Some hon. MEMBERS. Hear, hear. reasonable duty which will give it sufficient the foundation of its progress and the hope vantage ground to maintain itself here, em- of its future, namely: the agricultural ploying labour and paying wages into the classes. With reference to those, I think hands of labour, to be used again in buying I may say truthfully that the Government the products of the farmers, we have en-in preparing its tariff has acted sympathetideavoured to take these matters into ac- cally. This class of the people, distributed count, and by a reasonable protection to re- as they are over every part of the Dominion, tain all those industries which are in the working their fields and farms, producing country which employ labour, and which that which is the basis of all supplies, bework up the raw material of the country or coming ultimately the consumers of a large use imported raw material and which in- proportion of what is made in this country, dustries are consequently benefiting the coun- and what is imported into this country, havtry. But I wish to say this as well; although ing to struggle with various difficulties-diftiwe have been accused often of seeing none culties often of low prices, difficulties of combut the selfish interests, as they are called, of petition in the great markets of the world- -I those who are engaged in these industries say that this class demands at the hands of and who want protection, the Government the Government, as I propose it shall receive, has had many opportunities of making them- a sympathetic and favourable consideration. selves well acquainted with the views and That is not saying that, in my opinion, the requirements of the consumers as well, and agricultural interests of the country have not whilst trying to make every reasonable pro- been the object of solicitude by the Governvision for industries that exist, so far as I ment. I think they have been, and I think am concerned I have felt it to be my duty the Liberal-Conservative Government since to represent the interests of the consuming 1878 has pursued a course of constant and population of this country, as well as the unvarying care for the interests of the farinterests of its industries, in order mers of this country. that not only the consumer shall get the benefit which accrues, but that the industry shall be kept as well; for it would Mr. FOSTER. Our friends in Opposition be of little avail in this country that an oper- have had much sympathy and many fair ative should be able to buy his goods at a words for the farmers. Of course, they have cent a pound, or a cent a yard less than at not for the last fourteen years had a chance present, if he did that under a condition of to accomplish very much so far as deeds are things which would keep him from earning concerned. But the record of the five years the wage with which it was necessary to get the wherewithal to pay for that which during which they occupied office, from 1873 get the wherewithal to pay for that which to 1878, indicates no special consideration he bought. It is very well to have in this and no special care for that class. I may say, country consumers who can get what they with reference to the agricultural classes of want as cheaply as possible, but it is well Canada, that the Government and the Libalso to have consumers who, by virtue of in- eral-Conservative party have shown their vested capital, and by industries in the coun- sympathy with the farmers in what they try, have a place where they can find their have done-first, in the protection that they daily work, from which they can draw their have given to the products of the farmer, the daily wage and have the money to pay for protection which, as I said in a former part that which they consume. Now, Mr. Speaker, of my address, was not so so much with I have travelled over the most of the ground the object of raising abnormally the that, I think, intervened between the comprices of of their products, as mencement of my remarks, to which the ing the market for them and preventHouse has most kindly listened, and the ex- ing sectional and periodical inroads upon planation of the different tariff items. them, with the result of lowering the fair market value of what they produce. I wish to adduce some figures to show what has been done for the agricultural interests of this country. In 1877, the people of this country consumed, of imported agricultural products, animals and their products: from Great Britain, $56,588 worth; from the United States, $16,066,963 worth; from other countries, $7,798 worth, making a total of $16,131,349. In 1878 these imports for home consumption amounted to $15,050,930, and in 1879 to $10,420,344. The National Policy did its work, and the result was that the importation of these products fell to $4,240,849 in 1891, to $3,092,452 in 1892, and to $2,741,733 in 1893. In other words, in the three years, 1877, 1878 and 1879, there was an average annual import of these products for consumption of $13,867,541, whereas It being Six o'clock, the Speaker left the Chair. After Recess. Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, when the House rose at six o'clock I was saying that in the tariff revision it has been the aim of the Government, while seeing that industries are reasonably protected in this country, to also see that the rights of the consumers are carefully looked after, and that all classes and all conditions of the people shall have fair consideration in the arrangement of the tariff. If there has been any exception at all with reference to any class, it has been in the view that has been taken with reference to the incidence of taxation upon that large and worthy class of people in Canada, of steady in the last three years there was an average 527,267 yearly. Coming to 1892 and 1893, the annual report of the same materials for home exports to Great Britain in 1892 reached the consumption of only $3,358,344. If we turn sum of $36,869,595 and the exports to the again to the imports of flour and grain of all United States the sum of $6,613,099, a total kinds, including pease, which come entirely of $46,145,590. In 1892-93 they were to $40,from the United States, we find that the im- 420,681 to Great Britain and $6,020,992 to ports for home consumption were in 1877, the United States, a total of $49 235,106. $13,855,879; in 1878, $13,452,460 ; but in 1892 Taking the average of these two years, these importations had fallen to $1,345,294, the average exports of these products to and in 1893 to $1,339,429. But, as an in- Great Britain was $38,500,000; the average stance of the special protection accorded to export to the United States amounted to certain products of the farmer in 1889-90, I $6,333,000; and the total averaged $47,690,will read the results as I have collected them. 000. That shows that the farmer has beneIt is well known that at that time the im- fited in two ways. He has gained the conports of bacon, hams, shoulders, beef, mut- trol of the market, which is properly his ton, pork and lard were very large, displac-own, in this country. He has displaced, ing by that much the same products of the through the aid that protection has given Canadian farmer, and affecting him in two him, the products that formerly came in ways in the first place, depriving him of from the United States, and in consequence part of the market which legitimately be of the better position thus acquired, he has longed to him; and in the next place, taking gone into the cultivation of these products away from him his desire and encourage- | more largely and sent the surplus to Great ment to produce those products for a Britain and the United States-notably Great market which should be reasonably well Britain-until last year the export reached assured to him. Well, Sir, the protection on the very large sum of $49,235,000. In this these products to the farmer was increased respect the National Policy has benefited the in 1889-90, the result of which has been as farmer. It has done more. It has profollows:-In 1888-89 the imports of these vided experimental farms, at a very generous articles amounted to 31,131,746 pounds, and cost, from the Treasury. Experiments have in 1889-90 to 33,112,701 pounds. Then came been made, bulletins issued, competent the legislation, and in the succeeding year, teachers have gone throughout the country 1890-91, the imports fell to 17,400,504 pounds giving the results of their operations and in 1891-92 to 13,486,880 pounds, and in 1892- experiments, teaching the people the ele93 to 6,999,051 pounds. That is, in 1889-90 mentary principles and the latest results of this country afforded a market for these pro- science and the best business methods in the duts from the United States to the value of raising of their various products. Further, $1,734,225; but in 1892, under the increased at a great cost, this policy has, for the last protection, that had been reduced to a market fourteen years, provided transport for the for only $452,812 worth. That shows in- farmers' products going out and for the disputably that the farmers have been given articles they consumed coming in-a transcontrol of the market of Canada, and port system which goes into every corner of that they have risen to the height of the de- the country, and which, for excellence and mands for consumption in this country, and cheapness, is not surpassed by that of any have been able to avail themselves of this other country in the world. Is not that a their legitimate market by means of the pro- great advantage to the agriculturists, scattertection given to these products. They have ed throughout the country and depending on had just that much more market for them. these means for the easy access of their But another consequence is to be noted the goods to market, and benefiting by the better production of those articles has been stimu- result from the sale of their goods, through lated. The fact that the farmer finds a home the cheapness of transport thus afforded? market ready for what he produces, gives These are two or three considerations which, him the basis of a stock-in-trade on which to I think, make my contention good, that the work; he works on that and enlarges it, farmers' interests have not been neglected and then he looks to the foreign market for by the Government heretofore, and support the disposal o his surplus product. What my assertion that, in the revision of the has been the effect of that? Tu 1877 the tariff, his interests will again be found not farmers of this country sent, of agricultural to have been neglected. Now, after having products and animals and their products, to made these observations generally and speciGeat Britain $13,437,762 worth, and to the ally with reference to the tariff, I come to United States $10,198,297 worth, or a total of the items themselves. The first item in the $25,123,396. In 1878 that total was increased schedule of dutiable goods is that of liquors to $27,644,636 worth, distributed--$17,308.793 and tobacco. In tobaccos we have made no to Great Britain and $8,984,025 to the United change whatever. In spirituous liquors we States; and in 1879 increased to $29,813,771, have made no change whatever. With redistributed-$17,690,006 to Great Britain and ference to malt liquors, we have made one $10,869,275 to the United States. The aver-change. It will be remembered that two age exports of those three years amounted to or three years ago, when I undertook, in the $16,145,520 to Great Britain and $10,017.199 face of a fairly buoyant revenue, to reduce to the United States, a total export of $27,- that revenue by $3,500,000 or more, I had : . ever, Mr. LANDERKIN. Dead. to have recourse, for a limited period at has worked so well and been so valuable an least, to some speedy method of recouping adjunct to that class. Some changes, howthe great drop in the revenue caused by the have been made. Animals living, reduction of the sugar taxation. I did so which were formerly by putting a larger duty-although small in degree upon tobaccos; by heightening the duty to a small extent on spirituous liquors, Mr. FOSTER- -which were formerly 25 both excise and customs; by heightening per cent, with the exception of live hogsalso the excise on malts, making the excise, have been reduced to 20 per cent, which is which had always been in this country, with the percentage placed upon live animals in the exception of a very short space of time, the Wilson Bill and the Bill as emanating 1 cent a pound, 2 cents per pound. That from the Senate Committee so far as it has was felt to be a very large increase. It gone. Live hogs, which were formerly 2 operated in this way: The malt, and con- cents per pound, have been made 25 per sequently the beer duty, in this country be- cent. When we come to beef, fresh or came ī cents, as compared with 4 salted, which was 2 cents per pound, that cents in Great Britain and 3 8-10 cents in the rate has been retained. Fresh mutton, United States. The revenue has since come which was 3 cents per pound, has been up largely to the expectations formed. The changed to 35 per cent. Meats, n.e.s., inchasm that was made has been filled, and, cluding canned meats, poultry and game, 25 under these circumstances, the Government per cent ad valorem. One explanation is has determined to take off from the malt due upon that item. It is this: The House duties one-half cent per pound, leaving it at will remember that, with reference to pork, one cent and a half instead of one cent, we had two schedules. One was intended which has been the figure since Confedera- to include what was called the heavy or mess tion, with the exception of one or two years. pork, and upon that a duty of a cent and a The loss which will accrue to the revenue half per pound was placed. The other was from that will be in the neighbourhood of intended to include the lighter pork, and $200,000. We will get some accretion of upon that a duty of 3 cents was placed. revenue probably from the larger amount The only way we had of distinguishing beof malt made, because, under the 2 cent tween the heavy and the light pork was by duty on malt, the production decreased to the number of pieces that should be in the a certain extent, and sugar and other sub-barrel, but a very little experience was sufstances were used which, it is said, make an ficient to show that that test was entirely inferior article. I leave that to my hon. inadequate. It was impossible to open and friends opposite to judge. inspect every barrel and find the number What is of pieces, and even if that were possible, it was practicable for dealers to cut up the hog in such a way that there should Sir RICHARD CARTWRIGHT. your own opinion? Mr. FOSTER. I am not a practical man be the requisite number of pieces, even myself in that respect. though it were a light pork, and then, after Mr. LANDERKIN. You take moments of it was introduced into the country, to reweakness occasionally, though. Mr. FOSTER. I do, but am always frank enough to acknowledge my moments of weakness. Others are not. I have seen some hon. gentlemen get very irritable when these moments of weakness were brought to their attention. Will you Sir RICHARD CARTWRIGHT. tell us what the Prohibition Commission has to say about it ? pack the pork, thus having the light pork come in at 11⁄2 instead of 3 cents. That difficulty, therefore, had to be overcome, and the simplest and easiest way has been found to put a uniform duty of 25 per cent on both kinds. This will have the effect of raising the duty somewhat on the heavy pork, and of reducing it a shade on the light pork. On the whole, it will make an equitable arrangement, give an adequate protection, and take away a very serious evil and vexation, not only in the carrying Mr. FOSTER. I have not had the pleas-out of the tariff, but one of which the farmure of meeting the prohibition delegation, and ers themselves rightly complain, inasmuch the commission has not yet reported. 1 as where they supposed they were getting a come next to the item of agricultural products, the second class of the schedule. From the remarks which I have made, it will be seen that it is not the policy of the Government to decrease in any material degree the protection at present afforded to the agricultural interests of the country. The effect upon their interests has been what I have pointed out, and with those effects fully in view, the Government did not feel itself justified-as indeed it did not feel disposed-in diminishing the protection which protection of 3 cents per pound, the pork was actually coming in at 12 cents per pound. Meats, fresh, n.e.s., which had been placed at 3 cents per pound, are left as before. Poultry and game are kept at 20 per cent, the same as before. Extracts of meat, fluid beef, not medicated, and soups, 25 per cent, the same as before. Lard and cottolene are changed from 3 cents per pound, and 20 per cent ad vatorem respectively to an ad valorem duty of 25 per cent. Tallow, stearic acid and stearine, which formerly were 1 cent and 3 cents per pound, having been city to any country that chooses to take 20 per cent. Beeswax, which bore a Mr. MILLS (Bothwell). What is the object Can you Sir RICHARD CARTWRIGHT. give the equivalent ad valorem duty ? fore, been decided to raise some $30,000- Sir RICHARD CARTWRIGHT. What will Mr. FOSTER. I think it would be about 25 or 30 per cent. Glue and mucilage-glue was formerly dutiable in two ways-liquid at 30 per cent, and other at 3 cents per pound, and mucilage was 30 per cent. These have been put into one schedule, and reduced to 25 per cent. British gum, or dextrine, sizing cream, &c., are all put under one schedule, and charged 10 per cent ad valorem, instead of 1 cent per pound. This is because these materials are used in pro-as any considerable burden. It has, therecesses of manufacture. Feathers, which were in three categories, are now placed in two, undressed feathers, which were formerly dutiable at 15 and 25 per cent, being put at 20 per cent, and others, formerly 35 per cent, being now 30 per cent. Butter remains as before, at 4 cents per pound, and be your total revenue on this item? cheese, as before, at 3 cents per pound. ConMr. FOSTER. The total revenue, I think, densed milk, which was divided into two would be $55,000 or $60,000. That, howschedules, one sweetened, dutiable at 14 ever, is not at the expense of the consumer. cents per pound and 35 per cent, and the The duty upon cleaned rice at present is other, unsweetened, at 35 per cent, have 14 cents per pound. The arrangement of been joined in one class containing condens- duties that has been made is this: to place ed milk, condensed coffee, condensed coffee four-tenths of one cent duty upon the with milk, milk foods, and all similar pre- uncleaned rice, and 1 cent per pound parations, including preserved ginger, are upon the cleaned rice, and it will redutiable at 30 per cent ad valorem. When coup the revenue to the extent of we come to the grains-oats have been kept about $30,000. Rice flour and sago flour, at 10 cents per bushel, and cornmeal at 40 which bore a duty of 2 cents per pound, cents per barrel, but two schedules have have been placed at 25 per cent. 1 Wheat been formed with other grains, and two and wheat flour are kept at the same rates or three other agricultural products. The as before-15 cents per bushel on the former first schedule contains corn and barley. The and 75 cents per barrel on the latter. Bisduties on these are kept as they were before, | cuits formerly bore duties of 25 per cent for but there is added this clause, "Provided that unsweetened, and 35 per cent for sweetened. barley and Indian corn shall be free of duty | A uniform duty of 25 per cent is now placec when imported into Canada from the country of production, if such country, whence either or both are imported, admits both these products free of duty, when imported thence from Canada. That is an offer of recipro upon them. Macaroni and vermicelli, for- 1 Mr. FOSTER. On some, that is a lowering of the duty. It is most difficult to tell, because of the difficulty of getting their Take gooseberry bushes, their valuation. valuation, even of the same class, may be widely different in two or three days and is uncertain always. Blackberries, Blackberries, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and currants, which had a duty of three cents a pound, and one cent a quart, respectively, have been put into one schedule of two cents a pound. When Sir RICHARD CARTWRIGHT. you say two cents per pound, what about the packages? Mr. FOSTER. The package is included in the weight for duty. Cranberries, plums and quinces, which were thirty cents a busher, have been put under an ad valorem duty cr 25 per cent. Apples, forty cents per barrel, as before. Those I have spoken of. Apples, dried, desiccated, or evaporated, raisins, currants, dates, figs, prunes, and other dried or evaporated fruits, have been all made an even 25 per cent instead of an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent and one cent per pound. RICHARD Sir CARTWRIGHT. How about the French treaty in respect to those dried fruits? Mr. FOSTER. I think, if my hon. friend will look up the returns he will find that not much sweetened starch product came in at four cents duty. Sweet potatoes and yams, ten cents a bushel, with a reduction in behalf of the consumer in part, and a reduction also with reference to the Island of Bermuda, which imposes a very slight duty upon Canadian products going in there, and which, by letter or otherwise, has brought to the attention of the Government the high duty upon products from that island. Pickles and under difwere widely distended Mr. FOSTER. The French treaty, when ferent categories as to duties; and there of fractions a gal- it comes into operation, will affect these by were . duties upon lon as well as The the very fact of its coming into operation, to upon the gallon. three schedules of pickles, sauces and cat- the extent of the proportionate reduction is provided for in the treaty. sups have been thrown into one, and a which uniform duty of 35 per cent instead of the Grapes, two cents per pound, as at present. specific and specific and ad valorem duties Oranges, lemons, and limes have been kept Gar- at about the same duty, a reduction from combined, has been placed upon them. den seeds remain the same as before, 10 per $1.60 a thousand to $1.50 a thousand upon cent when in bulk, and 25 per cent when in the bulk. Peaches, one cent per pound, as package. Ground mustard, 25 per cent, as before. Fruits, in air tight cans are reduced before. Mustard cake reduced five per cent, from three cents a pound to two cents. and made fifteen instead of twenty. Malt, Extract fifteen cents per bushel as before. of malt, no change. No change has been that in all these cases the packages are inmade in the duty on hops, six cents per pound. Compressed yeast, and yeast cakes have been reduced from four and eight cents to three and six cents per pound, and the three schedules have been thrown into two. Trees, such as apple, cherry, peach, pear, plum, quince, of all kinds, have been made a uniform duty of three cents each. The specific duty has been retained, as it is almost impossible to follow these in point of valuation; that is not much change from the present duty. Grape vines, gooseberry bushes, raspberry bushes, currant bushes, and rose bushes, and all fruit plants not else where specified, shade, lawn, and ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants, the half dozen Sir RICHARD CARTWRIGHT. I take it cluded ? Mr. FOSTER. Packages are included where I do not mention otherwise. Fruits preserved in brandy are kept at the brandy duty, $1.90 per Imperial gallon; that is for fear that more brandy will be brought in than fruits. Jellies, jams, and preserves, which are now five cents per pound, are reduced to three cents per pound. Honey in the comb is kept at the old rate of duty, when not imthree cents. Coffee, green, ported direct, 10 per cent; when it is roasted or ground, and not imported direct, two cents a pound and 10 per cent. Coffee, roasted or ground, which was three cents a pound in the old tariff, becomes two cents |