Hon. Mr. FOURNIER moved for 
               
               leave to introduce a Bill to amend the 
               
               Act respecting the administration of Jus
               
               
               
               424 HOUSE OF COMMONS.
               
               tice and the establishment of the Police Force in the North-West Territories. He stated
               that the object of this Bill was to amend only two clauses, 26 and 25 of the existing
               law. These two clauses were reenacted almost entirely with the addition of some provisions
               respecting desertions, which were not made an offence in the present Act and there
               was no provision for the punishment of deserters. The present Bill made desertion
               an offence punishable by fine. Under the present law the Commissioner alone had the
               power of punishing offences. By the present Bill it was proposed to extend that Bill
               to the Assistant Commissioner and other officers in command, so that any commanding
               officer in an isolated position would have the same power as the Commissioner in relation
               to the offences mentioned in the Act. The second clause of this Bill, amending Section
               25 of the present act, provided that any deserter found in any of the Provinces might
               be sued, fined and imprisoned for his offence. 
               
 
            
            
            Bill read a first time.