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The Prime Minister calls attention to the recommendations set forth in the seventeenth paragraph of the Report and recommends that as a reasonable measure of relief the Commissioners be authorized to undertake the care of dependents of those killed or disabled by the disaster and to provide reasonable compensation to the injured upon the principle and in accordance with the suggestions set forth in the 12th paragraph of the Report.


With respect to the second recommendation the Prime Minister observes that without accepting the principle of restitution it is, nevertheless, both reasonable and desirable that the Commission should be invested with wide authority as to the measure of relief to be accorded in each instance. Especial consideration should be given to the claims of labouring men, mechanics and small householders and other persons similarly situated. In many instances the losses of such persons while not considerable in themselves, represent the savings of a lifetime. Larger losses might be borne more easily by persons possessed of ample means and not materially affected by the disaster.


The Prime Minister therefore recommends as to the direct and substantial material losses alluded to in the second Paragraph of the Commission's recommendations:

(1) That the Commissioners be authorized to pay in full all claims duly established to an amount not exceeding the sum of $5000. on behalf of any one person, but in exercising this authority the Commissioners shall have a full and absolute discretion and shall take into consideration the circumstances in each instance.