(358 report — 1878. 



En "-laud, the names of those who assume a different and more independent 

 attitude are seldom heard, and their works appear to he almost entirely unknown. 

 But the fence of self-satisfied routine within which in these countries we formerly 

 too often entrenched ourselves is being hroken down at every point ; and no really 

 vital hody of opinion can now exist ahroad without speedily disturbing pur insular 

 tranquillity. The controversy, therefore, as to the methods of economic research 

 and its relations to Sociology as a whole, cannot long be postponed amongst us. 

 It has, in fact, been already opened from different sides by Mr. Leslie and 

 Mr. Harrison, and it is desirable that it should arrive as promptly as possible 

 at a definitive issue. If I have done anything to-day to assist in launching this 

 great question on the field of general English discussion, the purpose I have set 

 before me will have been abundantly fulfilled. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Report of Anthropometric Committee. See Reports, p. 152. 



2. On Canadian Statistics* By A. E. Bateman, F.8.S. 



The author said that these were very much less widely known than those of our 

 Australian colonies. In the province of Quebec, or as it was called New France, 

 the population in 1665 was 3,215; in 1695, 13,695; in 1726, 29,396; in 1736, 

 39,000. The census of Ontario and Quebec, taken in 1861, was very much in 

 excess of the real numbers, chiefly on account of the double entry of persons not 

 sleeping at home on the night of the census. One result was that the census of 

 1871 failed to show the increase that had been expected. The rate of mortality was 

 said to be 14 per 1,000, considered to be much below the truth; but, taking the 

 death rate at 21 and the birth rate at 35 per 1 ,000, and allowing for the increase 

 by recorded immigration, the estimated population of the Dominion of Canada was 

 now something over four millions and a quarter. In the ten years since the 

 Dominion was formed, the imports had increased from fifteen millions to more than 

 twenty millions sterling ; the exports from twelve to sixteen millions sterling. In 

 the last two or three years there had been a falling off, but when the present com- 

 mercial depression had passed away, he believed there would be a large develop- 

 ment of the meat trade to this country. The total tonnage of seagoing vessels was 

 six millions. This did not include the coasting traffic between the several provinces. 

 There were, in 1871, 180,000 persons employed in manufacturing industries, in 

 receipt of wages to the amount of eight millions sterling. The capital invested 

 was 16 millions, and the value of last year's produce was 46 millions. As to the 

 deposits in Government Savings Banks, these, which ten years ago were little over 

 a quarter of a million, were now a million and a half. The railways were not 

 prosperous, owing to the great competition between railways and canals. They had 

 cost 68 millions. Their income was four millions, and their expenditure about 

 three and a quarter millions, leaving three-quarters of a million — sufficient to pay 

 four or five per cent, on the bonded debt, but leaving little for the ordinary or 

 preference shareholder, or the Government or municipal advances. 



3. Hoiv to meet the Requirements of Population displaced by Artizans' 

 Dwellings Act.} By Sir James Watson. 



As the question must occur to every local authority proposing to put this Act in 

 force ' How are we to provide for the population displaced by the pulling down of old 



* The full text of this paper will be published in the 'Statistical Society's 

 Journal ' for December 1878. 



j- Published in extenso for a few private friends. 



