A.—2

74

Sir, — Government House, Toronto, 11th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 9th ultimo, No. 1995/11, upon the subject of the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in' the law of accident compensation, and to inform you that Sir William Meredith, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, has made an interim report to my Government with regard to accident compensation, but has not yet recommended the form which such legislation should take. The Province of Ontario would welcome greater uniformity throughout the Empire in respect of the law on this subject, but it does not appear how this can be accomplished except by the different countries each endeavouring to enact the best possible law, when the good features of each would commend themselves to the other provinces, and some uniformity might result. I have, &c, J. W. Gibson, The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieu tenant-Governor.

Sir, — Government House, Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, 22nd May, 1912. Immediately upon receipt of your despatch of the 23rd April last I called the attention of the Government to the subject-matter of that and several previous despatches —namely, the question of the desirability of uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation —and have only now been furnished with the answer thereto. Mr. Premier Matheson's letter upon the question, received to-day, is enclosed herewith, wherein it appears that the Government is not inclined to deal with the matter in any way. I have, &c, Benjamin Rogers, The Under-Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Govemor. Uniformity in Law of Accident Compensation. Sir, — Premier's Office, Charlottetown, 18th May, 1912. With reference to the despatch from the Department of the Secretary of State, Ottawa, of the 11th September last, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, I have to say that the Government has determined that the question is one involving so much research that it is not possible for them to deal with it at present. I have, &c, J. Matheson, Premier. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, Government House, Charlottetown.

Province of Quebec, Hotel dv Gouvernement, Quebec, Monsieur, —■ 12 Novembre, 1912. J'ai Thonneui' de vous informer que pour faire suite a votre depeche, portant le No. 1995, en date dv 24 Octobre dernier, mon gouvernement a etudie la resolution de la conference imperiale dans laquelle il est question de I'uniformite dcs lois accordant dcs indemnites aux ouvriers gui subissent dcs accidents. II apparait que les conditions de travail sont tellement difierentes dans les diverses colonies britanniques, qu'il est tres difficile d'avoir dcs lois uniformes ace sujet. L'on constate meme qu'elles sont difierentes dans les provinces dv Canada. Mon gouvernement a mis en vigueur, en 1909, une loi dcs accidents dv travail gui semble dormer satisfaction et il croit qu'il ne serait pas prudent de I'amender, avant qu'elle ait subi l'epreuve dv temps. J'ai, &c, F. Langelier, L'Honourable Secretaire d'Etat, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Gouverneur. Sir, — Government House, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Ist November, 1912. In further reply to your Honour's despatch, No. 1995, S/S, 24th October, 1912, in reference to a resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, I now enclose your Honour a further reply from the Clerk of the Executive Council of this province, which is self-explanatory. I have, &c, Josiah Wood, The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Go vernor. Dear Sir, — Fredericton, New Brunswick, 31st October, 1912. Referring to the despatch of the Under-Secretary of State for Canada, No. 1995, of date 24th October instant, in which he refers to your predecessor's despatch of the Ist November, 1911, enclosing a communication from the Clerk of the Executive Council of New Brunswick, dealing with the resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, and inquiring whether the report that your Ministers have no objection to offer to the proposed legislation is to be understood as meaning that your Ministers are in favour of promoting the principle of uniformity by local legislation, I am directed to say that