The house met at 3 P. M.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Hon. FIN. SEC. introduced a bill to amend
chap. 2 Acts of 1866. He said that the object
was to enable parties to withdraw from bonded warehouses articles for manufacture,
giving
bonds for the payment of the duties.
Mr. TOBIN said that some cargoes of merchandize, after being deposited in the warehouse, could
be re-guaged before being taken
out, and the duty paid according to the last
measurement, but articles of bulk could not be
re-weighed. There was frequently a great loss
of weight in a cargo of sugar, after remaining
warehoused for some months; and it was unfair to dealers and consumers to charge the
duty according to the original weight. This
circumstance had seriously diminished the
trade with Canada, for purchasers there had
preferred going to New York, where they could
get the article re-weighed. There was no danger of embezzlement from the warehouse,
and
it was unfair to make parties pay for quantities which they did not get.
Hon. FIN. SEC. thought that the practice of
paying duties on the original weight must have
originated in a desire on the part of the wholesale dealers to sell at the original
marks. There
was no desire to exact a revenue from that
which did not go into use. He would make enquiries and ascertain the position of the
matter.
The Legislative Council announced that they
had agreed to the bill concerning departmental
officers and their salaries.
Mr. S. CAMPBELL presented two petitions—
one for the removal of obstructions in Salmon
River, the other for a way office at Indian Harbor.
Mr. TOBIN presented a petition from A. M.
Uniacke and 1500 other citizens of Halifax,
against the bill to amend the charter of the
City Street Railway Company.
Mr. Hill presented a petition from Hants, on
the same subject.
Mr. ANNAND presented three petitions from
Dartmouth, Bedford, and Elmsdale, on the
same subject.
Mr. MCKAY presented four petitions from
Pictou, on the same subject.
Mr. PRYOR presented a petition from citizens
of Halifax, praying for an amendment of the
charter of the City Street Railway Company.
Mr. ANNAND presented a petition from Waverly asking for a change of Polling place.
Mr. TOBIN presented a petition from 875
merchants, grocers and liquor dealers asking
such a change in the license law as would prevent the separation of the sale of groceries
from
that of liquors. The petition also contained a
recommendation from nine Aldermen.
Mr. PRYOR presented a petition from forty
junk dealers asking a reduction in the charge
for their licenses.
Dr. BROWN introduced a bill to incorporate
St. George's Lodge of Freemasons, Wolfville.
Mr. PARKER presented five petitions from
Colchester County against the proposed am
endment to the Charter of the City Street Railway Company.
Mr. HATFIELD introduced a bill to authorise the inhabitants of Argyle to sell a fire engine.
Mr. ANNAND called attention to an omission
in the Act recently passed in reference to representation: In the Acts of 1859 there
was a
statute providing for nominations in the different ridings. There was nothing in the
bill to
show in what localities the nominations could
be held under the new law.
Hon. ATTY. GENERAL said that the matter
had not been forgotten, but would be dealt
with when the amendment to the Act relating
to Elections was introduced.
Hon. FIN. SECY. by command laid on the
table several petitions in reference to loss on
the Railway. They were referred to the Railway Committee. Also a petition in reference
to loss of money through the Post Office, which
was referred to the Post Office Committee.
Hon. PROV. SEC. laid on the table the Calendar of King's College. Also further papers
relating to the removal of Tweedell from the
Insane Asylum.
Mr. C. J. CAMPBELL asked the government
to lay on the table a return of the quantities of
American coal admitted to the Province during
last year.
Mr. PRYOR presented a petition from a number of inhabitants of polling district No. 11,
West Halifax, against a proposed change in
that district.
Mr. MACDONNELL moved that papers which
he had previously asked the Government to lay
on the table, in reference to a grant of Crown
Lands, be referred to the Crown Land Committee. Passed.
Dr. HAMILTON introduced a bill to authorize
the purchase of land and erection of a poor
house in Cornwallis.
Mr. ANNAND said that as the time was approaching when gentlemen would be anxious
to become acquainted with the financial condition of the country, he was desirous
of knowing whether any contracts had been entered
into with the Pictou Railway beyond the contract with Mr. Fleming.
Hon. FIN. SEC. said that no contracts had
been entered into for matters included in Mr.
Fleming's contract, but purchases of rolling
stock had been made.
WINDSOR AND ANNAPOLIS RAILWAY.
The house then went into Committee on Bills,
and took up the bill to incorporate the Windsor and Annapolis Railway Company.
Mr. KILLAM thought that this was not the
time for such a measure. It was essential to
ascertain the financial state of the country, so
as to see how the construction was to be provided for. He did not wish to oppose the
extension, provided the Province had sufficient
means, and it should be remembered that the
revenues would be very small after Confederation. It would be seen also that the bill
was
not the same as last Session, and the House
should be cautious in making the change which
would leave too much power in the hands of
the contractors. The bill gave them the right
to build the road to Annapolis or Troop's Point,
and as to the bridge, it was stipulated to be
built of iron, or otherwise as they might think
proper, while the former agreement was for a
OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
111
bridge with a roadway for the accomodation of
the public. These matters should not be left
indefinite in a work of such extent and importance.
Mr. COLIN CAMPBELL said he was glad to
hear the member for Yarmouth express his
views on this question, as he (Mr. C.) intended
to ask for an extension to Digby. It was evident that danger might arise from leaving
too
much power in the contractors' hands, and he
hoped that the Government would not allow
the terminus to be at Troop's Point.
Hon. PRO. SEC., as to the financial part of the
question, said that under Confederation Nova
Scotia would be allowed to come in with a
debt of eight millions, and in case the debt exceeded that amount, the assets representing
the increased amount would belong to the Province. The delegates had found it impossible
to make a contract for the extension except on
the terms of allowing the contractors to choose
from the routes surveyed by Mr. Fleming, but
the best guarantee that could be desired was
the fact that those gentlemen were investing
large sums of their own money, and their interest depended on a selection that would
be
favorable for traffic. The reason why a roadway had been stipulated for in the Windsor
Bridge was that a sum was provided for its
construction, and that sum was more than
sufficient for a wooden railway bridge, but the
cost of an iron one would be largely in excess,
and therefore the company could not be asked
to provide a roadway.
Mr. S. CAMPBELL said that when the Government or their officer made a contract under
the authority of an Act, the terms of that act
should be kept in view. The law authorized
the Government to enter into a contract for an
extension from Windsor to Annapolis, while
the agreement left a discretionary power which
had not been authorized. It could not be said
that Annapolis county was meant, for in that
case the road might stop at the very border.
if the agreement were not consistent with the
Act it was not binding in the Legislature. The
Government, therefore, had not shewn that regard for the law which they should have
shewn,
and they might as well have contracted for the-
road to be carried to any other part of the Province as to Troop's Point. As to the
bridge,
he thought it was understood that ample accommodation should be afforded for the ordinary
traffic, but this had been lost sight of.
These facts should throw matters connected
with the work into their original position, and
that being the case it would be wise to consider whether the country was in a position
to
carry on the extension.
The SPEAKER said that his position prevented him on most occasions from mingling in
debate, and he regretted that the Government
had not enabled him by allowing the House to
go into committee on the general state of the
Province, to express his views on the great
public question before. He, however, had at
last an opportunity of giving to his constituency his views on the subject. The railway
policy was one that he had been educated up
to by Mr. Howe, and ever since that gentleman
moved on the question, he had felt that that
subject and the question of the Union of the
Colonies, to which public attention was then
turned, were matters which, in the interest of
the Province, should be steadily kept in view.
In speaking upon the latter question, it was
not improbable that he spoke to his own prejudice; but he was not the man who would
fail
to give the people his views, or who would pander for a seat in the house when a question
involving the interests of the Empire was brought
forward. He would be happy to resign his
seat and retire from public life, if called upon
to do so, on the question of Confederation. He
put the two questions of Railway Extension
and Union on the same ground as regards the
breadth of view in which they should he regarded. It was greatly to be regretted that
such opposition had been shown to the Western Extension, and it was surprising to
see the
rejoicing when Knight and Company failed in
their engagements. As to the objections raised
by the member for Yarmouth it was well
known that the previous agreement was worded in precisely the same way. He would have
preferred that all mention of Troop's Point had
been omitted; but any man knowing the Western part of the country would have no hesitation
in saying that the road could not stop there.
He well recollected the opposition given in
1851 by the member for Yarmouth to railway
construction, and the cry all through the country was that the country would be ruined,
and
the tax-gatherer would be at every door, but
it was found that notwithstanding the extension to Pictou, our road and bridge service
was
doubly as well provided for as it was in 1851.
The same difficulties as to the terminus had
arisen in connection with the Pictou line, and
the same local feeling would always exist, but
members must rise superior to such influences.
There could he no doubt that this line, instead
of stopping either at Annapolis or Troop's
Point, must eventually reach the Bay of Fundy, and for that purpose must go to Digby
Gut.
In a few days his colleague would move a
resolution, which he trusted, would receive the
unanimous assent of the house, authorizing the
Government to contract for the extension of
the road to the waters of the Bay of Fundy.
With such a line of communication, the distance from Halifax to Portland would be
lessened by hundreds of miles.
Hon. ATTY. GEN. said he was not surprised
at the obstruction to the bill. The Government were told, in introducing the resolution
for the extension, that they were not sincere,
and had taken the step merely to secure support for the Pictou line, that had been
repeated
over and over again, and some members interested in the Western counties were rather
pleased when the commercial depression in
London enabled them to point to the scheme
as a failure. He had never felt any duty a
more pleasing one than when he took steps to
carry out the terms of the act, and to give to
the western people the road which they had
been expecting. Mr. Killam's desire seemed
to be that the people should consider the matter and decide,—if he knew anything of
the
people they were anxious to keep their honorable obligations, and you had only to
shew
them that they were in justice bound to do
anything in order to induce them to demand
that it should he done. It was not at that time
to be considered whether the road should be
built,—that had been decided long ago. The
opposition had increased very much in their
solicitude to secure the advantages of the road
to Annapolis since the time when they voted
112
DEBATES AND PROCEDINGES
against giving the road at all,—he congratulated members on their change of views,
and was
willing to admit that further security should be
pressed for if it could be obtained, but it should
be remembered that the original Act said
nothing about the bridge excepting for the railway traffic, and ÂŁ40,000 was agreed
on as the
sum that the Province should pay for that
work, but it was found that a substantial
bridge, affording the desired accommodation,
could not be built for double the money, and it
had to be left with the Company to build as
good a wooden bridge as they could, if not of
stone, and it would be to their interest to make
it substantial as the cost of its maintenance
would rest on them. Nothing was said in the
act of last year about the bridge, and it was
only in London, in 1865, that the first mention
was made of it, and the company asked the
insertion of a clause to authorize them to build
an iron or stone bridge if possible, but not obliging them to make the roadway in
addition.
The Government then had acted in this matter
according to their instructions, and would have
been blamed for going beyond their commission if the negociations had failed in consequence
of further accommodation being insisted upon. As to the route, a survey had been
made, and the company insisted on having the
selection of lines; but one great inducement to
the enterprise was that the road might be made
the through route to the United States, connecting Halifax with some place from which
a
ready passage could be made to New Brunswick and enabling passengers to be in Montreal
or Boston as soon as by steamer. In order
to do so the company had resolved to build
such a road that the journey to Annapolis could
he made in four hours, and they would require
bridges of a very substantial kind. The true
interests of the country had been well cared
for in securing a first class road for the amount
of the subvention. So strong was the opinion
in the minds of some that no company could be
got to do the work for the sum offered, that a
member of the Upper house had voted last
year against the bill on that ground. The Government had, however, been enabled to
complete the contract for the amount offered, and
the effect of the capitalisation would be highly
favorable in a financial point of view.
As to Annapolis being mentioned in the original bill as the terminus, it would be
observed
that in the contract Troop's Point was also
mentioned, and the contract was embodied in
the act; but even if it had been otherwise, the
duty of the Legislature was to take a fair and
broad view of the matter, and not to take technical objections. When the question
had been
previously under discussion, it was considered
that Annapolis might not be the best terminus
in consequence of the tide and for other reasons; and although it would have been
preferable to have had the line to that place, in order
to extend it to Digby and Yarmouth, yet all
the interests bad to be looked to, and the contractors insisted on having the alternative.
The
act, however, provided that not a mile should
be built except on the recommendation of the
engineer, and the contractors possessed no power to force it to Troop's Point. All
these stipulations were in the former agreement with
Knight & Co., which was ratified last year, and
the objections, therefore, came a year too late.
The fears of some gentlemen, however as to
the road being built to Troop's Point, were
groundless; it would be built to Annapolis and
was located there already. Some gentlemen
would, no doubt, be sorry it would not go to
Troop's Point, so that they could have something to grumble at. The arrangement made
by the delegates in reference to this railway
was the only railway negotiation that had been
effected during the year, owing to the depressed
condition of business; and the Government
having so far succeeded, and having acted in
good faith, the house was in duty bound to fulfil the engagements entered into under
its authority.
The SPEAKER expressed his pleasure at
hearing the announcement that the road would
go to Annapolis and not to Troop's Point. He
was not aware of this in making his previous
observations, but he had felt little doubt on the
subject from what he knew of the locality. As
he would not be in a position to speak to the
resolution for the extension to Digby when his
colleague might move it, he would say a few
words on that subject. He did not wish that
proposition to interfere with the bill under discussion, but when the latter was disposed
of
no gentleman could fairly consider the request
that would be made an unreasonable one.
Any one acquainted with the Western part of
the country and its capabilities must be aware
that the people would not remain satisfied so
long as the public improvements they required
were within the means of the Province. It
would seem that the hon. member for Yarmouth was desirous of preventing the railway
moving any further Westward than at present,
but if he would soften a little in his desire to
oppose the Government he would feel it his
duty to come to the aid of Western countries.
In five or seven years the road might be expected to reach the town of Yarmouth, for
as
long as the public finances warranted it, the
Western extension would he demanded.
Mr. LONGLEY regretted that the members
for Yarmouth and Guysboro felt it their duty
to oppose the bill; the former had a direct interest in the extension, and the latter
was in
no position to complain after the favorable consideration that the Eastern interest
had received. By the projected railway Yarmouth would
be placed within a day's journey of the capital,
and it was therefore difficult to believe that
the hon. member was truly representing his
constituency in making the captious objections
he had made to the contract. The members
for the Western counties had supported the
Pictou extension from a sense of duty, and had
thereby established a strong claim to the support of the other members on this question.
Too much credit could not be accorded to the
Government for their untiring efforts in relation
to this contract. But for the presence of the
delegates and their exertions in London no
contract would be in existence. The Annapolis Railway would be built on much more
favorable terms than the existing lines. As to
the extension to Digby, he thought that when
the road reached Annapolis all would have
been done that could reasonably have been
asked. The measure was entitled to the support of all members representing the Western
constituencies, for the terms were so favorable
that not only local, but the general interests of
that part of the country were benefited. As
to the Pictou line, he rejoiced to be able to say
OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
113
that by the 31st May it would be in a fit condition to carry the whole traffic, and
this was
under an arrangement that was so emphatically condemned a year ago. The question of
our railway extension was involved with the
question of Confederation, and the success of
the Government in maturing the contract was
to a great extent due to the fact that the Union
of the Colonies had been secured. Too much
praise could not be accorded to the Government in relation to the bill.
Mr. ANNAND expressed his regret at hearing
the opposition styled obstructive, because they
had discharged their duty in criticising the
measure before the house. It was not correct
to say that he was opposed to western extension, but he denied the right of the Government
to insert any provision in relation to Troop's
Point in the contract.
Hon. ATTY. GEN. said that the name was
used in the contract which was part of the act
of last year.
Mr. ANNAND denied that the act of 1866 authorized the use of the word. It was well
known that the cost of construction would be
cheaper on the north side of the river than on
the south side, and that it might be a gain to
the contractors to adopt the northern route; but
looking to the interests of the country, and the
probability of an extension to Yarmouth at
some future day, he thought it should terminate at Annapolis. Troop's Point is a quarter
of a mile above the ferry and deep water, and
would therefore be quite useless as a terminus.
This fact should have induced the Government
to secure the line and terminus beyond the discretion of the contractors. It would,
too, be of
importance to consider this question in relation to the financial position of the
Province
under Confederation. The debt incurred by
Nova Scotia beyond the eight millions would
be treated as a loan, on which five per cent.
must be paid to Canada; and as the country
was in a transition state, he thought a little
more enquiry should be bestowed on the subject. He assumed that the indebtedness of
Nova Scotia amounted to considerably over
five millions, in addition to two and a half millions for the Pictou railway and rolling
stock.
This, with over a million for the Annapolis line,
would probably bring our debt up to nine millions. Assuming this to be the case, we
would
commence Confederation with a debt ofa million of dollars, which would stand as a
first
charge on the local revenues. As to the bridge
he would only say that as under the original
agreement it was intended to give accomodation for foot passengers and vehicles, a
great
wrong had now been done to the inhabitants of
Hants and Kings in not making such a provision as would give them a free passage over
the river for all time to come. He thought the
house should pause, and take up the question
after fuller information had been given.
Hon. ATTY. GEN. said that there was no
doubt a great deal in the suggestion of the hon.
member, and that an estimate of the character
asked for would be of value. But the present
was not the time to bring up such an estimate.
The Province had already incurred liabilities
in connection with this railway, and must
carry out its agreement. A proper time no
doubt would come when the hon. member could
have his wishes gratified. It was a great pity
that hon. gentlemen would not take the trouble
of reading public documents before coming forward and making incautious and incorrect
statements. If the hon. member would look at
the act of 1866 he would find that it recited the
agreement. (The hon. Atty. General here read
from the act to show that the agreement was
made part of it.) That being so, he went on to
say, were they not justified in assuming that
the house would ratify the agreement that was
made conditionally, in case it should be shown
to be the best line?
Mr. S. CAMPBELL said that it was the privilege of the minority to criticise the acts of
the Government, for they were there for that
purpose. The question he had to consider was
not whether he was opposed to the Annapolis
Railway or not, but whether the Government
had performed their duty in a business-like
manner. He contended that they had failed to
do so. The hon. member had referred to the
Act of 1866, but the articles of agreement recited the Act of 1865. They were bound
by the
terms of that act and should not go one iota
beyond it. The house should not be asked to
take the mere ipse dixit of the hon. gentleman,
that the company had abandoned Troop's
Point—it should be shown in black and white.
He (Mr. C.) felt that it was his duty not merely
to protect the rights of the people of Guysborough, but of the whole Province as well.
When he saw an injustice being done to any
portion of the people, he was bound to state
his objections.
Hon. PROV. SEC. said that the arguments of
gentlemen opposite shewed very clearly how
difficult they found it to find fault with the
Government. No observations could be more
puerile than those that had been made in the
course of the afternoon by the opposition. The
house had solemnly pledged itself to the construction of the railway, and after a
year's deliberation had re-affirmed that decision. The
Government having been charged to make a
contract for the construction of the line immediately set to work to perform the duty
entrusted to them. They entered into a contract with
parties to build a railway to Annapolis town
or to Troop's Point, and the house, with that
contract before them, deliberately re-affirmed
their former decision and authorized the carrying out of their agreement. Though the
hon.
member was told that the representatives of
the Government, when in London, could only
make the contract by leaving it optional with
the company to go to Annapolis or Troop's
Point—both of which points had been left by
the house to the choice of a previous contractor—yet he now declared that they should
not
have entered into the agreement at all for the
construction of the road, but should have deprived the western counties of that means
of
railway communication with the capital which
they so anxiously desired, and to which the
faith of the Province had been pledged. He
felt it was the greatest compliment that could
be paid to the Government for gentlemen
opposite to take up the time of the house with
objections and assertions which everybody
must feel were perfectly puerile and unworthy
the serious consideration of any intelligent
man.
The house would remember that these hon.
members once undertook to settle the railway
114
DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS
policy of this country, but did they carry the
road to Annapolis? They put on the Statute
Book an act pledging themselves to carry the
road to Victoria Beach, instead of going to the
town of Annapolis, to which they now declared
it should go. The Government were authorized by the deliberate vote of the house a
year
ago to carry the road to Troop's Point, if necessary; not a single member then rose
to object to such a policy. When the Government
came to negotiate this matter, the best terms
they could obtain were that they should leave
this matter an open question for the contractors to decide. As respects the other
matter in
question, he would again mention that as the
iron bridge would cost a great deal, the company were unable to include the roadway
at
the same time.
Mr. S. CAMPBELL said that the agreement
did not state that the bridge would be of iron.
Hon PROV. SEC. replied that the agreement
provided that the bridge should be constructed
in one way or the other. If it was built of wood
then the roadway would have to be included.
If it was, on the other hand, constructed of
iron, the roadway would not be made. By the
following letter it would be seen that the company had decided to build the work of
iron:—
24 Great George Street,
Westminister, S. W., February 25, 1867.
DEAR SIR,—
" We have very great pleasure in informing
you that we have made all arrangements
necessary for the due completion of this line.
Our first and most important step, that of
providing the capital necessary for the completion and equipment of the line, we have
arranged with an eminent city firm; and for
the security alike of the Province, the capitalists just alluded to, and ourselves,
we have
deemed it advisable to let the contract to Mr.
Thomas Brassey, who has undertaken the
same, and is now incorporated with us in the
company established for the purposes of the
railway.
We may add, that it is our intention to execute the works in a manner that we believe
will give you entire satisfaction, and we have
concluded to build the Windsor bridge of iron.
As this latter work will have to be prepared
here, we have telegraphed to our agent, Mr.
Grant, to come over with the plans of this and
the other bridges by the next steamer, that the
work may be immediately let; and we have
made such arrangements as we believe will
enable us to finish the principal bridges during
the coming season, and the whole line by the
end of the year 1868."
We have, &c..
W. H. PUNCHARD,
EDWIN CLARK,
FREDERICK BARRY.
To the Hon. CHARLES TUPPER, Provincial
Secretary.
Mr. KILLAM said that he thought it unwise to
have allowed the contractor to take his choice
of two points of termination, or to build the
bridne of iron or wood. He was of opinion that
the Government should have kept the company
to the roadway. What he urged particularly,
however, was that the Government should show
the House and country what our financial position was likely to be. It was now admitted
that
if we exceeded the debt of $8,000,000, we would
have to pay the excess, though the assets would
be placed to our credit. The assets, in the case
of the present railway, would be nothing, for
they belonged to the company. It was the duty
of the Government to show how we were to raise
the large sum required for the work and at the
same time have money enough to provide for
other things. When the House was called upon
previously to deal with this question, it was under very different circumstances,
then we had
our revenue to fall back upon, whereas now the
largest portion was handed over to Canada. If
things remained as they were we could build the
railways to Annapolis, to New Brunswick, to
Pictou, and eventually to Yarmouth—in fact,
from one end of the Province to the other. He
believed that the terms of the contract were injurious to the best interests of the
country. The
company were allowed to choose the way
through the counties of Annapolis and Kings,
besides to obtain gratis all lands required for the
railway track and appurtenances. They were
to build such a railway as they might think proper—in reality, there was nothing binding
on
them. They could use a rail that would not
weigh much above 30 lbs. to the yard. He calculated the cost for a mile of rails would
be
$1320; the cost of sleepers would be about $400;
and the whole cost of a mile of roadway would
be $1720. It was quite evident that the company would have to take little or nothing
out of
their own pockets. He did not like to see the
government getting mixed up with private companies. But when they did make a bargain,
they should take care that it was a safe one for
the Province. If we went on as we are now,
and built all the railways ourselves, our debt
would reach say $13,000,000, on which we
would have to pay an interest of about $750,000.
Our revenues from excise and customs would
amount to at least $1,250,000. We would,
therefore, have $500,000 independent of the railway interest, with a duty of say 10
per cent.
With our revenues under our own control, we
could increase them it necessity compelled us. Besides there was no doubt that the
railways to Annapolis, Pictou and New Brunswick, under proper management, would
bring us one or two per cent. Even the present railway, extravagantly as it was worked,
had left something above its working expenses.
As the trade increased, the different railway lines
would become productive, and eventually
we would be in a position to build a road to
Yarmouth. As it was now, however, no such
results could be expected. The revenues were
to be taken from under our own control, and we
were obliged to get along the best way we could
under most adverse circumstances.
Hon. ATTY. GEN. said that it was really most
refreshing to hear the hon. member for Yarmouth, who had so frequently urged that
the
country was not in a condition to build railways, now declaring that we should go
into
debt to the extent of $13,000,000 for such public works. It would be remembered that
the
hon. member had, on a former occasion, even
OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
115
made an apology for voting for the Pictou Railway, because it prevented us from going
into
debt for the Intercolonial Railway; he voted for
the former because it was the lesser evil. Now
the hon. member said that we should build railways to Annapolis, to Pictou, to New
Brunswick and everywhere else. In fact there was
not a day that the hon. member did not assume
some inconsistent position; it was impossible to
know where to find him, so erratic was his public policy. The hon. member had just
declared that the Government should not have entered into the agreement but anybody
who knew
him would feel that if they had not done so he
would have been the first to complain that they
had sacrificed the interests of the West to the
East.
Mr. COFFIN said that it was assumed by the
Government that we would pass into Confederation with a debt of $8,000,000. Anything
that
exceeded that amount would have to be paid
for us. Now it appeared that the first charge
upon the little revenues left us would be the interest on this railway. If we had
no other
means of paying it, we must do it by direct
taxation. He would be quite willing to pay for
the Windsor and Annapolis Railway if he could
seo any way of doing so. We were legislating
ahead of the means at the disposal of the country, and saddling it with a debt which
it would
be most difficult and burdensome to pay. He
was quite positive that instead of going into
Confederation with a debt of $8,000,000, the
amount would be rather $9,000,000.
Mr. TOBIN said that it seemed to him that
gentleman were always looking for troubles,
and anyone listening to the debate that afternoon would imagine that the country was
on
the verge of ruin. He saw our revenues increasing, our railways extending and opening
up new sources of trade, all branches of industry prosperous and progressing, and
yet it was
said that we were unable to get along. He saw
ahead, not a prospect of ruin, but of prosperity.
Our revenue in 1850 was not above $382,000.
Then we were told that if we built a single
mile of railway we would be ruined. Now we
had a revenue of nearly a million and a half of
dollars, derived from the same sources. We had
built railways, devoted large sums to education, roads and bridges, and other great
public
improvements, and yet the people were not oppressed with taxation, but were less burdened
than any other country in the world. He did not
expect, however ever to find the hon. member
for Yarmouth satisfied; it was his privilege to
find fault with all Governments. The Government had only done their duty in redeeming
the pledge they had given to the people of the
West. He was unable to see on what ground
some hon. members argued that the construction of the Annapolis Railway would burden
the local revenue. Mere assertion, however,
amounted to nothing, and that was all the hon.
gentleman and his friends indulged in.
Mr. ANNAND said that his hon. friend had
attempted to prove too much. If our revenue
had more than trebled since 1850, it proved that
Nova Scotia was now a prosperous country, and
that any change in our political condition was
unnecessary. We were to exchange this prosperous state of things for a union, under
which
we would hand over our revenues to Canada,
and only get back a paltry sum in return. He
was also quite prepared to prove by figures that
if we were left in the possession of our revenues
we would soon be in a position to extend our
railways both to Yarmouth and the Gut of
Canso.
Hon. FIN. SECRETARY said that he would suggest to the hon. member the advisability of taking into consideration
the possibility of the present Government having control of the revenues.
The House remembered that, under the financial management of the hon. gentleman, the
Province went backward to the tune of many
thousand dollars a year, whereas the revenue
went up the moment he and his friends were out
of power. It would be therefore necessary for
the hon. member, in making hypothetical assertions as to the revenues and what could
be done
with them, to take into consideration who would
have charge of them. Everybody, in the most
remote settlements, always expected to find the
hon. member for Yarmouth bringing something
about railways into every speech he may make.
When the hon. member asked for information
respecting the financial position of the Province,
he was quite aware that he had every paper under his hand requisite for his purpose.
He did
not wonder at the assertions of the hon. member
for Shelburne (Mr Coffin) who could not be expected to be so well informed on such
subjects
as the hon. member for Yaimouth. When the
hon. member for Shelburne declared that we
would enter the Confederation with a debt of
$9,000,000, he did it for merely electioneering
purposes, and without anything whatever to sustain him. He was quite gratified, however,
at
the arguments adduced by gentlemen opposite,
for they clearly proved that they had really no
substantial reason for finding fault with the
course pursued by the Government.
Mr. HATFIELD said it was the duty of every
body to express his opinion on a subject of such
great importance.
Dr. HAMILTON said that he had watched with
much surprise the course pursued by a certain
public journal, and a certain party in this country in reference to this railway.
It was now ,
however, settled despite all the prognostications
of the opposition, that Kings and Annapolis
would have the railway, owing to the strenuous
exertions of the Government. He thought that
the railway had been surveyed through the
wrong route in the county of Kings. He was
quite satisfied, however, to know that we were
to have the road at last constructed. He didn't
attach any importance to the figures which
some gentlemen were so fond of adducing on
every possible occasion. It was well known
that figures could be twisted in any shape one
chose. It was urged many years ago, the Province was not in a position to build railways
116
DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS
and yet she had done so without burthening the
people to any large extent. Our revenues were
increasing, and the country generally was prosperous. As this prosperity increased,
the funds
at our diposal would grow larger. Under all
the circumstances he believed that there was no
reason for the fears entertained by some gentlemen; they were either chimeras of the
imagination or got up for electioneering purposes.
The bill then passed through committee.
The House then adjourned.
Cet individu a participé aux :
