<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of earnings and consolidated
statement of cash flows included in the Company's Form 10-K for the period
ending April 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> CANADIAN DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                 0.7319
<CASH>                                         197,007
<SECURITIES>                                   136,897
<RECEIVABLES>                                  397,910
<ALLOWANCES>                                    10,572
<INVENTORY>                                    159,495
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               944,928
<PP&E>                                         622,949
<DEPRECIATION>                                 328,010
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,496,703
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          306,536
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       351,388
<OTHER-SE>                                     775,111
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,496,703
<SALES>                                      1,376,727
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                          507,588
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,105,964
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 9,615
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,351
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                279,753
<INCOME-TAX>                                   117,718
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            156,917
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   156,917
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.90