266
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1873
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gation and the conveyance of mails
between Prince Edward Island and
the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick.
Mr. L. H. DAVIES thought it a
monstrous proposition that Charlottetown is only to have one or two trips
per week, by Steamboat, allowed it
instead of the present arrangement, or
a more progressive one still. But
be supposed that this question would
be more fully discussed when the Bill
was brought down.
Mr. SINCLAIR asked whether it was
not going too far to enter into a new
engagement for ten years with the
present contractor, when the Dominion
had engaged to provide for the conveyance of our mails to the other
Provinces. He thought that to do so
would be taking too much upon ourselves under present circumstances.
Hon. COL. SECRETARY said that in
passing the resolution before them,
the Committee did not pledge itself in
any way, or make any engagement
that would be binding. No Bill imposing a tax upon the subject could
be introduced unless it originates with
a Committee of the whole House.
The proper time to take objection to
the principles and provisions of the
Bill, will be when the Bill itself comes
down. The question for present consideration is whether the House is in
favor of increased steam communication with the other Provinces, and
whether a new contract should be
entered into for that purpose. As regards the necessity for increased steam
communication between this Island
and the other Provinces when the
Railway is opened up throughout the
whole length. there can be little doubt.
It is, on the other hand, far better to
enter into acontract with capitalists
amongst ourselves, who own substantial and commodious Boats, which
have given every satisfaction, and thus
have the money expended amongst us,
than to trust to outsiders, who would
spend the money elsewhere. The advantage of having a Steam Navigation Company located
amongst ourselves, owning such Boats as the
Princess of Wales,
Heather Belle and
St. Lawrence, when free trade opens
with the Dominion, will be apparent
to the commonest observer. Free
trade with Canada will be a great advantage to the Company, and will
enable them to afford greater facilities
to the travelling public, and for the
conveyance of freight, than they have
ever yet been able to supply. The
question in reference to the number of
trips to be made between the several
ports is a matterto be settled when
the House goes into Committee on the
Bill itself. It will be more satisfactory to enter into a contract with a
local Company, owning local Boats,
and thus have the profits of the enter
prise spent among ourselves, and the
Boats officered, from the Captain down
to the firemen. from our own people,
than to have Boats employed belonging to any of the other Provinces. All
those matters would, he hoped, receive
the due consideration of that hon.
Committee. As to whether ten years
was too long a time tor which to enter
into a contract with a Company, or
not, it would be time enough to consider when the Bill came before the
House in Committee.
The resolution was then put and
carried. The Speaker then took the
chair and the Chairman then reported
the resolution agreed to. A Committee, consisting ofhons. Pope, Haviland,
and Mr. John Yeo, was appointed to
bring in a Bill in accordance with the
resolution.
Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT, Chairman of said Committee,
accordingly submitted a Bill, intituled
" An Act relating to Steam Communication and the conveyance of Mails
between Prince Edward Island and
1873 PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 267
the Provinces of Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick."
Received and read a first time and
ordered to be read a second time to- morrow.
House in Committee of the whole in
further consideration of the County
Courts Bill.
After some time spent in Committee, without debate, the Speaker resumed the chair,
progress was reported
and leave obtained to sit again.
I. O.
House went into Committee on the
Bill for preventing, at improper seasons, the shooting of wild duck, snipe
and woodcock.
House resumed, when resolution
was reported agreed to.
Hon. Mr. BRECKEN, from Committee, submitted a Bill in accordance
with said resolution, which Was read a
first time and ordered to be read a
second time to-morrow.
On motion of hon. Mr. Brecken, a
Bill was introduced, and referred to a
Committee on Private Bills, to enable the Society for the propogation
of the Gospel in foreign parts, to dispose of some Parsonage lands in this
Island.
Hon. Mr. SULLIVAN moved that the
House go into Committee on the Bill
relating to the Master of the Rolls and
Assistant Judges.
Mr. LAIRD said he had some objection to the Bill. Judges have good
salaries, and should not be allowed to
do business as agents or otherwise in
matters which can be done by others.
If they have friends who wish to have
them set in the capacity of Attorneys
for them, they cannot suppose this
House will sanction any measure of
this nature. Judges should, as far as
possible, keep clear from acting as
agents for any parties. Nor could he
think any injustice would be done to
them by refusing to pass this Bill. In
so far as be (Mr. L.) understood the
Bill, he was opposed to the principle
it contained.
Hon. Mr. POPE did also feel opposed to the Bill. Their salaries
should be sufiicient to maintain them
in the high position they occupy,
without having to come down from
that height to act as agents or Attorneys for any one. When we enter
the Dominion, the probability is, their
salaries will be increased, when they
will be enabled to live as becomes
their high station in society, without
having to resort to an occupation which
Judges should not engage in. He
considered it the duty of the House to
set their faces against all such measures. It was all very well for them
to say they only intended to act for
relatives; but in passing such a Bill
we would be endorsing a principle
which would be susceptible of great
abuse, and calculated to dishonor the
Bench. This House will take the
wisest course, if it sets its face against
this and all like measures. To keep
our Judges clear of all such transaction, in so far as legislation can do so,
was the clear duty of the House.
Hon. Mr. BRECKEN.—The principle advocated by his honor the Leader of the Government, is undoubtedly
a sound one; yet it is fair to state,
that by all the principles known to
jurisprudence, Judges are prohibited
in acting in any case where they
are individually or collectively interested, and this Bill is not intended
to allow any Judge to act in any case
in opposition to this acknowledged
principle.
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