militia, and a certain number of commissions in the British regular
army are granted annually to its cadets.
Naval Service. The department of the Naval Service of Canada embraces, in addition to the naval service proper, fishery protection, hydrographic surveys, tidal and current survey, radiotelegraph or wireless service and the Canadian Arctic Expedition. The naval service proper embraces one light cruiser, two torpedo destroyers and two submarines, a gift from the Admiralty of Great Britain. It also embraces the Royal Naval College of Canada and the dockyard at Esquimalt and the dockyard at Halifax. The dockyards at Esquimalt and Halifax are maintained as bases of supply and for the purpose of repair and overhaul of the ships of the fleet, as well as for the other services of the department. The principal functions of the department are thus: (a) to assist in the maritime defence of the Empire; (b) the maritime defence of Canada from attack from overseas; (c) the protection of Canadian fisheries; (d) the surveying of ocean beds, coast-lines, bays, rivers and lakes, and the preparation and distribution of charts, plans and sailing directions of the navi- gable waters; (e) the scientific investigation of tides and currents, and the prediction and determination of tide levels; (/) the administration of wireless telegraphy and telephony throughout the Dominion; (g) the completion of the Canadian Arctic Expedition.
HISTORY. The political history of Canada in 1910-13 centred round the two great questions of Reciprocity with the United States and Canadian naval policy in relation to the Empire. On July 18 1911 Parliament reassembled after the Coronation adjournment, and' on July 29 the Government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who had been Premier since 1896, decided to recommend the dissolution of Parliament and to submit their proposals for commercial reciprocity with the United States to the judgment of the Canadian people at a general election, which was fixed for Sept. 21. While the chief question before the electors was the Reciprocity Agreement, the question of Canada's naval policy received much attention, especially in the province of Quebec. The result was a complete defeat for the Government and the Reciprocity party. What had been a Liberal majority of 43 was converted into a Conservative-Liberal and anti-Reciproci- ty majority of 49. Mr. Fielding and Mr. Paterson, who were responsible for the negotiations with the United States, were both defeated, together with Sir F. Borden and four other ministers. On Oct. 6 Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his administration resigned office. Sir Wilfrid Laurier retained his seat, however, and decided to remain at the head of his party, now in Opposition.
Mr. (later Sir) R. L. Borden (b. 1854), leader of the Conserva- tive party, being called upon to form an administration, accom- plished this task on Oct. 10 1911, and the new Ministry was constituted as follows: R. L. Borden, Premier and President of the Privy Council; George Eulas Foster (b. 1847), Trade and Commerce; Robert Rogers (b. 1864), Interior; F. D. Monk (b. 1856), Public Works; Francis Cochrane (b. 1852), Railways and Canals; William T. White (b. 1866), Finance; Louis P. Pelletier (b. 1857), Postmaster-General; John D. Hazen (b. 1860), Marine and Fisheries and Naval Service; Charles J. Doherty (b. 1855), Justice; Samuel Hughes (b. 1853), Militia and Defence; William J. Roche (b. 1859), Secretary of State; Thomas W. Croth- ers (b. 1850), Labour; Wilfrid B. Nantel (b. 1857), Inland Rev- enue and Mines; John D. Reid (b. 1859), Customs; Martin Burrell (b. 1858), Agriculture; George H. Perley (b. 1857), Albert E. Kemp (b. 1858), and James A. Lougheed (b. 1854), members without portfolios. On Oct. 22 1912 Mr. Monk resigned on the question of Mr. Borden's naval policy and his portfolio was taken over by Mr. Rogers, Mr. W. J. Roche becoming Minister of the Interior in his place. The office of Secretary of State was filled by Mr. Louis Coderre (b. 1865), the member for the Hochelaga division of Montreal. On Oct. 23 1911 the Hon. Auguste Landry was appointed Speaker of the Senate, and on Nov. 15 Dr. T. S. Sproule was elected Speaker of the House of Commons.
The twelfth Parliament of the Dominion of Canada was opened on Nov. 15 1911 by the new governor-general, the Duke of Connaught, in person. The address in reply to the speech from the throne was voted on Nov. 29, and on Dec. ^7 Parliament adjourned over the Christmas recess until Jan. 10 1912. On re- suming, the main business was financial. On April i 1912 Parliament was prorogued.
When the new session opened on Nov. 21 1912, it was known that the announcement of Mr. Borden's naval programme would
be the business of outstanding importance. The governor-general, in the speech from the throne, stated that his advisers having consulted with the Imperial Government, it had been concluded that it would be the duty of Canada at this juncture to afford aid in strengthening the effective naval forces of the Empire; and on Dec. 5 the Premier announced an Emergency Contribution bill, leaving permanent policy for future consideration.
The Reciprocity Question. Sir W. Laurier's Government had begun their official negotiations for Reciprocity with the United States in Jan. 1911, as the result of private discussions in the previous year. The terms of the proposed agreement were announced in the Canadian Parliament by Mr. W. S. Fielding, the Finance Minister in Sir W. Laurier's Cabinet, on Jan. 26 1911. It aimed at more free interchange of products by removing duties on certain articles and reducing them in others.
Among those which were to enter free in each country, if of the growth, product or manufactures of the other, were live animals, poultry, wheat and other grain, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, honey, cottonseed oil and certain oil seeds, grass, garden, field and other seed, fish except those preserved in oil, certain fish oils, timber (not sawn), brass (not polished), rolled iron or steel sheets 14-gauge or thinner, galvanized, coated with zinc or tin, crucible cast steel, galvanized iron, steel or wire, typewriting and typesetting machines, barbed wire fencing, coke (round), wire rods, wood pulp, and cream separators. Among the articles to be admitted into Canada from the United States and into the United States from Canada at iden- tical rates were the following: Fresh meats I J cents per Ib. ; bacon and hams, not in tins or jars, I J cents per Ib. ; meats dried and pre- served I j cents per Ib. ; canned meats and poultry 20 % ; lards, etc., I j cents per Ib. ; barley, malt, per icolb. 45 cents; cereal foods I2j cents per 100 Ib. ; biscuits, wafers, cakes 25%; confectionery 32j%; farm wagons 22 j%; farming implements of various kinds 15%; portable engines with boilers and traction engines for farm purposes 20%; roofing slates 55 cents per I oo ft. ; cutlery, plated or not 27}%; clocks, watches, etc., 275 %; automobiles 30%. Arrangements were made for special rates of duty on a moderate scale to cover a large number of other commodities.
The case presented for the adoption of this agreement was that reciprocal trade relations had been the policy of all parties in Canada for generations, that many efforts had been made to secure a treaty without success, and that Sir John Macdonald's National Tariff policy (1879) contained a standing offer of reciprocity with the United States covering a large portion of the products included in the present agreement. The United States having approached Canada with fair offers, it was claimed that they should be fairly met, and that in making the arrangement the Government were realizing the desires which the Canadian people had expressed for half a century, and also that in promot- ing friendly relations with the neighbouring republic the best possible service to the Empire was being done. As Canada was seeking markets everywhere for her surplus products, subsidizing steamship lines, and sending out commercial agents, it would be absurd to refuse increased facilities at her very doors if they could be obtained by negotiation.
A denial was given to the expressed fear that the imports from Great Britain would be seriously affected. It was pointed out that the greater part of the agreement dealt with natural products which did not come from Great Britain, and that the range of manufactures affected was small. It was further denied that there was any foundation for the assumption that the tariff rates agreed upon discriminated in favour of the United States and against Great Britain. The promoters of the agreement promised that in every case Great Britain would have the same rate or a lower one, and held that Canada's right to deal with the British preference as she pleased remained untouched.
The opposition to the agreement took the ground that the arrangement had been entered into hastily without its effects being fully appreciated, and that the question should be referred to the people. Attention was drawn to the success which had attended the efforts to build up a nation and bind the country together from east to west, and it was contended that, as the arrangements proposed would primarily affect the question of transportation by promoting a tendency to make trade move north and south, the immense efforts which had been made would be sacrificed, and the markets which had been secured in Great
