678

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N .

Mental Hospitals. Reports of the Ministers of Lands, Mines, Public Works, Auditor General, Superintendent of Insurance, Fisheries Commissioner, Provin­cial Game Warden, Chief Inspector of Machinery, Boys' Industrial School, Girls' Industrial School, Agricultural Department (8th and 9th Reports), Forest Branch (Lands Department), Survey Branch (Lands Department), Water Rights (Lands Department). Agent General for B.C.; Provincial Museum; Public Accounts; Public Schools; Botanical Office; Printing Office; Archives.

NOTE.—Departmental Reports are mailed to applicants by the King's Printer at 50 cents per copy. Copies of publications available for free distribution may be obtained on application to the Bureau of Provincial Information, Victoria, B.C.

YUKON TERRITORY.

Ordinary Journals and Sessional Papers of the Territorial Council. The Sessional Papers contain Reports of the Territorial Officers, including those of the Superintendent of Works, Health Officer, Territorial Assayer, Chief License Inspector and Superintendent of Schools.

XIL—PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1915.

DOMINION LEGISLATION.

The fifth session of the twelfth Parliament of Canada was held at Ottawa from February 4 to April 15,1915. During this session 98 statutes were enacted, 24 of them being public general acts and the remaining 74 local and private acts. The session was largely devoted to measures arising out of the war

Finance of the War.—It was inevitable that the sudden outbreak of war, by which imports from hostile countries ceased, should occasion a serious loss of revenue from import duties. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1915, the revenue totalled $133,073,482, including war tax revenue amounting to $98,057, as compared with $163,174,394 in the previous year; so that the loss of revenue amounted to about $30,000,000. The Minister of Finance, in his budget speech of February 11, stated that the Government policy had been, in the interest of employment, to maintain as far as possible the programme of public works under construction, but to restrict the undertaking of new works until the financial situation became clearer. He proposed that the full amount required for war expenditures should be borrowed on the ground that these expenditures were being incurred for the purpose of preserving for future generations national and individual liberty and constitutional freedom. In addition to the special war appropriation of $50,000,000 made in August, 1914 (see Year Book 1914, page 677), for expenses to March 31, 1915, the War Appropriation Act, 1915, assented to on April 15 (chapter 23), provided for a further sumof $100,000,000 to March 31, 1916, for promoting the defence and security of Canada, the conduct of naval and military operations, the continuance of trade and industry and the prosecution of measures deemed necessary owing to the state of war.

679

F I N A N C E O F T H E W A R .

The Customs Tariff War Revenue Act, 1915 (chapter 3), and the Special War Revenue Act, 1915 (chapter 8), were assented to on April 8. The first imposed duties or additional duties of 5 per cent under the British Preferential Tariff, and of 7 | per cent under the Intermediate and General Tariffs on all goods in Schedule A of the Customs Tariff, whether liable to or free of duty, subject however to exemptions of which the following are the most important: fish caught by Canadian and Newfoundland fishermen, goods used in the manufac­ture of agricultural machinery and of binder twine, certain goods used for medical and surgical purposes, anthracite coal, steel for the manufac­ture of rifles, silk, chemical fertilizers, cotton seed cake and meal. By the second Act new taxes were imposed as follows: on every Bank, { of 1 per cent on the amount of its notes in circulation, on every Trust and Loan Company, 1 per cent on its Canadian income, and on every Insurance Company other than Life and Marine Insurance, 1 per cent on the net premiums received in Canada; 1 cent on every cablegram or telegram for which a charge of 15 cents or more is made, 5 cents on the first $5 and 5 cents on every additional $5 on railway and steamboat tickets to places in North America and the British West Indies; on tickets to places outside of these $1 if the price exceeds $10, $3 if it exceeds $40 and $5 if it exceeds $65; 10 cents on every sleeping car berth and 5 cents on every parlour car seat. All the last named taxes are to be collected by the companies concerned and transmitted to the Govern­ment. The Act also imposes the following stamp duties: 2 cents on every bank cheque and on every express and post office money order and 1 cent on every postal note, 2 cents on every bill of lading, 1 cent in addition to postage on every letter and post card, 1 cent for every 25 cents of the retail price of proprietary medicines and perfumery, 3 cents for a pint or less and 5 cents for every quart of non-sparkling wine, and 13 cents for f pint or less and 25 cents for every pint of sparkling wine.

War Loan of 1915.—Under the authority of the War Appropriation Act (chapter 23), applications were invited on November 22 for partici­pation in a war loan consisting of the issue of bonds to the value of $50,000,000 maturing on December 1, 1925, and bearing interest at five per cent, payable half yearly and exempt from taxes. The price of the issue was fixed at 97^ per cent. At the closing of the subscrip­tion lists on November 30, it was announced that more than double the $50,000,000 asked for had been subscribed, and the amount of the loan was increased to $100,000,000.

Other Measures arising out of War Conditions.—Chapter 2, an Act to amend the Canadian Patriotic Fund Act, 1914, authorizes the Cor­poration of the Patriotic Fund to assist the dependents of residents of Newfoundland who may be serving with the Canadian forces, and also to assist for a period not longer than six months in each case Canadians who return incapacitated and the dependents of men who die of wounds or disease on active service. Before the passing of this Act, help could be given from the fund only to the dependents of men on actual service. An Act to amend the Senate and House of Commons Act (chapter 7) permits officers and men of the navy and army who are members of either House to sit notwithstanding the fact that they receive naval or

680

P R I N C I P A L E V E N T S OF T H E Y E A R 1915.

military pay, and provides that time of absence on active service is not to be deducted in calculating a member's sessional allowance. The Soldiers' Voting Act (chapter 11), which was assented to on April 15, provides for the exercise of the electoral franchise by every soldier, aged 21 years and over, of the Canadian troops in the event of a general election in Canada during their absence on active service. Chapter 22, amending the Yukon Placer Mining Act, preserves the right of holders of mining claims who are on active service, and Chapter 5 authorizes an extension of the time in which licenses may be applied for by insurance companies, whose power to do so might expire before the end of the next session of Parliament.

Acts relating to Agriculture.—An Act to amend the Bank Act (chapter 1) allows banks to lend money to the owner, tenant or occupier of land for the purchase of seed grain, upon the security of the crop to be grown from such seed grain. Chapter 20 empowers the Governor-General-in-Council to distribute during 1915 seed grain, fodder, etc., among farmers in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and confirms agreements relating to such distribution made between the Minister of the Interior and the Governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta. An Act to amend the Canada Grain Act (chapter 10) makes the certificate of weighing at a terminal elevator final, and makes the inspector's certificate of grade prima facie evidence in case of litigation. The Act also extends the powers of the Board of Grain Commissioners in investigating and dealing with questions of shortage in delivery.

Amendments of Election Law.—Chapter 13 amends the Dominion Controverted Elections Act with a view to simplifying procedure and expediting trial in cases under the Act. An Act to amend the Dominion Elections Act (chapter 14) requires every employer to give every voter in his employ an additional hour, other than the noon hour, for voting on a polling day. It applies to all employees except those engaged in running trains. The Act also puts Saskatchewan and Alberta on the same footing as the other provinces in respect of the procedure on the death of a candidate between nomination and polling. By Chapter 19, various changes are made in the schedules of the Representation Act, 1914, relating to the boundaries of electoral districts.

Railway Acts.—-An Act to amend the Government Railways Act (chapter 16) empowers the Minister of Railways to purchase under certain conditions, railways in Quebec and the Maritime provinces, which can be operated more usefully as part of the Government Railways. It also confirms purchase agreements made with the International Railway of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Railway. By an Act to amend the National Transcontinental Railway Act (chapter 18) the Minister of Railways is authorized to lease or acquire the Lake Superior branch of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

Miscellaneous.—Chapter 4 confirms issues of Dominion notes to the amount of $26,000,000, of which $10,000,000 were for the Cana­dian Northern Railway, $6,000,000 were for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and $10,000,000 were for the general purposes of the Dominion. An Act to amend the Judges Act (chapter 6) provides

685

CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.

may be authorized by by-law passed by the voters of the district. Under the Municipal Co-operative Hail Insurance Act (chapter 18) not less than twenty municipalities may combine to form a, Hail Insurance District, which shall be under the direction of the Hail Insurance Board of Alberta, consisting of three members. The Board will assess the municipalities for taxation to pay the Board's expenses and claims for damage to crops by hail. A municipality may withdraw from the district after the expiration of five years.

British Columbia.—By the Constitution Act Amendment Act (chapter 14) the membership of the Legislative Assembly is increased from 42 to 47, and a redistribution is made. The Agricultural Act (chapter 2), creates a commission with power to issue securities and to make loans for acquiring and improving land and for other agricultural purposes. Provisions are made respecting the formation of associations (without share capital) for agricultural purposes and of Women's Institutes, also of associations and companies (with share capital) for dealing in farm produce, requisites, etc. A Board of Horticulture is created to regulate the prevention of disease in orchards, gardens, etc. By the Noxious Weeds Act (chapter 66) owners and occupiers of land are required to burn or effectively destroy noxious weeds between April 1 and November 1, in order to prevent the ripening and scattering of seeds. Inspectors are to be appointed under the Act, which applies to municipalities and railways.

Canadian Expeditionary Forces.—The initial steps taken by Canada upon the outbreak of the war in 1914 are described in the Year Book for 1914 (pp. 676-678). The first division of troops, consisting of over 33,000 officers and men, who landed in England on October 16, 1914, received further training on Salisbury Plain during the fall and winter of 1914-15 under conditions which were particularly trying owing to excessively wet weather. On February 15, 1915, the division began to arrive in France. Proceeding to Flanders they speedily proved them­selves to be capable and efficient soldiers, whether as infantry in the trenches or as artillerymen serving excellent guns. During the spring and summer they were engaged in four principal fights, viz., Neuve Chapelle (March 10), Ypres (April 22), Festubert (May 9), and Given-chy (June 15). In his despatches relating to the second battle of Ypres, which began on April 22, when contrary to international conventions and the rules of civilized warfare, the Germans began the use of poisonous and asphyxiating gases, Sir John French wrote as follows: "In spite of the danger to which they were exposed, the Canadians held their ground with a magnificent display of tenacity and courage; and it is not too much to say that the bearing and conduct of these splendid troops averted a disaster which might have been attended with the most serious consequences." The second division of Canadian troops began to land in England on March 6, and in November a third division was offered to and accepted by the Imperial authorities. At the end of the year 1915, the number of Canadian troops recruited for service overseas reached 212,690 out of an authorized total of 250,000. In a New Year's message to the Canadian people, issued on December 31, 1915, the Prime Minister (Sir Robert Borden) stated that from January 1, 1916,

686

P R I N C I P A L E V E N T S OF T H E Y E A R 1915.

the authorized forces of Canada would be increased to 500,000, this announcement being made "in token of Canada's unflinching resolve to crown the j ustice of our cause with victory and an abiding peace.'' Legal authority for the increase of the Canadian troops to 500,000 was conferred by Order-in-Council of January 12, 1916. Owing to the character of the fighting the losses amongst Canadian troops in the field have necessarily been severe. Up to November 30, 1915, these casualties totalled 539 officers and 13,017 of other ranks; they included 107 officers and 1,855 other ranks killed in action; 30 officers, 786 other ranks died of wounds; 6 officers, 164 other ranks died of diseases; 339 officers, 7,951 other ranks wounded; 37 officers, 1,267 other ranks prisoners of war; 20 officers, 994 other ranks reported missing1.

Canadian Contributions for Patriotic Purposes.—The unflinching valour and splendid heroism of the Canadian troops in the field have been a source of keen gratification and pride to the people of the Dom­inion, who in numerous ways have striven to sustain the national and imperial cause for which the war is being waged on the battlefields of Europe. The women of Canada have shown noble devotion and enthusiasm in the raising of funds, the provision of comforts and the institution of various associations for the assistance of soldiers and their dependents. High tributes have been paid to the efficiency of the Canadian hospitals and the skill and devotion of the medical officers and nurses. An inquiry instituted by the Census and Statistics Office under special instructions from the Dominion Government showed that up to March 31, 1916, the total value of the Canadian contributions actually paid amounted to $27,881,165, as follows:

Fund. Value of

contributions paid.

Canadian Patriotic Donations of Dominion and Provincial Governments to Imperial

Government Canadian Red Cross British Red Cross Contributions for Machine Guns and to Military Units Belgian Relief Jewish Relief Hospitals (various) Miscellaneous

Total

$ 9,554,981

4,695,851 3,593,924 1,884,033 1,923,245 1,469,529

103,129 536,704

4,119,769

27,881,165

The various Funds included in the foregoing statement number altogether 33, as follows: Canadian Patriotic; Donations of Dominion and Provincial Governments; Canadian Red Cross; British Red Cross; Contributions for machine guns, field kitchens, field ambulances, etc.; Belgian Relief; Jewish Relief; Serbian Relief; Secours National; Comite"

being iThese figures are from "Canada in Flanders," by Sir Max Aitken, M.P., g Vol. I of the Official Story of the Canadian Expeditionary force.

687

C O N T R I B U T I O N S FOR P A T R I O T I C P U R P O S E S .

France-Am^rique; Soldiers' Comforts; Field Comforts' Association; Canadian War Contingent's Association; the Maple Leaf Club; Recruit­ing Committee of New Brunswick; Aeroplane Fund of Winnipeg; Tobacco Funds of certain newspapers; Soldiers' Gazette; Relief Fund of Winnipeg Telegram; European War Veterans' Association of Calgary; Returned Soldiers' Fund of Winnipeg; Manitoba Telephone Employees and the following Hospital Funds: Toronto University; Queen's Univer­sity; French Canadian Hospital; Luton House; Seamen's Hospital; Queen Mary's Hospital; Cliveden; Sir Sandford Fleming Home; Scottish Women's Hospital; Women's Hospital Ship; other Military Hospitals. Not included in the statement is the value of considerable quantities of contributions in kind, the donations of individuals apart from organized funds and subscriptions promised but not yet paid. The distribution of the contributions paid by provinces is as follows:

Province. Amount.

Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Territory Not separated by provinces.

Total

314,288 1,516,015

566,153 4,572,882

13,730,438 738,520 919,156 943,413 988,062 26,757

3,565,481

27,881,165

Visits to England of Canadian Cabinet Ministers.—On July 8 the Prime Minister (Sir Robert Borden) and a few days later the Minister of Militia and Defence (Major-Gen. Sir Sam Hughes) arrived in England for conference with the British authorities; they also visited France and inspected the Canadian troops. On July 29, Sir Robert Borden received the Freedom of the city of London, and on August 24, General Hughes was knighted by the King. An event of imperial significance was the presence of Sir Robert Borden at a meeting of the British Cabinet on July 14.

Arctic Exploration.—Apprehensions as to the safety of members of the Canadian Expedition, which is engaged on a Government mission of scientific exploration in the Arctic regions, were happily dispelled on September 18, when news of the Expedition was received by the De­partment of the Naval Service in Ottawa. The Expedition, which is under the command of Mr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, sailed on July 21, 1913, in three Canadian Government steamers, the "Karluk" (321 tons), the "Alaska" (50 tons), and the "Mary Sachs" (41 tons). I t was divided into two parties, one party receiving instructions to explore Beaufort Sea, Banks Land and Prince Patrick Island, and the other the