261
JANUARY 27. 1905
Mr. CLEMENTS. While I think a port is necessary in that
district, I think it is in the wrong place. I think the town of Wheatley, about
five miles from there, is the proper place. I would
ask the hon. minister to take that into consideration.
Mr. PATERSON. I shall be very glad to inquire as to that.
I judge, from the small amount of revenue returned that it must be
largely a preventive station. Does the hon. gentleman say that Wheatley
would be a better point to prevent smuggling than where the office is
now ?
Mr. CLARE. What increases of salaries were made at the
Galt customs house ?
Mr. PATERSON. The salary of Mr. Denis, the preventive
officer, was advanced from $600 to $650. The collector has asked for an
increase, but it was not given last year. It is under consideration.
Mr. WM. WRIGHT. I represent a large district, the district
of Muskoka, in which there is no custom house at all, and we find it very
inconvenient in getting goods in. I am sure that the revenue of that district is
much larger than that of many others  which have custom
houses.
r. PATERSON. We have had strong representations from
portions of Muskoka on that subject, among others from Bracebridge, a large and
thriving place. During the summer months, when there is a
good deal of traffic, we have an office at Gravenhurst. We have
had applications for new offices from thirty or forty places, but it is
difficult to accommodate them all. The opening of every new port
means an additional expenditure. Then, while we are very anxious to
oblige the business community as far as we can, we are not able to secure the
same judgment with reference to values and as to whether invoices are
correct, at many of these points that we can at larger points, where we
can afford to pay larger salaries and have men especially delegated for the
work. In the United States there are only a few very large ports. I
believe it is a fact that for their 80,000,000 people, they have not as
many ports as we have in Canada—not relatively, but absolutely. But the people
of Canada have been accustomed to having conveniences nearer home. I can
well understand what the hon. gentleman says as to the strong
claims of the district he represents; but the department feel that
the fewer ports we can have, with due convenience to the
people, the greater uniformity in values we can secure.
Mr. WM. WRIGHT. Have you any system for opening
new offices. with reference to size or population ?
Mr. PATERSON. When we get applications of that
kind, one of the inspectors makes inquiry personally, then the depart
262ment gets a statement from the office at which it is
probable the entries were made. For instance, we would get from the collector at
Orillia a statement of the goods entered for
consumption in the town of Bracebridge, and in that way arrive at the
amount of revenue that might be expected.
Mr. BARKER. Does the hon. gentleman propose to make any
increases in the staff at Hamilton ?
Mr. PATERSON. I do not think there is any pressing demand
for increases there. I think we are pretty well manned there.
Mr. BARKER. I think so. too ; but there will be a great
deal of disappointment if some appointments are not made.
Mr. BARKER. No. but to some very strong supporters of the
right hon. gentleman who expect offices.
Mr. FOSTER. In the United States, where there is a small
number of ports comparatively, taking into account its population, how do they overcome
what seem to be great difficulties to
us ? Â
Mr. PATERSON. I suppose the business is done through
brokers, with power of attorney.
Mr. PATERSON. Yes. in the larger cities. but we are under
no responsibility to the brokers.
Mr. FOSTER. I see there are very large increases in Nova
Scotia compared with New Brunswick. How does my hon. friend account for
that?
Mr. PATERSON. In New Brunswick the officers were better
paid, and in raising the pay in Nova Seotia we are bringing the offiers
there on a footing more nearly equal to those of New Brunswick.
Some resolutions reported.
ADJOURNMENT — AUTONOMY OF
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.
Mr. FOSTER. Can the Prime Minister give us any
information as to the probable time when the Bill for the establishment of
the Northwest province, or provinces, will be ready ?
Mr. FOSTER. I suppose it will be as soon as possible ?
Sir WILFRID LAURIER. Yes ; I am very anxious to do so.
I suppose that next week we shall commence a more regular
course of
business than we have had up to this time. I should think that the bill
referred to could be introduced probably during
the second week in February.
Motion agreed to, and House adjourned at
6 p.m.
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