equal to 55 carloads, had been marketed during 1926, together with 1,242,960 dozen eggs. The total turnover of the Association in 1926 was $656,896.12, as compared with $39,462.61 in 1922. The 20th Annual Convention of the Manitoba Horticultural and Forestry Association was held on Jan. 28, 1927, in the Parliament Buildings, Winnipeg. W. R. Leslie, Superintendent of the Morden Experimental Farm, was elected President, and J. R. Almey, Secretary-Treasurer. J. R. Scannell, Federal Plant Inspector, urged the development in Manitoba of the certified seed potato trade. Manitoba prize-winners at the Royal Agricultural Fair, Toronto, the Ottawa Winter Fair, and the Guelph Agricultural Fair were the guests of the Manitoba Government at a banquet held in Winnipeg on Dec. 9, 1926. Premier John Bracken said that Manitoba had had 47 exhibits and won 129 prizes during the year, the most remarkable showing of any Province in the Dominion. About midsummer, 1926, the Great Northern Railway sold the rails on the line between Carman and Portage La Prairie to the Canadian Pacific Railway. On Aug. 28, Hon. D. L. McLeod, Public Utilities Commissioner, issued an order restraining the railway from making any disposition of the property in question until an investigation had been held. Later, the Canadian Pacific Railway agreed to operate the line for a time and the restraining order was withdrawn on Nov. 4 on the understanding that the rails would not be removed until the entire crop of 1926 was shipped. Sir James Aikins was honoured on Oct. 26, 1926, at a large luncheon arranged by the Canadian Club, Winnipeg, to mark the completion of his ten years' service as Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. Mrs. W. F. Alloway, Winnipeg, who died Nov. 8, 1926, bequeathed $800,000 to the Winnipeg Foundation, incorporated in 1921 as a philanthropical and charitable organization. This $800,000 was to be a net amount after payment of inheritance taxes and costs of transfer. On Oct. 13, 1926, it was announced that agreement had been reached between the city of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Electric Railway Co. on the question of damage by electrolysis to city water mains. Settlement was for $38,000 instead of $57,000 originally asked. Executive Council of Manitoba Premier, Provincial Treasurer, and President of Council.. Provincial Secretary, Minister of Agriculture, Commissioner of Provin cial Lands, Commissioner of Railways. Minister of Education. Speaker of the House.... Hon. John Bracken . Hon. Charles Cannon . Hon. W. R. Clubb Hon. D. L. McLeod Hon. P. A. Talbot R. Fletcher, B.A., LL.D. J. H. Evans John Allen . R. McN. Pearson Douglas L. McLean .L. J. Howe E. M. Wood Robert Drummond Dr. McCalman R. D. Waugh THE PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN Second Session of the Sixth The first Session of the Saskatchewan Legislature to be held under the Premiership of Hon. J. G. Gardiner, and the second of the sixth Legislative Assembly, opened on Jan. 18, 1927, and was prorogued on Mar. 3. The Cabinet had been reduced in number from eight to seven, and a re-arrangement of portfolios took place when Hon. A. P. McNab, Minister of Public Works, resigned Oct. 28, 1926, to become a member of the Provincial* Local Government Board. Portfolios were distributed as follows: Legislative Minister of Public Health and Minister of Public Works. Minister of Highways and Minister of Telephones and Telegraphs. Hon. J. G. Gardiner Hon. S. J. Latta Hon. J. A. Cross Minister in charge of the Bureau of Labour and Industries..... Hon. T. C. Davis During the Session the Government strength in the Legislature was increased to 53, while the combined Conservative and Progressive Opposition was reduced to 10. The Government lost a seat in Saskatoon City, when the By-election of Jan. 21, 1927, resulting from the resignation of Hon. A. P. McNab, gave Howard McConnell (Conservative), a majority of 1,000 over the Liberal candidate, John McDougall. The Government forces, however, were strengthened on Feb. 17, 1927, when two former Progressive members, who had previously sat with the Opposition, crossed the floor of the House and declared themselves in support of Premier Gardiner. These were Charles Agar, formerly Progressive whip (Saskatoon), and George Cockburn (Redberry). This action was taken following the presentation of Premier Gardiner's Budget, and both members declared themselves in favour of the policies enunciated by the Premier, and the course he had followed since assuming office. Both members made reference to the decline of the Progressive political movement. In the course of a discussion, Feb. 22, on a demand made by Dr. C. E. Tran, leader of the Progressive group, that these two members should resign to test the feelings of their constituents, Mr. Agar read a letter from Sydney Bingham, formerly M. L. A. for Wilkie, and a leader in the Progressive party. Mr. Bingham was quoted as declaring his approval of the step taken, and as stating that there was nothing left "to hang a hat on in Provincial or Federal Progressivism except the *NOTE.-For Provincial Deputy Heads of Departments, see page 449, this volume. one principle of party government," which he declared preferable to the "Wood theory of economic class groups." An Act was passed consolidating various previous enactments relating to child welfare. A new provision required publications receiving advertisements relating to the adoption, boarding out or caring for children, to report particulars relating to the advertisement and the advertiser to the Bureau of Child Protection. An Act for the Improvement of Livestock-breeding was expected to bring about important developments in the Livestock industry. Under the Act the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council might, on petition of the council of a rural municipality, and on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture, declare any municipality to be a "Pure Bred Sire" area. Within such areas no person might own, keep, travel, stand, use for breeding purposes or pasture any stallion, bull, ram or boar unless it were of pure breeding. Provision was also made for a livestock sires licensing board, and if the municipality so requested, all pure-bred sires would be examined, and only those of good type and conformation licensed. A number of Acts were passed to facilitate the work of the Wheat Pool and other farmers' organizations. The sale of the elevators of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Co. to the Wheat Pool was ratified, and the transfer of the Government loan thereon to the Pool. A Bill was passed for the winding-up of the Co-operative Elevator Company. A debate took place on the section of the Bill which prohibited the transfer of shares or assignment of proceeds of shares to any but agriculturists, or the holding of more than twenty shares by one person. D. A. McNiven (Lib., Regina), and M. A. McPherson (Cons., Regina), attempted to have this section deleted, on the ground that it interfered with established business practice, and would create an impression that the Legislature might, at a subsequent date, interfere with other instruments and other rights under existing laws. Premier Gardiner insisted on retaining the section, declaring that it was only carrying into the assignment period the restrictions on shareholding that had been in effect since the incorporation of the Company. In the course of the discussion there was much denunciation of the speculative purchases of shares, which had taken place since the winding up of the Company was announced, and many of which would be invalidated under this legislation. At the request of the Wheat Pool, amendments to existing legislation were passed, empowering trustees to enter into Wheat Pool contracts on behalf of estates, and prohibiting assignments of proceeds of crops until after cutting. An Act was passed authorizing the amalgamation of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers' Association and the Farmers' Union of Canada to form the United Farmers of Canada, Saskatchewan Section, and incorporating that body. An Act respecting the duties of agents in the sale of products of the soil and other commodities was designed to protect pro ducers and define the duties of agents in the sale of fruit, vegetables, and other agricultural and farm produce except milk, cream, grain and livestock, the sale of which was already regulated in another manner. Penalties were provided up to $10,000, and imprisonment not exceeding two years; and in the case of corporations, fines not exceeding $100,000. On Jan. 31, an unanimous resolution was passed demanding that construction on the Hudson Bay Railway should be carried on so that the line would be completed to Nelson and work commenced on the port terminal during 1927. On Feb. 9, Dr. J. T. M. Anderson, Conservative leader, moved a resolution demanding the appointment of a commission to conduct an educational survey in Saskatchewan. The resolution was vigourously opposed by Premier Gardiner and by Mr. Latta, Minister of Education, and was voted down, being supported only by the Conservative group of four, and by five Progressives. On Feb. 22, an unanimous resolution was passed to the effect that the Government should continue to urge upon the Dominion Government the necessity of transferring to the Province its natural resources. The matter came up originally upon a motion of Dr. C. E. Tran (Prog., Pelly), that the Dominion Government should be asked to submit the whole question of Saskatchewan's rights to the Privy Council for adjudication, but the Government declined to accept this suggestion, and the Attorney-General presented the motion above referred to as an amendment. During the course of the discussion Premier Gardiner said that he was not willing to state on the floor of the House what the Government would be prepared to accept from the Dominion as a minimum settlement of the Resources question. He suggested that consideration of the claims of the Maritime Provinces would necessitate calling the other Provinces into consultation, and in view of the probability of an inter-Provincial conference he did not think the Government should be too definite in laying down what it would or would not accept. Discussion of Old Age Pensions on Feb. 7 resulted in a statement from Premier Gardiner that the Government were awaiting the action of the Dominion Parliament and would give careful consideration to any Dominion-wide scheme. An unanimous resolution was passed to the effect that the condition of the aged deserving poor should receive the early and careful attention of the Government. On Mar. 1st a resolution was passed, 49 to 4, to the effect that the Provincial Government should "urge upon the Federal Government the necessity of the immediate removal of the protective element in the customs tariff, particularly on the implements of production and the necessities of life." The Church Union Question revived. The Church Union controversy was revived and brought before the Legislature by a private Bill asked for by the Presbyterian Church, and introduced by P. L. Hyde (Maple Creek), which sought to amend the Church Union Act by appointing a commission to inquire into the working of the Act, with power to make adjustments of property rights, and to order new votes to be taken on Union. The Commission was to be of three members, one appointed by the United Church, one by the Presbyterian Church, and one by the Government. Mr. Hyde referred to the existing situation, resulting from Church Union, as "vicious, pernicious and iniquitous." G. H. Yule, K.C., presenting the case as counsel for the Presbyterians before the Private Bills Committee on Feb. 10, stated that they were asking that a commission should conduct an investigation and make an apportionment of property that would be fair to both sides. The Dominion Act covering Church Union had provided for the appointment of a Commission to deal with general church property as distinguished from local church property belonging to the congregations. It was made clear in discussions before the Committee that the cases sought to be covered were a number in which minority members of Presbyterian congregations which had entered the Union desired to continue the existence of Presbyterian congregations, and it was claimed that there were a number of cases of hardship in this connection. Dr. E. H. Oliver, President of the Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church, declared that the United Church was absolutely opposed to the Bill, that it would refuse to appoint a member to the Commission if the Bill should be passed, and would resist to the utmost any endeavour of such a Commission to interfere in any way with the internal affairs of the United Church. Dr. Oliver denied the right of any church outside of the United Church to make use of the name, "The Presbyterian Church in Canada." If hardships existed the United Church of Canada was willing to confer directly with any church interested. Later a suggestion was made that the Presbyterians were willing to have the scope of the Bill limited to some seventeen or eighteen points. Typical of these was Regina, where four congregations had voted Union, but where a minority coming out of these congregations had established a new Presbyterian congregation. The Committee heard a great deal of discussion of individual cases, but finally refused to report the Bill, recommending that "before any legislation is further considered the parties concerned make a further effort to amicably adjust their differences, particularly with respect to relief of guarantors and the adjustment of church property." Saskatchewan Co-operative Creameries Limited. A Government measure passed provided for the amalgamation of Saskatchewan Co-operative Creameries Limited, operating twentynine creameries, and Caulder's Creameries Limited, operating twenty-three plants. On the second reading of the Bill, Feb. 25, Premier Gardiner gave particulars of the financial failure of the |