In the early hours of last Saturday the Report stage
of the Navy Bill in the Canadian House of Commons was completed. The Government had a majority of forty-three. There was no disorder, though feeling ran high. On Thursday the third reading was carried, the Liberals abstaining from obstruction. The Times correspondent says that the Liberals are confident that somehow the Bill will be thrown out, and that there will be a general election in the autumn. The attitude of the Senate is doubtful, but the mysterious Liberal confidence is partly due to the expecta- tions that the Senate will be critical if not hostile. If there should be a struggle between the two Houses the dispute would perhaps become a constitutional one. The Government regard the Navy Bill as a Money Bill. The Senate may reject it but may not amend it. In the event of rejection by the Senate Mr. Borden would very likely go to the country with what would be a very strong "platform "—an honourable expenditure on the naval protection of Canadian commerce and reform of the Senate. The present nominated Senate is not popular. Mr. Borden would play the democratic part of demanding an elective body.
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