electoral district of North Waterloo, upon the acceptance of an office of emolument under the Crown, to wit, Minister of Labour;

And the House being returned.

CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.

Mr. SPEAKER. I have the honour to inform the House that I have received from the Hon. Mr. Justice Langelier and the Hon. Mr. Justice Jetté, two of the judges selected for the trial of election petitions, pursuant to The Dominion Controverted Elections Act, a certificate and

Crown:

Of Wilbert McIntyre, Esq., member for the electoral district of Strathcona, by decease; Of Hon. Robert Franklin Sutherland, member for the electoral district of North Essex, by the acceptance of an office of emolument under the Crown;

for the electoral district of West Middlesex, by Of William Samuel Calvert, Esq., member acceptance of an office of emolument under the Crown;

Of Alexander K. Maclean, Esq., member for the electoral district of Lunenburg, by resignation.

I accordingly issued my several warrants to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery to make out new writs of election for the said electoral districts, respectively.

NEW MEMBERS.

Mr. SPEAKER. I have also the honour to inform the House that during the recess the Clerk of the House has received from the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, certificates of the election and return of the following members, viz.:

tal Europe. Trade and commerce have made rapid advances in all directions. The revenue has almost completely regained what it had lost in the recent period of depression. Most remarkable has been the rapid recovery from the financial embarrassment which for a short time was the cause of anxiety amongst business men. In nearly every branch of business there has been a revival of activity which gives assurance of continued progress and prosperity.

toral district of Montcalm;

Of Edmond Fortier, Esq., for the electoral district of Lotbinière;

Of James McCrie Douglas, Esq., for the electoral district of Strathcona.

MEMBERS INTRODUCED.

Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King, C.M.G., member for the electoral district of North

Waterloo; introduced by Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Hon. Geo. P. Graham.

David A. Lafortune, Esq., member for the electoral district of Montcalm; introduced by Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Hon. L. P. Brodeur.

James McCrie Douglas, Esq., member for the electoral district of Strathcona; introduced by Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Hon. Frank Oliver.

FIRST READING.

Bill (No. 1) respecting the administration of Oaths of Office.-Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Prime Minister).

THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. Mr. SPEAKER. I have the honour to inform the House that when the House did attend His Excellency the Governor General this day in the Senate Chamber, His Excellency was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of parliament. To prevent mistakes I have obtained a copy, which is as follows:

Honourable Gentlemen of the Senate:

Gentlemen of the House of Commons:

In again meeting you at a season most convenient for the despatch of business, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate you on the prosperous condition of the country.

The present year, which is now rapidly drawing to a close, has been a period of steady and progressive growth. Immigration has poured into the new settlements of the north and of the west, in a copious and well ordered stream, drawn from the best elements of the British Isles, the United States and Continen

A plan was adopted after consultation with the Admiralty, for the organization of a Canadian Naval Service, on the lines of the resolution of the House of Commons, of the 29th of March last. The papers will be immediately hrought down and a Bill introduced accordingly.

The new convention between His Majesty and the President of the French Republic, respecting the commercial relations between France and Canada, having been approved by the French Legislative Chambers, you will also be asked to confirm it.

The construction of the Transcontinental

railway has made substantial advance during the year. The western division has been extended 66 miles beyond Edmonton, completing a total distance of 861 miles west of Winnipeg. Contracts have been let for 399 miles in the Mountain division; good progress was made on this work. The eastern division is now open for traffic from Winnipeg to Lake Superior Junction and thence, by the Grand Trunk Pacific branch, to the lake itself. The whole of the work between Winnipeg and Moncton is now under contract.

The board of engineers entrusted with the

preparation of plans for the reconstruction of the Quebec bridge has sufficiently advanced

its work to permit of tenders being invited for the substructure.

The exploratory surveys for a railway from the western wheat fields to Hudson Bay were pushed energetically during the whole of last summer. It is hoped that a report of the operations will be placed before you at an early date.

In order to improve the facilities already afforded the public by the government railways, and to enhance their value as part of the great transportation system of Canada, a Bill will be submitted to you for the purpose of enabling the Minister of Railways, on the recommendation of the Government Railways Managing Board, and subject to the approval