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[Addressing the Throne Speech and Public Revenue], 6th Parliament 2nd Session, p. 5

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DO AWAY WITH THE YETO would be even better than that proposed, but this change was proposed as being immensely better than the present plan, as one fwhich' would result in good. They knew | the principles which guidea the Tinperial au-- | thorities in the matter of Colonial legislation-- non--interference as far as possivle, But there was _ no means of knowing on what principle the Dominion authorities would proceed. Sir John Macdonald had stated the principles as he understood them early in Confedera-- tion, _ but, when it _ became _ neces-- sary for party or other reasous to depart from them, {:o did so. So far as constitutional grounds were concerned, there was no reason why cither the Dominion or Imperial authori-- ties should veto Provincial legislation. Those matters ought to be decided by the Courts. | The Dominion Governinent mighs be influenced ; by considerations different from what ought to , influence them, and the Courts were therefore the _ only _ true appoal. The _ veto should not be _ exercised becauso the ' Act in question was uncoustitutional, _ but because it was objectionable on other grounds. They did not like to trust the Do-- minion Governinent, and if the power must rest somewhere they preferred that it should rest with the Impeorial Governinent, whose priaciple in dealing with such matiers was well understood. The hou. gentieman had spoken of legislation regarding financial re-- arrangement being especially objectionable. _ What the people of Ontario complained of was that from time to time grants were made to \ tho Provinces. They desired _ that there should be some finality in the matter, and that an arrangement shouid be made which would hold once for all beyond the power of the Dominion Parliament to change it. SFeaking generally of the Inter--Provincial Conference, the hou. gentlieman said the object was to gain political capital. 'The manifest object from the first was to repres was in tive oi AYOoID PARTY POLITICS to make it a conference in which all should be represented. Sir John Macdonald himselt wasinvited to attend and and the representa-- tive of the Provinces. British Columbia and Prince -- Edward -- Island had Conservative Governments and their representatives were invited,. The representative of the Manitoba Couservative was invited and attonded. $ Government would not have dared to take the Positiou they did in denying Ontario's claims. The hon. gentleman said he was against tinker-- ing with the tariff as soon as difficulty was found. But surely twenty years was a good time to wait for difficulties to present them-- selves, aund it would hardly be denied that there were difficulties which should be remedied. This House could not change the Constitution, but it could express an opinion as to any changes it was deemed desirable to make,. He ventured to say that the changes asked for were acceptable to the Liberal party as well as to a majority of the hou. gentleman's own friends, though for party reasons hemight say they were not. He (Mr. Mowat) quite agreed with the hon. member that a change which would Mr. MEREDITH.--And he had a sore head. ) _ Mr, MOWAT, continurag, pointed out that | New Brunswick had a Coofiti?m Govo':';mtent. and its representatives were there with the representatives of the Liberal Governments of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. 'The hon. gentleman found fault that no resolution con-- coruing 'Temperance had been passed, and seemed to think that had it been done the pre-- sont Provincial Government would have been overthrown. Was that the reason why the hon. gentleman desired it? (Loud laughter.) It | would be absurd to expect resolutions to be | adopted by the Conference uniess they were adopted _ unanimously. The hon. gentle-- 1 man objected to the appointment of a Minister ' of Agriculture and suggested the reduction of the number of Ministers, In this the hon. | gentleman showed that he was ignorant of the ga.cts. The work had grown so that six Min-- isters could not do it justice. -- The appointment of another was the sugges-- tion of the Commissioner of -- Agriculture (Hon. A. M. Ross) himseli. 'The work had been well done in the past, but with an abie mau giving his whole nttex'fiiou to the subject of agricuiture, doubtless matters would sug» gest themselves to him which would not sug-- gest themselves to one who had the duties of | another office pressing upon him. As to the claim of credit for the _ sugges-- | tion of manhood suffrage, the Govern-- ment had been widening the franchise as they thought public sentiment was ready for it. To go faster than that would not be right or wise. The hon. gentleman had himself voted for manhood sullrage on one occasion, and whatever credit was due him,he should certainly have, but no credit was due to his party. It had been his (Mr, Mowat's) practice always _ to accept _ a _ good _ sugges-- tion, no matter from _ what source It -- came, _ and if : >'% good _ idea ever did strike gentlemen opposite he was al-- ways ready to adaopt it. (Cheers and laughter.) He closed by again referring to the fact that the Leader of the Opposition had suggested neither addition to nor eliminatious from the speech, )Loud cheers. s wog l cpeeitubneiiiiie hoi 4: Aclis: td ntatate®? The resolution for the address was carried, the customary form was gone through and the address adopted. The House adjourned at ten minutes to siz. NOTICES OF MOTION. Hon,. Mr. Mowat, on Tuesday next--Select committee to strike the standing committees ordered by this House. Also on Wednesday next--Select committee to assist the Speaker in the care of the library. Also, bill respecting ancillary probates and letters of administration. Also, bill respecting the franchise. Also, bill respecting friendly societies. Also, bill respecting a Minister of Agricul-- ture. Also, bill to confirm Revised Statutes of 1887 and the Consolidated Orders, 1887. Also, bill respecting alimony in certain cases. Also, bill respecting an arbitration with the Province of Quebec. fance" _ Mr. Wood V(H'as'tiixgs), on Tuesday next-- Bill to amend the Act to protect cheese and butter manufacturers. -- _ pasloi *A : _ Mr. Nairn--Bill -r-e;pecting conditional sales of chattels. Mr. MOWAT, continu':

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