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trustees which would ensure tenure of office. Addresses were given by Dr. George M. Weir, head of the Department of Education, University of British Columbia, and Dean W. C. McKillican, of the Manitoba Agricultural College. The Association conducted its work in seven sections, each with appropriate speakers. The officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: Honorary President, Hon. Charles Cannon; President, Dr. R. Fletcher; Vice-President, H. W. Huntley, Winnipeg; Second Vice-President, Miss C. A. Doheny, Kirkfield Park; Secretary, H. J. Russell, Winnipeg; and Treasurer, E. J. Motley, Winnipeg.

The 21st Annual Convention of the Manitoba School Trustees' Association was held in Winnipeg, Mar. 3–5, 1927, with 500 delegates attending the opening session. Addresses were delivered by Hon. Charles Cannon, Minister of Education, H. N. MacNeill of Dauphin, President, and Professor A. B. Clark of the University of Manitoba. Hon. Charles Cannon said the school attendance had reached the highest percentage ever recorded in the Province, being 72.03, while the total cost of education had decreased from $10,670,000 in 1925 to $9,900,000 in 1926. Professor Clark urged that the cost of education be contributed to a considerable degree by the community in general on the basis of ability to pay instead of being so largely borne by the owners of real property.

The election of officers for the year 1927-28 resulted in the President, H. N. MacNeill of Dauphin, and the Vice-President, Mrs. J. P. McArthur of Norwood, being accorded another term by acclamation.

The University of Manitoba. For the year 1926-27, there was an enrolment at the University of 3,456 students, of whom 2,468 were in regular courses, 648 in the Manitoba Summer School, and 440 in extension courses. Of the enrolment in regular courses 1,633 were in Arts and Science, 37 in Pharmacy, 261 in Medicine, 172 in Engineering, 20 in Architecture, 52 in Law, 105 in diploma courses, and 202 in degree courses in Agriculture and Home Economics. Retirement took place of Jasper Halpenny, Professor of Surgery, R. M. Simpson, Professor of Gynaecology, and D. H. McCalman, Professor of Obstetrics, each of whom was appointed Professor Emeritus. B. J. Brandson was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery; and D. S. McKay was appointed Professor of Gynaecology and Head of the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

The Manitoba Agricultural College, included in the University of Manitoba, had 111 degree students in Home Economics; 91 degree students in Agriculture. In diploma courses, 46 Home Economics students were registered and 59 students in Agriculture, making a total of 307 students in long courses and 283 students in the various short courses-a total enrolment of 590 students for the academic year 1926-27. The death occurred in December, 1926, of Samuel Carson Lee, Professor of Physics and Mathematics at the College since 1913. At Commencement exercises in April, 1926, Mrs. Mary Watt of Birtle received the Honorary Diploma on account of her splendid leadership among the women of her community and throughout Manitoba for a great number of years. In April, 1927, Andrew Graham of Roland, Man., was presented with the Honorary Diploma for leadership in the breeding of pure-bred livestock and achievements as an all-round farmer. Plans were made for celebrating in 1927 the 50th anniversary of the founding of the University of Manitoba by Act of the Manitoba Legislature.

Brandon College.

The enrolment of students for 1926-27 at Brandon College was 185 in Arts and Theology. At the Annual Commencement on May 23, 1927, the Honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on William Grant Carpenter, Calgary, Alta.

United Colleges, Winnipeg. The enrolment of students for 1926-27, the first year of union of Wesley College with Manitoba College under the title, United Colleges, was 416. In the Department of Theology, 21 students were enrolled and 10 graduated. In the Department of Arts the enrolment was 395. Convocation proceedings took place Apr. 12, 1927, the address being

delivered by Rev. S. D. Chown, D.D. The Honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on Rev. James S. MacKay, B.A., of Central India; Rev. Oliver Coleman, B.A., B.D., St. James, Man.; Rev. R. E. McCullagh, B.A., Boissevain, Man.; and Rev. W. A. Lewis, B.A., Calgary, Ont.

The
Industrial
Development
Board; *

Other

Industrial

Conditions

The 1st Annual Meeting of the Industrial Development Board was held on Sept. 15, 1926. The officers re-elected were: Hon. John Bracken, Premier of the Province, Chairman; W. H. Carter, Vice-Chairman; F. M. Black, Treasurer; and J. M. Davidson, Secretary. The Executive Committee was also re-elected.

In an article in The Manitoba Free Press of Jan. 22, 1927, J. M. Davidson, Secretary of the Industrial Development Board, stated that there were then in operation within the environs of Greater Winnipeg 437 plants, representing some 43 groups of industry. In 1926, 37 plants were expanded and 38 new plants were opened, according to the same authority. The chief expansion had taken place in connection with furs, fisheries, timber, minerals and water power. Building construction in Winnipeg in 1926 showed a remarkable advance over the preceding year, the official figures of building permits for the year being $10,400,000 against $4,150,000 in 1925. According to The Manitoba Free Press contractors estimated that the construction cost of new buildings in 1926 in Greater Winnipeg totalled fully $15,000,000. On Feb 1st, 1927, the second Manitoba Industrial Review, held under the auspices of the Commercial Travellers' Association, was opened at the Royal Alexandra Hotel, and included a varied display of products of Manitoba's industries.

The Manitoba Pulp and Paper Co. completed its plant at Pine Falls during 1926. Shipment of paper began early in 1927, and The Manitoba Free Press of Feb. 8, 1927, was in part printed on paper of the first shipment from Pine Falls. The announcement in The Free Press declared that the new paper was very white in colour, and that the product was the equal in texture and tensile strength and colour of any newsprint previously used. The Free Press supply of paper, it was stated, to the value of approximately $450,000 per year, was henceforth to be obtained from the new

mill.

On Feb. 12, 1927, the Company obtained, by Order-in-Council, the right to cut six million cords of pulp-wood from Manitoba limits. The original grant, made on June 12, 1925, gave the Company the right to select for cutting areas aggregating 1,080 square miles in the Lake Winnipeg basin south of township line 47. When it became known that the Company had applied for an additional supply of pulpwood in order to justify installing two paper machines instead of one, a period of controversy ensued. E. W. Backus intervened, and announced his willingness to con

*NOTE.-See The Review, for 1925-26, page 460, for past record of the Industrial Development Board.

struct a paper mill between Selkirk and Winnipeg, under certain conditions as to wood supply, but stated that the grant contemplated would make it impossible for another mill to secure sufficient wood tributary to Lake Manitoba. Mayor Webb of Winnipeg championed the cause of Mr. Backus. The Manitoba Industrial Board and the Council of the Winnipeg Board of Trade endorsed the application of the Manitoba Pulp and Paper Company at a joint meeting on Feb. 2, 1927. The day previous Mayor Webb had held a public meeting, at which Mr. Backus outlined his plans, to protest against the proposed grant. Premier Bracken of Manitoba gave general endorsation to the proposed increased grant of pulpwood by the Dominion Government, but requested the Minister of the Interior, Hon. Chas. Stewart, to include certain conditions in the agreement. One of these was the release of territory from the west side of Lake Winnipeg from the Company's grant, and another one was the inclusion of ten per cent. of jack-pine in the cordage allowed. Neither of these was accepted, but the minimum price of $1.40 per cord suggested by Premier Bracken was included in the arrangement finally made.

The essential feature of the new grant was that the Company was given the right to select areas in the Lake Winnipeg basin to yield 6,000,000 cords of spruce and balsam; and it was declared that the previous grant of 1,080 square miles would have yielded 2,150,000 cords. On its part the Company agreed to increase the capacity of its Pine Falls mill from 250 to 300 tons of newsprint daily, by the installation of a second paper machine on or before Sept. 1st, 1927.

In August, 1926, an agreement was reached between the City of Winnipeg Hydro and the Manitoba Power Company for the purchase by the city of a block of 20,000 horse-power from the Company's development at Lac du Bonnet on the Winnipeg River. The City Power development, also on the Winnipeg River, at Pointe du Bois, was unable to supply all the demands in sight for power. There was opposition particularly on the part of Labour members of the City Council to the agreement, principally on the ground that the city should, as an alternative, proceed to the development of another Winnipeg River power site, at Slave Falls. Such development, it was estimated, would cost $5,000,000, and those in favour of the purchase plan argued that it would be impossible to get the approval of the city rate-payers to such an expenditure at that time.

Mining development in Central and Eastern Manitoba attracted much attention during 1926 and the prospects of sound and permanent activity led to the formation of the Manitoba Chamber of Mines and the appointment of a Commissioner of Mines by the Provincial Government. Officers of the Geological Survey of Canada were engaged in the exploration of the mineral resources of the Province, and development of gold mining by a number of concerns proceeded. Col. L. D. M. Baxter, Secretary

of the Manitoba Chamber of Mines, made an extensive tour of the mining districts early in 1927, covering over 400 miles in the Slate Lake, Long Lake, Rice Lake and the English Brook districts, and reported that he was more than ever convinced of the mineral wealth of the Province. This area is known as the East Central Manitoba goldfield. In 1926 a charter was obtained for the Manitoba Northern Railway Company which proposed to build a line into the Flin Flon mining district. Extension of the time. for starting and finishing the proposed railway was granted at the 1927 Session of the Legislature, officials of the Company stating that $420,000 had already been spent by the mining Company on the development of the property but that it was not feasible to commence construction of the railway until final proof was obtained of the practicability of establishing a large smelter at the mine.

Winnipeg Suburban Municipalities; Other Municipal Affairs. The first Annual Report of the Winnipeg Suburban Municipal Board for the year 1926 showed a reduction in assessment in the four municipalities administered by the Board from $21,058,158 in 1924 to $16,235,580. This reduction was made after realization that the unfortunate position of the municipalities was due to the very high assessment of unimproved property. In spite of the reduction in assessment total tax receipts increased from $1,216,310 in 1924 to $1,324,592 for the period covered. A general improvement in conditions was reported with increasing sales of municipally owned real estate.

On Feb. 16, 1927, an agreement was concluded between the Winnipeg Suburban Municipal Board and an Executive Committee of the holders of debentures issued by the four municipalities of St James, St. Vital, West Kildonan and Transcona providing for the refunding of all the outstanding indebtedness of the municipalities. Speaking in the Legislature on Mar. 14, W. C. McKinnell, M.L.A., stated that under this agreement a moratorium was established for 30 years on principal of the bonded indebtedness of the four municipalities. Under the agreement the town of Transcona obtained a reduction of 2 per cent. in the interest rate, which was cut down to 4 per cent. Interest on the bonds of St. Vital and West Kildonan was reduced to 51⁄2 per cent., while St. James benefitted to the extent of one-half of one per cent. of interest on the Government bank overdraft. The gross bonded indebtedness, he stated, amounted to $7,543,000, the Government guaranteed loan being $890,000 and the housing loans $1,600,000. Sinking funds were to be established under the agreement by St. James in 1929 of $50,000 a year, and by St. Vital in 1930 of $10,000 a year, while similar provision would be made by West Kildonan by arrangement between the Council, the Supervisor and the Appeal Board. John Appleton of the Dominion Mortgage Investment Company, Toronto, was appointed Supervisor. Appointment of a trustee to handle the financial affairs of the four municipalities was to be made at a later meeting of the Board.

The Annual Meeting of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities was held in St. Boniface Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 1926, 300 delegates being in attendance. Among the resolutions passed for submission to the Provincial Government the more important dealt with: the recording of the votes of electors in municipal elections on declaration of qualification to the returning officers; subjecting the employees of railways residing on the right of way to municipal taxation; the ear-marking of revenues derived from taxation of automobiles and gasoline for road construction and maintenance; heavier taxation of motor trucks; repeal of the Supplementary Revenue Act.

The Convention declined to endorse the proposal to oppose the taxing of the public for higher education than the public schools and left to the Executive Committee action to induce the Dominion Government to pay taxes on lands abandoned by soldier settlers which had reverted to the Crown. Arthur M.

McFadyen of St. Boniface was elected President of the Organization, D. Mellish of Pipestone was chosen Vice-President, while D. D. McDonald of Dauphin was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer.

Winnipeg City Hydro. The special audit of the accounts of the Winnipeg Hydro-Electric system made by Price, Waterhouse and Company was submitted by the City Council to the examination of a Committee which reported to the Council on Feb. 21, 1927. The Report stated that there was entire agreement between the auditors and the Committee as to the findings. Instead of a net shortage of $17,293.37 in the depreciation account there was a net overprovision of $504,750.03 and the Committee concurred in the auditors' recommendation that this amount be credited to Hydro surplus account and that there be set up from that account a contingent and insurance reserve. The auditors stated that "nothing has arisen in the course of our examination which can be considered as a criticism against the integrity and competency of the officials or employees whose transactions we have investigated." Concerning capital account the auditors stated, "Our investigation of the charges to capital account during the period from May, 1917, to December, 1925, has been of a thorough nature and from our examination of the various invoices and stores and payroll records, we are satisfied that a careful distribution as between operating and construction expenditures has been made." The Report of the Committee concluded with the statement, "Any doubt that may have existed in the minds of the Council and citizens generally should be dispelled as a result of the receipt of confirmation of Hydro balance sheets by a firm having the standing in the financial world that Price, Waterhouse and Co. enjoy."

The annual financial report of the Winnipeg Hydro-Electric system for 1926 showed a further increase of gross revenue of approximately two and a half millions, an increase over the year 1925 of 20 per cent. The income statement was as follows:

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The capital assets of the system on Dec. 31, 1926, were: property and plant, $16,555,559.98; sinking fund, $2,540,009.88; depreciation reserve, $2,491,670.59; current assets, $1,675,246.58; and miscellaneous assets, $38,542.76; making the total assets $23,301,029.79.

The output for the year was 325,000,000 kilowatt-hours which was double that of four years previously and 24 per cent. more than in 1925.

Provincial
Agricultural
Conditions

The year 1926 proved to be good for the production of wheat in Manitoba, with the bright prospects of harvest time much impaired by extremely bad threshing weather, which to some extent cut down the actual yield, and to a very large extent impaired the quality of the grain. The Provincial Department of Agriculture, in a report dated Dec. 31, 1926, estimated the average wheat yield at 22.6 bushels per acre, the highest in ten years, as compared with a ten-year average of 15.64 bushels. The acreage planted to wheat was 2,285,838, slightly larger than the previous year, but smaller than any other year in the ten-year period. A decline in wheat acreage from 3,501,217 acres in 1921 to the above figure indicated a development of diversified farming in Manitoba, and the use of land for other purposes than wheat-growing. Wet weather set in early in September and continued throughout that month and October. Threshing was much delayed in the hope of the crop drying in the stooks, and later, when hope of drying weather was given up, was proceeded with in spite of the damp condition of the grain. A good deal of sprouting in the stook took place, and almost all of the grain of the Province was lowered in grade. Much of it had to be dried in the terminal elevators to make it fit for warehousing.

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