had been a special course in Canadian farming which they had carried on. Out of the many hundreds who had taken the course, 60 per cent. had come to Canada and had been placed without any difficulty.

In his Annual Report, dated Mar. 16, 1927, Sir Henry Thornton, Chairman and President, stated that during 1926, 31,536 European settlers had been brought out by the Canadian National Railways, as compared with 9,582 in 1925. The number of British included in these figures was 8,003 in 1926 and 3,883 in 1925. 335 families from the United States had been secured for Western Canada, quite a number of whom had taken up Canadian National lands. At the end of the year there were in effect 9 different arrangements under which aid in one form or another might be given to intending emigrants. "In connection with these arrangements and immigration generally, also with the development of natural resources in territory adjoining the lines of the system and elsewhere, a great deal of educational and preparatory work has been undertaken from which good results may confidently be expected in the future."

New Agreements with the Railway. The early part of 1927 witnessed at least two changes calculated to speed up immigration. The first of these was referred to by W. D. Robb, Vice-President in charge of Colonization, Canadian National Railways, when addressing a dinner meeting of the Coaticook Board of Trade on Feb. 17. He stated that an agreement had been reached by which the Federal Department of Immigration would allow some relief from the restriction placed on the admission of inexperienced agriculturists. Hitherto inexperienced men from Great Britain had been admitted in the ratio of one to five experienced. By the change the ratio was reduced to three inexperienced to four experienced. Of possibly more importance was an announcement from Ottawa on Mar. 16 that a new 3-year agreement had been entered into between the railways and the Department of Immigration, giving the former a comparatively free hand in bringing agricultural immigrants into the Dominion from Southern European countries. The Immigration Act and the Order-in-Council supplementing it had provided that all immigrants from these non-preferred countries must be certified agriculturists. Difficulty in the past had been occasioned by lack of agreement between the Department and the railways as to which were agriculturists and which were not. Under the new arrangement the Federal Department agreed to accept certificates of personal representatives of the colonization departments of the railways stationed at continental ports. The Department, however, reserved the right to deny admission to immigrants, even if certified by the railways, on grounds of health or morals and on their part the railway companies agreed to ensure employment to the immigrants brought in. In the case of immigrants from Britain the agreement gave the representatives of the railways the right to nominate immigrants for settlement in Canada, thus placing the transportation companies on an even footing with departmental officials. Commenting on the new agreement, The Gazette, Montreal, on Mar. 18 declared that "The Minister of Immigration has done a wise thing in freeing the hands of the railways in respect of the selection of immigrants from Southern European countries. The railway companies, through their colonization agencies, will speed up immigration if it can be done, and there has never been any doubt that it can be done." The Gazette concluded, "The effect upon the immigration movement should be very marked. The Hon. Robert Forke, it seems, intends to promote immigration, thereby departing from the course which his predecessors for some years pursued. It is a gratifying and encouraging change."

Some Incidents of the Year. Sir John Pickford, Chief Scout Commissioner and Commissioner for Oversea Scouts and Migration, arrived in Canada early in April and made a tour of the Dominion during which he discussed immigration with Canadian immigration authorities and others. Sir John expressed the view that if Canada would make arrangements to receive boys over 17 years of age, an immediate increase in immigration would take place.

During August, Hon. Lady Cecil, C.B.E., made a brief tour of Canada in the interests of the Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women. She was specially interested in studying the conditions under which girls brought out from the British Isles by the Society were living.

On Aug. 12, The Times, London, announced that a party of 40 students from Wye Agricultural College, Kent, had left on an educational tour to Western Canada to make a study of the methods of Canadian farming.

With a view to securing for Northern Ontario a share of the settlers coming to Canada under the 3,000 Families Scheme, Premier Ferguson of Ontario on Oct. 7, held a conference in Toronto with Col. I. H. Stanley, Director of Colonization for the Hudson's Bay Co., and W. C. Noxon, Agent-General for Ontario in the British Isles.

The resolution adopted by the National Conference of Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce in Saint John, N.B., was forwarded by wireless on Nov. 9 to Rt. Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister, who was then in London attending the Imperial Conference. This resolution called for increased appropriations for immigration; a lightening of the medical restrictions, cancellation of any existing administrative restrictions tending to deter or unduly delay the entry of suitable immigrants and financial aid in the establishment of training or testing stations with the object of further expediting British colonization.

In a cable to The Gazette, Montreal, from London on Nov. 15 it was stated that the most important result of the Imperial Conference so far as emigration was concerned, would probably be the extension of the scheme of training prospective British emigrants for Dominion farms which had been conducted by the British Government for some months on a small scale. Instead of the 100 men from this source secured by Canada in 1926 it was expected that, with the broadening of the scheme, from 1,200 to 1,500 men would be obtainable in 1927.

The Annual Meeting of the Lutheran Immigration Board of Canada was held in Winnipeg on Nov. 17-18 and plans were laid for bringing in 10,000 Lutheran immigrants from continental countries in 1927. Colonel J. S. Dennis, Commissioner of Colonization and Development, C. P. R., spoke at the annual dinner.

On Nov. 26, Countess Karolyi, noted Hungarian, conferred with Hon. Robert Forke, Minister of Immigration, and W. J. Egan, Deputy Minister, regarding a plan for placing Hungarian refugees on farms in Western Canada.

Comments on the Immigration Question. The immigration question continued throughout 1926-27 to be a subject of frequent discussion on the platform and in the press and a wide variety of views were expressed by different speakers and writers. The Lord Bishop of London, Rt. Rev. A. F. Winington Ingram, who was a prominent visitor to Canada during the Summer of 1926, made many allusions to the question, his chief concern being a desire to see Canada populated with British stock. To The Montreal Star he said on Aug. 11, "We shall never keeep Canada for British stock until we treat the subjet much more earnestly than we do." He urged the formation of organizations in every large centre in Canada for the welcome and placement of emigrants from Great Britain. "If Canada will show that she has places for settlers and that they are welcome, the people will come," he declared.

It could not be said that the immigration question was a major issue in the General Election of Sept. 14, but following the Election several references appeared to it in the press, the point being made that the new administration had now an opportunity to deal with the problem in earnest. The Vancouver Province of Sept. 20, for example, referred to the lack of a considered and practical immigration policy on the part of both political parties and remarked that the discussion of immigration, our most vital problem," had been left largely to visitors from the old land such as Lord Clarendon, the Bishop of London, Sir James Craig and Sir George McLaren Brown. Organization is required at both ends," it contended. "We can no longer depend on the old system of luring the immigrant to our shores and then allowing him to sink or swim. The immigrant who sinks is the worst kind of an advertisement." The same idea was voiced by The Montreal Star on Sept. 23 when it emphasized "the vital necessity of effectively linking togetner the British and Canadian ends of our immigration system and the desirability in this connection, of a complete and systematic revision of the mechanics of that system." The Gazette, Montreal,

also on Sept. 23 called on the Government to put into effect an aggressive immigration policy, saying "there has not been such a policy since pre-war days and the Dominion has been handicapped seriously for the lack of it.

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The need for more effective colonization work in Canada was emphasized on several occasions by Sir George McLaren Brown, European Manager of the C. P. R., during a visit to Canada in September and October. Interviewed in Calgary on Sept. 28, Sir George said there was no doubt the British people were looking to Canada as a place for settlement and the British Government was anxious to facilitate the movement. He believed there would be no dearth of the proper people from the United Kingdom, provided reasonable attractions were offered and there was an organization in Canada ready to give new settlers the first kindly helping hand. This was an aspect of the question that was stressed by the new Minister of Immigration, Hon. Robert Forke, in speeches delivered shortly after his appointment. He then declared that "colonization as distinguished from undirected settlement and immigration" would be the aim of his Department. Incidentally, the appointment of Mr. Forke called forth favorable comment, The Gazette, Montreal, a strong political opponent, speaking of him on Oct. 4 as "peculiarly well fitted for the post" and adding that "he has been given a great opportunity to make his own reputation and to render valuable service to the Dominion.' About this time also, Major Hume Cronyn of London, Ont., a close student of public affairs, delivered one or two addresses on the immigration question, notably before the Citizens' Research Institute of Canada at Winnipeg on Sept. 29. He then expressed opposition to an indiscriminate immigration and stood for the barring-out of immigrants from southeastern Europe. Efforts should rather be directed to securing agricultural settlers from Great Britain and Northern Europe. Such a policy might cost more in dollars and cents and might not result in any great immediate rush of settlers but the whole question was one in which immediate interests should be subordinated to the welfare of future generations, while the expenditure involved would be a sound national investment.

As might have been expected, immigration was an important topic at the Convention of the Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce in Saint John, N.B., in October and several speakers touched on it. Lieut.-Col. Ralph H. Webb, Mayor of Winnipeg, speaking on Oct. 21, advocated the taking of immigration out of politics and placing it in the hands of a Commission. A. O. Dawson past President of the Montreal Board of Trade, claimed that the problem of getting immigrants could be readily solved through the establishment of new industries and the enlargement of present industries. At a banquet on the same evening, E. W. Beatty, K.C., President of the C. P. R., advocated the extension of the 3,000 Family Scheme, the granting of assistance for the immigration of skilled and unskilled labour when found to be required and the contribution by Canada toward the cost of training young men in Britain for agricultural life in Canada.

The pressing need for more people was the theme of an address by Hon. R. B. Bennett before the Montreal Conservative Club on Nov. 10. "We have reached a stage," he declared, "where we can only face our obligations by getting more people. I believe it is either the end or more people.' He indicted all Governments since 1867, saying "We have brought into Canada more people than we have been able to keep and we have lost more people than we have been able to bring in." The reason, in his view, was the inability to provide them with work. There must be diversified occupation and that was only possible under a reasonable policy of protection. Quite a contrary view was expressed from time to time by Tom Moore, President of the Trades and Labour Congress and chief spokesman for Canadian labour. For example when in Vancouver on Jan. 24, 1927, Mr. Moore told The Vancouver Province that Canada's most urgent need was a policy of intensive internal colonization, instead of immigration. Cities were full of farmers' sons, many of whom were not fitted or trained for the highly industrialized life of the cities. Instead of combing the cities of Europe for immigrants and assisting them to take up farms in Canada, the proper method was to start at home and get the farmers' sons back on the land. 'When our own men are colonized then is the time to seek immigrants.' he contended. Mr. Moore also condemned the establishing of European emi

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grants in separate colonies and the bringing in of immigrants for seasonal occupations, as not in the best interests of Canada. The Labour leader's views were criticized on Feb. 3 by The Gazette, Montreal, which asked why he was opposed to immigration and answered, "So that there may be no danger of dilution in the labour market. In other words, Canadian progress is to be held back in order that Mr. Moore and his friends may set up and maintain a national closed shop." Hon. Hugh Guthrie, House leader of the Conservative party, also took the broader view when in addressing the Canadian Club of Montreal on Jan. 31, he said, "I believe we should have less restriction. I do not advocate the open door but I do think that the guiding principle of the Department should not be one of exclusion, as it is to-day, but should be one of inclusion, because the greatest need of this Dominion is more population, and a great deal more population." However, Mr. Moore maintained his position and speaking at Halifax on Mar. 31 declared that the home problem was the first problem. "When you have indigestion," he said, "you don't think of taking in more food, you digest what you have, and that is the problem that is facing us in the Dominion to-day." He advocated the establishment of a species of immigration council composed of representatives of each province, the railways, the farmers, the employers and labour to deal with the whole problem.

Some outspoken statements with regard to immigration were made in the presidential address of Lt.-Col. Ralph H. Webb, Mayor of Winnipeg, at the Annual Meeting of the Union of Canadian Municipalities in Ottawa on June 8. He declared that the process of filling up the Western Provinces with non-British people was attaining proportions which constituted a menace to Canadianism; that the population of the Prairie Provinces was less than 50 per cent. British; that non-British immigrants arriving outnumbered those of British stock ninety to one, and that there should be a new immigration policy to meet this situation. Colonel Webb also protested against the dumping of immigrants into Winnipeg. E. W. Beatty, K.C., President of the C. P. R., discussing the question in Winnipeg on June 10, expressed the opinion that Mayor Webb had been unduly alarmed that continental immigrants had not come in excessive numbers, and that "if we were to announce now that Europeans would be unwelcome, I am afraid the consequences would not be in this country's interests."

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION

Railway Results
in 1926; General

Problems and
Developments

By

W. A. Craick, B.A.

Canada's railways, always an important factor in national affairs, entered upon a period of greater prosperity in 1926 and as a consequence were able to maintain and extend their services. The financial difficulties which had beset them of recent years were being gradually dissipated as a result of improved earnings and the freight rate question, which had been a source of much uncertainty, seemed in a fair way of being settled in an equitable manner. A healthy expan sion was taking place in directions calculated to make a satisfactory return on the investment, while existing lines and their equipment were being maintained in an efficient condition. The wage question was a live issue throughout the year but it gave promise in most cases of amicable settlement. There remained problems such as those involved in railway service to Hudson Bay and the Peace River country, and the Province of British Columbia continued to be exercised over the future of its Pacific Great Eastern Railway, but the year witnessed progress even with these

matters.

In 1926 all records were broken by Canadian railways in the handling of revenue freight. Preliminary returns indicated that 75,336,437 tons had been loaded at stations in Canada and 33,667,427 tons received from foreign connections, a total of 107,003,864 tons or 10,764,485 tons more than in 1925. The largest increase was recorded in mine products; these, with a total of 36,709,404 tons, were ahead of 1925 by 6,815,401 tons. Coal traffic increased by over four million tons and there were large gains in clay, gravel, sand and crushed stone, due to extensive highway construction. Crude petroleum also showed a substantial increase, reflecting the growing demand for gasoline and fuel oil. The tonnage of agricultural products, which formed 24 per cent. of the whole, was greater by 222,693 tons than the previous record attained in 1923. Forest products, with a tonnage of 15,140,496, showed an increase of 1,232,639 tons over 1925, while manufactures and miscellaneous goods amounted to 26,166,125 tons, a gain of over 2,000,000 tons. Under this classification, automobiles, bar and sheet iron, structural iron, iron pipe and paper experienced the principal increases.

As with tonnage figures, so with earnings there were notable increases over the preceding year. In the case of all railways having annual operating revenues of $500,000 and over, freight