§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Bridgeton Division, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has made any representations to the Government of the Dominion of Canada respecting a law recently passed by the Government of Ontario, forbidding the bringing of young persons under 18 years of age into that province with a view of finding homes or situations for them, under a penalty of $100 or three months' imprisonment; and whether he has asked for any legal opinion as to the legality of the prohibition, in view of the fact that Dominion law permits girls from 12 years of age and boys from 14 to select their own place of residence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The law referred to in the hon. Member's Question doss not forbid bringing into the province young persons under 18, unless from physical or mental defects they are unable to follow any trade or calling, or unless they are of known vicious tendencies, habitual 240 criminals, or have been reared or have resided amongst habitual criminals, or are the offspring of habitual criminals, lunatics, or confirmed paupers. I have forwarded to the Dominion Government, representations on the subject of the law from various philanthropic agencies engaged in emigrating children to Canada. The matter, including the Question whether the law conflicts with the Dominion law, is entirely one for them to consider.