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his agents. The money judiciously expended on emigration was well spent. In the United States each immigrant was considered worth from $800 to $1,100 to the country, and for a number of years it was ascertained that each of these persons brought into the Union, on the average, $70. It might be considered that the present period was unfavourable to immigration on a large scale, but he wished to draw the attention of Government and of his successor to the points he had mentioned and to the necessity of regarding closely what was taking place in this connection in other countries. There was no reason why we should not have our fair share of the emigrating classes of the old world. He had read the report of Mr. Jenkins, and he believed that the late London agent had done the best he could to carry out the instructions he received from the Department; but he could not approve of those instructions nor of the extravagance inaugurated by them. It might have been a mistake to make the appointment, but nevertheless a good deal of useful information was contained in Mr. Jenkins' reports. The latter said he had been slandered and traduced, and he thought the Government should have defended their late official. While Mr. Jenkins was extravagant, this expense was incurred with the concurrence and support of the Administration, who ought, in consequence, to be held responsible. He requested the House not to pass too suddenly a condemnation on Mr. Jenkins for the acts in question. He was afraid that the latter had been sacrificed by the Government before Parliament met, to save themselves. He had but very recently, a few hours previous, in reading Mr. Jenkins' report, obtained the information which led himself to express these views with regard to the late Agent-General.

Mr. BOWELL remarked that there was very little reduction in this item. In the old country, at present, there was great objection to emigration on the part of the employers. The only reduction shown was in the AgentGeneral's salary; contingencies instead of being lessened, were increased some $1,800.

Hon Mr. CARTWRIGHT---The contingencies are not increased.

Mr. BOWELL-They are increased. The estimates asked an increase for the London office of $1,800, just where reductions should take place. He noticed that large amounts had been paid to the Canadian News of over $600, probably for advertisements and literature. He hoped that the Minister of Finance would explain why £226 10s., sterling, had been paid for sending the Toronto Globe to this agency in London, One man had been paid £596, and then for maps, &c., £622. For the holding of meetings the most extraordinary charges had been made: one at Manchester had cost £53 19s. 2d., and another at Birmingham £24 6s. 9d.

Mr. DYMOND-I would remark that the Free-Trade Hall at Manchester costs £25 per night.

Mr. BOWELL was very glad to learn this, as it showed how reckless was the expenditure in this relation, in order to secure an opportunity for delivering speeches. In the rural sections the cost would have been much less; and the result might have been much better-the emigration of that class of people which was really required in Canada. He hoped that the Minister who had charge of this department would in the future see that money was not squandered after this fashion-such, for instance, as sterling for a door-plate, and £20 sterling for a die in which to cast buttons for the servants in the office. He did not say that we did not wish artizans to emigrate to Canada; but he did maintain that to a greater extent we were in need of men who could

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settle upon and till our unoccupied lands. He desired an explanation regarding the payment of the expenditure of £226 10s. for Toronto Globes sent to this one agency in the city of London. Was it to circulate Grit literature in England.

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT replied that these Globes had been distributed in various quarters in England, among emigrants and persons interested in promoting emigration. As for other items, these expenditures had been made by Mr. Jenkins with the best motives no

the attention of the Government had been directed, and precaution would be taken to reduce them in the future.

of

Mr. BOWELL said said that that inasmuch as the Hon. Minister Finance admitted that the expenditure would be unproductive, would it not be advisable to omit the item altogether?

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT said the

hon. gentleman would see that at least $40,000 was for quarantine purposes, and in connection with the public health, and a large proportion of the $170,000 remaining was intended for the transfer of Menonites, and the Government was obliged to be prepared to spend the money under the arrangement made by the late Government. And in addition to this, if they were to have an emigration system at all they could not upon a temporary check disband the whole emigration staff. Such a course would be of a most unwise character.

doubt, but without previous consulta
tion with the Government. Every-
body knew, that at present, considera-
ble indisposition to aid the work of
emigration was shown, and conse-
quently it was necessary to make
greater expenditures, in connection
with lectures, and the distribution of
desirable information respecting this
country, than had been the case for
years. On the accession of this Minis-
try to power, a most extraordinary
panic took place in the United States,
and the result was the most wide-
spread distress, affecting in the most
serious manner emigration from
Europe to this continent. For the
first time in history, a steady stream
of artisans and even of agricultural
labourers, had been seen returning to
the British Isles. In every
In every steamship
that had crossed the Atlantic during
the past two years and a half, numbers
of these persons of all classes and
creeds, unable to find employment in
the United States, had forsaken the
shores of this continent. In addition,
very great and extraordinary induce
ments were offered to British emi-of
grants by Australia, and it was known
that they had always been considera-
bly disposed to go to that portion of
Her Majesty's Dominions. Now,
that had been by far the most im-
portant reason why emigration had
diminished. It was utterly impossible.
under the conditions which had
prevailed in this country and in the
United States during the last two
years, to encourage emigration here.
Nor was it probably desirable to
encourage a large emigration of
of artisans who would merely be taking
the bread out of the mouths of those

already in the country. There was
an admirable opening
opening for the
Menonites in the North-West, and the
policy of the late Government in that
respect the present Government
had carried out. He did not think it
was fair that Mr. Jenkin's should be
blamed on a comparison of the
emigration which flowed into Canada
and the United States during years of
extraordinary prosperity, with the
decreased emigration which naturally
and inevitably resulted from an extra-
ordinary depression. No doubt some
items should be retrenched, and to these

Mr. DYMOND regarded it as a great misfortune that an important question

that kind should should have been taken up at that late hour and under the existing unfavorable circumstances. In commenting on the remarks of previous speakers, he stated that nothing would be more injurious and fatal to the interests of the Dominion than an appearance of weakness on their part. While the emigration to this country during the past two or three years had not been so extensive as previously, they had the satisfaction of knowing that the men who had been brought hither were the persons best adapted to the industries for which their labour was required. He showed that the number of steerage passengers which arrived in New York during the first nine months of 1873 and 1874, respectively, was 237,921 and 124,000. This exhibited a decrease of nearly one-half under an unchanged system of passage warrants and European agents, and there was no doubt that every American agent was just as active as ever. This was a larger falling off in proportion to the population than had taken place in Canada in the same period. With regard to Mr. Jenkins, he thought that there was nothing at home or abroad

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more likely to discourage those in the
emigration service than the manner
in which he had been treated, and he
was satisfied that he had endeavoured
to do his duty faithfully.
An outcry
had been raised because some of the
meetings in Manchester had cost £30
or £40.
That sum might seem ex-
travagant, but when it was considered
that it would tell all over England
and no small part of Scotland, it ought
not to be so regarded. He was satisfied
that the amount of information convey-
ed to England with regard to this
country, had been enormously increased
by Mr.Jenkins' services. With reference
to the emigration policy required at the
present moment, he deemed it desirable
that we should have a steady flow of
emigration into the country, and that
it should be of the particular class re-
required most in Canada. He
believed the present system was most
conducive to these results, and that for

a time at least it would be most politic
for the country to proceed with it.

Mr. KILLAM said he had visited the London Agency, and he found it, as far as his judgment went, well conducted in every respect. He, however, did not like the location, and thought it might have been placed in a more central position.

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT said the Imperial Government required the present site of the London Agency, and that a more central position would soon be occupied by the Agency.

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North York justifying the appointment
of the Agent-General Jenkins; he was
the only man who had ever justified
that appointment, either in the House
or out of it even. The Government
had not defended it. The whole
scheme has proved a failure as pre-
dicted by the right hon. member for
Kingston. He was astonished to learn
that over $1,100 has been sqandered in
circulating the Globe newspaper in
England. Now, what was it they paid
this money for, if not to form the political
opinions of the emigrants before
coming to this country?
It was
wrong. It was using the public money
to poison the minds of emigrants in
favour of the party in power.

Mr. PLUMB said the expenditure had increased as emigration had diminished. If the Government could not bring out more than twelve or thirteen thousand emigrants for the large amount they asked, it could be better expended.;

The item passed.

On the item $170,000 towards assisting immigration and meeting immigration expenses including estimated expenses of transport of Menonites,

Mr. KIRKPATRICK asked what part of this would would be required for the Menonites?

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT said it

was utterly impossible to say.

Hon. Mr. POPE-What is the cost

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT said it would be something like twenty to twenty-five dollars over and above the fixed amount they had to pay themselves.

Mr. WALLACE (Norfolk) did not know why the member for North of sending the emigrants via Duluth? York should enter into a defence of Mr. Jenkins, as the member for North Hastings had not said one word against that gentleman; he did attack the extravagance of the London office, and he fully concurred in the opinion that it was not desirable to expend so much money in bringing emigrants to Canada in view of the present condition of the country. The only agricultural labourers that were required in this country were men with sufficient capital to settle in our wild lands, and he thought the vote for this expenditure ought to have been considerably reduced.

Mr. McCALLUM was surprised to hear the remarks of the member for

Mr. DESJARDINS asked if any portion of this was intended to aid in the repatriation of Canadians from the United States ?

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT-I am not aware any application has been made to the Department on the subject.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN said this was a favourable time to induce the Canadians in the United States to return home and settle on our waste lands in Quebec and Manitoba.

Hon. Mr. POPE said in his time he had sent an agent-the Rev. Mr. Gendron---who made a very valuable report. Through the exertions of that gentleman 100 families had been induced to return to Canada from the United States. He had not received the credit he deserved for that work.

The item was passed.

SPRING HILL BRANCH RAILWAY.

30th, 1874, were $381,757; on June30th, 1875, the amount was reduced to $90,852. This showed they were effecting a saving in interest on some® $298,905.

In 1875 there were laid altogether 3,583 tons of steel rails; in 1875-6, 3,528 tons, and 1,800 tons of iron rails were laid down in the course of narrowing the gauge of the Windsor branch. It would require for relaying during

On items for Lower Province Rail- the next two years altogether about ways, $1,600,000,

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Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the road was built and graded by that company, and the late Government had agreed to put on the iron and work it. They finished the road and worked it at a heavy loss. The present Government agreed to re-lay the road (taking away the old rails and replacing them with new) and gave it up to the company, they agreeing to work it to the junction and give all their freight to the main line. By this means the country was saved from eight to ten thousand dollars per an

num.

It was proper he should give a few figures regarding the nett results of working the roads mentioned in this item during the last two or three years. The revenue in 1872-3 was $704,557; in 1873-74, $893,430; in 1874-5, $861,591. This showed an apparent reduction in the last year, but of the amount for 1873-4 the sum of $89,332 was credited in the receipts, which was not, of course, received. The nett cash earnings for the year ending June 30th, 1874, were $804,097; the nett cash earnings for the year ending June 30th, 1875, were $861,593.43. The expenditures for the same three years, for working expenses alone, were:-In 1872-3, $1,011,893; in 1873-4, $1,301,550; in 1874-5, $1,143,157. For the Intercolonial Railway, in the Province of Quebec-from St. Flavie to Rivière du Loup, 83 miles-the gross receipts during the eight months it was in the possession of the Government, were $18,320.37, and the working expenses $47,574.50, showing a deficit of $29,254.13. The stores on hand on June

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12,428 tons of rails. A considerable quantity-perhaps one half-of this amount would be laid during the current year. A very considerable saving in the working expenses had been effected in the price of coal. Albion Mining Company delivered it at the pits' mouth for $2 per ton; the Spring Hill Company delivered it at the branch junction, upon the Government road, for $2.10.

The

A question was asked by the hon. member for King's (Mr. Domville) about the manner of purchasing stores and selling old material. The statement he then made was correct -—that it had been the invariable practice to purchase all stores by tender, even the small quantities, unless for minute things in a particular hurry. For such articles as castings they had almost a permanent contract for the year, with the right to renew tenders when they pleased. It so happened, in reference to the system of tendering, that the hon. gentleman who was making the complaint of tenders not being asked for properly, received a contract for bar iron recently, being the lowest tender.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL-You mean

the company of which the hon. gentle

man is a member?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I presume so; at all events the factory he manages.. The price, I think, was $2.37 per 100 lbs. The practice with all smaller stores is to send slips round to all parties in the trade, and the lowest selected when they are returned. The slips are placed on file and subjected to a regular audit by the auditor of the road and to inspection by the Local and General Superintendent. Any member might look at the books any time he liked to inspect the stock. When

quantities of rails and other old stores are to be sold tenders are invited and they are sold invariably to the highest bidder. The invitation is generally by placard and advertisement if large quantitis are required, if only small quantities are wanted slips are sent to the ordinary dealers.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said the member for King's had stated that a large quantity of old iron had been sold, and that he had seen no advertisment of the sale.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that was a sale of old iron at Richmond

Station; notice was given both by placard and advertisement in the

papers.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said the hon. member (Mr. Domville), had asked the Hon. Finance Minister to get the returns down. He alleged that be had never seen or heard of anything of the sale.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-The papers were not asked for here, but in the Public Accounts Committee, and they were brought down.

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT-They were placed in the hands of the Chairman of the Committee.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL explained that the hon. member had gone away yesterday and had no opportunity of seeing the papers.

termed a great principle-and record his vote accordingly.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Certainly. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL thought there was nothing improper in a stock company of which an hon. member might be a director or president accepting a Government contract; he did nothing contrary to the rules of the House, or It was, that invalidated his seat. however, quite different in the case of a newspaper proprietor accepting Government printing.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE quite agreed with the hon. gentleman; a member of a stock company was exempted by law from any liabilities of that kind. He did not throw the slightest reflection on the hon. member when he mentioned the fact, and if his words implied anything of the kind he had

no such intention.

Mr. McKAY (Colchester) said it would be seen from the returns that there had been a large falling off in the receipts as compared with the previous year. This was a serious matter considering that it had occurred under an increased tariff. He thought the advanced tariff had been a great injury to the industry and trade of the country; it had caused several establishments to close during the season, and material intended for use was lying all along the railway. Besides, farmers in his district had gone to

Mr. WOOD asked if it was a. fact market with their teams solely on ac

that a member of the House had a contract with the Government.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-It is the Holbrook Iron Co., of which the hon. member referred to is managing direc

tor.

Of course that is a very different thing from a newspaper proprietor doing printing for the Government. I commend the hon. member for Hastings for his investigation.

Mr. BOWELL-Probably the hon. member for North Hastings will test the opinion of the House on that question, and he had no doubt the Hon. Minister of Public Works would do precisely what he did when he and the Hon. Minister of Justice moved his motion on a similar question-give it not only his earnest consideration, but use his eloquence and logic on what he then

count of the increased rate. The tariff should be made to suit the wants of the country; by encouraging traffic in that way the receipts would increase. Then, again, the system of special freight was a grievance which should be remedied. He knew instances where a difference of $4 had been demanded on the same class of freight. This was unfair, and had created a great deal of uneasiness and dissatisfaction. The Government should impose a reasonable and uniform tariff, so that any one could understand the freight he would have to pay, instead of being in dread of unjust discrimination.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the hon. gentleman was mistaken in thinking the revenue was less; it was $56,469 larger in 1874-5 than in 1873-4.

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