tices at elections."

The remaining clauses of the Bill were adopted without discussion.

The Committee rose and reported the amendments, which were concurred

in.

The Bill was then read a third the and passed.

THE MANITOBA SUBSIDY.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved the second reading of the Bill to provide for the payment of a grant to the Province of Manitoba. He said that in moving this motion he did not require to say much concerning the Bill, as the papers brought down by message gave a full explanation of the position of the Province, financially, at the present time. The proposal that was made was, in brief, to add to the amount of money which they received annually the sum of $26,746.96, in order that it might reach the sum of $90,000 The Province had abolished the Upper House, and there by effected very considerable saving. At the present time they were actually without funds for the purpose of printing the Sessional work just collected. He hoped the House would not object to the proposal of the Government.

Mr. RYAN said the amount proposed to be added to the Manitoba subsidy, although an inconsiderable item in the finances of the Dominion, would be a considerable one in those of the Province. He was quite sure when the news reached Manitoba it would create general andprofound satisfaction. He wanted at the same time to say that while they thought the Government had made a move in the right direction they were of opinion the Government had not gone quite as far as the circumstances would justify. thought that in place of an increase to $90,000, it should have been increased to $100,000. Manitoba was the child of this Dominion, and this relationship imposed duties on both parties.

It was

While the Province was bound to exercise a reasonable degree of economy in the administration of its finances,

had no other resources worth mention

ing than the Dominion subsidy. In other Provinces the public lands were held by the Local Government, but in Manitoba they were the property of the Dominion. Direct taxation was at present impracticable, because the class of settlers in new countries was generally poor, and for the first few years after their settlement had heavy expenses to meet. They were also subjected to heavy expense by the extravagant rates which the Kitson line charged for freight. An attempt had been made to break up this monopoly, but it failed. During the past two years the Province had been devastated by locusts, and although there was good reason to believe it would be many years before they would again be visited by this plague, the settlers would not be in a position to bear direct taxation.

When Manitoba applied for an increase of subsidy, they at the same time submitted a statement showing the expenditure of the Province to be about $106,700. Since that time the Legislative Council had been abolished, but it would still be necessary to increase the Dominion subsidy to $100,000 to enable Manitoba to pay its way. He would move that it be increased to that amount if he thought the Government would give it their support. Since the Federal Parliament had assumed the responsibility of calling the Province into existence, they should give them the means to meet its necessary expenditures. If the Minister of Justice or any member of the Government could suggest a source of revenue from which to collect money or any way by which the expenses of Government could be reduced, such advice would receive the serious consideration of the people of Manitoba; and if it could not convince them, it would least strengthen the hands of those in the Province who were fighting for economy and good government.

at

When Manitoba became a part of this Confederation, 1,400,000 acres of land were reserved for the children of

1

instance be obliged to go back on the principles recorded in this amendment in the Journals for the 31st of March, 1870, page 126.

Mr. SCHULTZ said after the full discussion of the subject by his hon. colleague from Marquette, it was scarcely necessary for him to say more than express his pleasure at the additional grant proposed to be made by this Act to Manitoba. He joined the hon. member for Marquette in thanking the Ministry, and would even go a little further, and thank them for the reception which they had accorded the delegates from the Province. These gentlemen had reported that not only was their reception courteous but every evidence given of a disposition to deal fairly with any claim the Province could show for better terms. While he (Mr. Schultz) felt that for these things thanks were due, yet he felt that the amount granted would still be found insufficient for the purposes of the Province, and without going into any of the ground already travelled over by speakers who had preceded him, he would endeavour to show this briefly. In the Minute of Council which embodies the arguments used by the Manitoba delegates, and the report of the Sub-Committeee in the whole matter, he found the following paragraph:

"The Sub-Committee are of opinion that having regard to the whole circumstances of the case, it would be proper, provided the Local Government and Legislature should make such changes in their system as would (without diminishing the total aggregate amount to be devoted to the great objects of education, agriculture, public works, charity, and administration of Justice,) bring down the total expediture to a sum not exceeding (independent of the amount of local revenues) $90,000; it would be proper to charge as an advance on the debt account the balance due the Dominion, and to invite Parliament to make an additional annual grant to the Province of $26,745.96, being the amount necessary in order to raise its revenue derivable from the Dominion to $90,000; such grant to commence from the 1st day of July, 1875, and to continue until 1881, when the Province will become entitled to the increased population allowance, based upon the census to be taken in that year."

The Legislature of Manitoba, doubtless having in view these facts, granted for the expenditure of the Government for the current year, the following

sums :

Making a total of $95,000, which was proposed to be covered by the $90,000, which the subsidy would be under the new arrangement, and an amount of $5,000 expected to accrue from licenses and the tax on wild lands. Now, it would be seen that for those expenditures, which the Minute of Council has considered of such importance as to be specially mentioned, the amounts were almost ridiculously small. Immigration, for instance, was only $2,000; Charities and Hospitals the same, while the whole granted the Public Works Department was the absurd amount of $5,000. These amounts were quite insufficient, and he regretted that the Government had not seen fit to grant the amount the delegates asked for. He (Mr. Schultz) also agreed with the hon. Member for Marquette about the matter of half-breed Lands, and he felt that the thriving Canadian settlements of Springfield, Summerside, Rockwood, Greenwood, and Elanwood, were all being badly treated in the matter of roads communicating with other parts of the Province. With only five thousand dollars to expend on Public Works, it was useless to expect the Province to do much, but he would endeavour to show on another occasion that it was the duty of the Dominion Government to build these roads.

Mr. SMITH (Selkirk) said that had the Government consisted of a Lieutenant Governor and Council, the amount voted to the Province would have been amply sufficient; but it must be very clear to all, and especially to those who knew the great expense of living in Manitoba, that $90,000 would be very inadequate for the expenses of a Government such as they had, with so many officials. The increase given would create general satisfaction in Manitoba; but he thought they might have made it $100,000. He was glad to be able to

state that they had succeeded in making very satisfactory arrangements with two transportation companies, by which means the rates would be greatly reduced beyond those of former years. With regard to the half-breed lands there had been a good deal of dissatisfaction, but he had no doubt that the matter was now being attended to by the Government.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said he under

stood his hon. friend from Terrobonne to state that objection was made in the House by the hon. gentleman sitting on those benches to the financial part of the terms granted originally to the Province of Manitoba. He had to say in reply that he never heard any such objection made, and he never made such an objection himself. He had in the country, but not in the House, discussed the Constitution granted to Manitoba, but not the financial terms. They objected to the cumbrous system of government given to a Province with so sparse a population, and to the conferring upon them of a government so unsuited to them in every way. What the Government was called upon to do now was to ask Parliament to provide, at the expense of Canada, the defects in the system which the late Government originated. The pre ent Administration had procured a simplification of the Manitoba Constitution

this case.

and a reduction in the expenditure. They could not ask the people to go back to the point at which they started originally, and therefore it had been necessary to supplement their income at the expense of Canada. The reference which had been made to the objections raised to the increased terms to Nova Scotia was not applicable to There was nothing inconsistent between their positions then and that which they took now, The The terms given to Manitoba were given by the people of Canada represented in Parliament, and consequently they had the right to change that arrange ment if they chose. Then, as to the resolution which the hon. gentleman said ought to teach them moderation, he (Mr. Blake) hoped it would teach moderation in a quarter where it was more required. That resolution was passed at a time when this particular contract and the Province of Manitoba

was not in existence. And yet in face of that fact the hon. member contended that the circumstances were the same in both cases.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER explained he meant to say that when the whole of the Provinces, as represented in this Pariiament, made a compact with Manitoba for its admission on certain financial terms, and they were ratified by the Imperial Parliament, they stood on the same footing. Prince Edward Island came into this Confederation on the

understanding that certain arrangements were made with Manitoba, and the same principle applied to the latter Province as to the original four.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said the Provinces did not make this agreement; the Dominion of Canada made it. It was a compact of the whole of Canada. It might have been carried by a majority of members of Parliament from two Provinces against three or four adverse to it, but still it would have been the act of this Parliament. Although he would go as far for State rights now as he did in the Nova Scotia controversy, he could not destroy the efficiency of the Confederation principle by admitting that anything Parliament might lawfully do it could not lawfully undo without the Provinces themselves are a party to the bargain. In the case of Nova Scotia the objections were to the altering of the fundamental part of the compact of Union, without the assent of the Provinces, and to the mode in which the alteration had been negotiated. Instead of negotiating with tiated. the Local Government the late Administration perferred to deal with the gentlemen who happened to sit in this Parliament as the representatives of the Province.

In the case of Manitoba, the present Government dealt exclusively with the Government and Legislature of that Province. He denied there was anything inconsistent in the course now pursued with_the action taken in the case of Nova Scoti.

Mr. PALMER said if he understood the hon. gentleman right, he contended that the Provinces which came in under the 146th Section of the British North America Act stood in a different position constitutionally to the older Pro

Hon. Mr. BLAKE-The North-West Territories were admitted into the Dominion; we carved Manitoba out of them.

Mr. PALMER said the only ground on which the grant to Manitoba could be justified was that the money belonged to the people and could be expended as they thought fit. There fore he did not object to it, but he did object to the right claimed by the Minister of Justice to deal differently with the new Provinces brought into the Dominion from the old ones.

Hon. Mr. POPE contended that this Parliament had a perfect right to give an increased subsidy to Nova Scotia or any other Province of the Dominion if it should be deemed expedient to do so, and he thought it unwise to attempt to bind this Parliament in such a way that they could not pursue a certain course if the exigencies should arise which would render it desirable. There was no doubt when the resolution in the case of Nova Scotia was entered on the Journals it applied not only to the Provinces that were then in the Confederation, but to all that might subsequently be admitted.

There might be difficulties encountered in new sections of the country; but the same difficulties were experienced in connection with municipal matters. The best remedy for this state of things was to throw the responsibility on the people. He for his part had every confidence in the people of Manitoba, endowed by the free Government condemned by hon. gentlemen opposite. He would give them no mixed Government for it was best for the people to legislate for themselves. He would vote for this Bill with pleasure, as he had done connection with the grant of better terms to Nova Scotia. He believed that it was in the interest of the Dominion that every Province

in

Hon. Mr. TUPPER-I would ask at this stage, if in accordance with the usual practice on this day, the House will adjonrn at six o'clock?

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT-We desired to take up the Estimates this evening, but we are quite willing to have it understood that only those items on which no prolonged discussion will likely occur shall be considered.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER-In this case I must say that I should feel it to be my duty to be in my place.

Hon. Mr. CAMERON entirely agreed with the Minister of Justice with regard to the measure before the House, as there was the greatest possible difference between it and the instance to which reference had been made.

Mr. BOWELL called the attention of the Premier and of the House, with regard to the broad declaration made that no objection had been taken by him to the terms granted Manitoba, to the record in the Debates, in which Mr. Mackenzie, now the Premier, was reported to have said :—

"With regard, however, to the exces"sive expenditure which was to be im"posed on the Dominion by the arrangement of the Bill (the Manitoba Bill) it involved the amount of the "debt, $416,500.”

"Sir GEORGE E. CARTIER-$21,000 a year."

"Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Yes; there "would then be $12,000 to make up at "50 cents per head; and in addition the "Government proposed to pay nearly "$30,000 for the Local Government. "He could scarcely conceive that the "amount was necessary."

He thought that this was sufficient evidence on that point.

He also found in the famous Aurora speech, not a direct objection to the Manitoba Bill, but sentiments entertained by the Minister of Justice,