Canadian Notes

A walkout of coal miners at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, last month, was the subject of an interpellation in the House of Commons at Ottawa. Miss Agnes MacPhail asked if the Government intended to sit calmly "while thousands are starving in Cape Breton." James A. Robb, Minister of Finance, stated laconically that no change of policy was contemplated. The strike grew out of an attempt to apply a 10% wage cut, but did not become active until the coal company contended that the workers had overdrawn their credit at the company's supply stores, cut off further credit. Twelve thousand men promptly walked out and have since been reduced to desperate straits.

The Minister of Finance at Ottawa published a statement for the last fiscal year, which ended Mar. 31 :

Net debt, $2,403,005,035 against $2,409,326,639 at the end of the 1923-24 fiscal year.

Ordinary revenue was $335,426,748 against $388,514,567; expenses were $296,584,640 against $303,618,104.