A.—4,

348

10th Day.] All-Red Route. [16 June, 1911. Sir EDWARD MORRIS—am*. many of the lines between Great Britain and Canada go right by the coast; they nearly all pass Cape Race when they go south of the country, and with regard to the Allan boats and the White Star Lines that go through the Straits of Belleisle, there are points in Newfoundland where they are for hours within three miles of the coast; the people can almost speak to those on board, the Strait being only about seven miles between Newfoundland and Canada, and they have to pass through that, so that it ought to be a very easy matter, with hardly any delay, to make a link by such a connection as that. If these figures I have quoted be correct, and if it is equally clear that the fallingoff of British trade and the British connection with Newfoundland is due to the causes I have assigned, then I think it would be worth the consideration, if not of the Conference at least of the British Government, that some improvement should be made by getting a faster service, a more frequent service, and a better service. This can, I think, be accomplished by an increased subsidy. We could get a very much better service to-day if we could offer the tendering companies a better subsidy. To-day we subsidise one line, the Allan Line; they have been coming there for 40 years with a fortnightly service, and we pay half the subsidy, and the British Government pays the other half. It is only a very small amount, but if we were in a position to double the amount and in that way have an improved service, I am quite satisfied that a very large increase would take place in the development of trade. I should not perhaps go so far as to say that the whole of the trade that has gone away from Great Britain might be got back, but I know a very considerable quantity would. The same is true as regards passengers and as regards persons visiting the country. Thirty years ago Ido not think we had one hundred strangers visiting Newfoundland; last year we had 5,000. There has been an increase of about 5,000 in 30 years. Now of that 5,000 we had not 50 from Great Britain ; they all came from the United States and from Canada, due, as I say, to the improved service between Canada and Newfoundland, and also with the United States, to which Canada contributes with Newfoundland. Whilst Ido not think that this would be the proper time to ask this Conference to pass a Resolution to increase the present subsidy —because that is a matter really more perhaps for the Imperial Government and ourselves, and I have brought the matter before the proper Department— at the same time I should like to feel that the Conference would be in sympathy with any arrangement that might be made in which Newfoundland could be linked up with any All-Red route, without, of course, seriously impairing the same. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I have simply to say that in so far as the Government of Canada is concerned, we altogether and absolutely endorse the Resolution moved by Sir Joseph Ward. We had a similar Resolution four years ago passed by this Conference, but, unfortunately, nothing yet has come of it. Yesterday we discussed the " All-Red " route as far as telegraphs are concerned, and there, in my opinion at all events, the difficulty (I think I was right in that) lay on the Atlantic Ocean. lam afraid on this occasion when we discuss the mail route, the difficulty is on the Pacific Ocean. We have at the present time between Canada and Great Britain four lines of steamers of first importance—the Allan Line, the Canadian Pacific, the Canadian Northern Line, which is known as the Royal George, and the White Star. They give a fairly good service, but it is susceptible of very considerable improvement. None of these lines, I think, are faster than 18 knots, if even that much. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Only 18 knots across the Atlantic ? Sir WILFRID LAURIER : That is so. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I thought the Canadian Pacific Railway had done 21 knots.