WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 337

1t would perhaps more or less be resented, but my explanation of that
is that there are many Canadians from New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia and Newfoundland that can not read and write, yet they are
splendid, desirable citizens.
The CuairMaN. Do they make good citizens up there in their
native country?
Mr. Gurnac. Yes; you mean in Canada?
The Cuarman. Yes.
Mr. GuLvac. Yes; they make splendid citizens.
The Crarrman. Even though they are illiterate?
Mr. GuLnac. That is true.
Mr. Box. You have told us that they had three schools in a district
and they only had $49 appropriated by the Government.
Mr. GurNac. Yes, sir. I have had 10 years’ experience among
the Newfoundlanders up along the places where Doctor Grenfelt is
working, and I never was among more law-abiding, self-respecting,
hard-working people than I found there. They do not have the
luxuries; they do not have the necessities we have, but they are a
desirable, law-abiding, respectable class of people.
The CuairMAN. You are speaking of the type of people left in
the Maritime Provinces?
Mr. Gunnac. Yes, sir.
The Cuairman. As I understand, they are not getting much
immigration in those Provinces at the present time?
Mr. Gurnac. I believe that is true.
The Cuairman. The language in Quebec is French, is it not?
Mr. Guinac. It is.
The CrAlRMAN. It has been such for a hundred years.
Mr. Guuvac. Yes, sir.
The Cuamrman. Do they have societies of their own?
Mr. GuLvac. What do you mean by that?
The CrairMAN. Societies organized for the purpose of influencing
government somewhat?
Mr. GuinNac. I am sure I do not know about that.
The CuairMan. I mean such as the National Society of St. John
de Baptiste.
Mr. Guinac. That is probably a part of the Catholic Church.
The Crairman. Do those societies extend down into New England?
Mr. Guryac. Not that I know of.
Mr. NeLson. They extend everywhere.
The CramrmaN. They are fraternal societies.
Mr. Gisson. I understand it is.
The Cuarrman. Is the population of New England showing this
French-Canadian strain to any appreciable degree? Take the city
of Woonsocket, R. I., for example, } }
Mr. Gurnac. I suppose the French Canadians in Rhode Island to
some extent may- have more or less changed conditions there.
The Cuamman. That is to say, the community is becoming of
that type?
Mr. Gurnac. I should imagine, although perhaps I should not
express an opinion as to conditions in the State of Rhode Island.
The Cuairman. In Woonsocket with a population of 50,000, of
whom 35,000 are French Canadians, the probability is that the
customs of the French-Canadians exist in that community.