Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/388

 2(J6 THE BRITISH EMPIRE : — NOVA SCOTIA

The Government owns over 10,000 square miles of forests. Spruce is the principal wood.

The Province is particularly rich in minerals. Iron, gypsum, coal, building stone, copper, manganese, all al)ound.

In 1911 there were 1,158 industrial establishments, with a capital of 36,125,012 dollars, employing 24,755 wage-earners and producing com- modities to the value of 35,422,302 dollars.

Commerce and Communications.— The principal exports of the

Province in 1911 were, mining products, (1,671,537 dollars), fishery products, (776,773 dollars), forest products, (3,872,038 dollars), agricultural produce, (10,095,289 dollars), and manufactured articles, (2,932,981 dollars).

The Province had 1,548 miles of railway in 1911, as compared v.ith 1,503 miles in 1907. There were 20,832 miles of telephone wire in 1911.

Books of Reference.

Reports of varioiis Government Departments. See also under Cnnada.

Nova Scotia.

Constitution and Government-— The lirst settlement was made by the French at the end of the sixteenth century, and the province was called Acadia until liiially ceded to the Britisli by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The Constitution of the Dominion of Canada and of each separate Province thereof is contnincd in the " I'ritish jSTorth America *Act," commonly called the "Act of Confederation." This Act passed the Imperial Parliament in 1867 and came into force on July 1st of that year. Under this Act the Legislature of Nova Scotia, along with that of each of the other Provinces, may exclusively make laws in relation to local matters ; and more especially in Vegard to direct taxation within the Province in order to raise a revenue for provincial ])uri)oses, and the administration of justice in the Province, including the constitution, maintenance and organisation of provincial courts both of civil and of criminal jurisdiction, and including procedure of civil matters in those courts.

The Legislature of Nova Scotia consists of a Liei\tenant-Governor, appointed and paid by the Federal Government and holding office for live years ; a Legislative Council appointed by the CroAvn, and holding office for life : and a House of Assembly, chosen by popular vote every five years. The Legis- lative Council consists of 21 members ; the House of Assembly of 38. The men) hers of both Houses receive a sessional indemnity of .*?700.

The fi-anchise is granted to persons assessed on real property valued at .$150 or on personal or personal and real property togeth.er valued at !?300 ; tenaiits yearly of similai propeity ; sons of foregoing persons or of widows in possession of enough property to qualify as stated above and actually residing on such property ; persons having an annual income of $250.

House of Assembly (1910), state of parties :— Liberals, 25 ; Conservatives, 13. The Liberal party has held office continuously for 30 years.

Lieutenant-Governor- — Hon. James Drnmmoncl McGregor.

The Members of the Ministry are as follows : —

Premier avd Provivcial Secretary. — Hon. G. H. Murray.

Attorney -General. — Hon. 0. T. Daniels.

Commissioner of Works and Afines. — Hon. E. H. Armstrong.