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Tous l«s autrea •xempiairaa origiriaux sont filmte an commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une ampreinte d'impreeeion ou d'illuatration et en terminant par ia darniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dea symbolea suivants apparaitra sur la damlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le caa: le symbols — ^ signif a "A SUIVRE ', le symboie V signifie "FIN". Lee cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent §tre filmte A das taux de rMuction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre raproduit en un seu: clichA. il est fiirn^ i partir de I'angia sup^rieur gauche, de gauche k droite, at de haut an oaa. en pranant la nombre d'Images nteessaire. Lea diagrammes suivants iliustrant la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ill i SPEECH ON THE BUDGET DBUVEEBD BY HON. J. G. ROBERTSON Tebasuebr of the Province of Quebec. LEGISLSTIYE ASSEMBLY QUEBEC, MAY 7, 1886. r GAZETTE PRINTING CO., MONTREAI^ 1886 ^^mm^^^^ f Jl / SPEECH ON THE BUDGET DBLIVEREH) BY HON. J.G.ROBERTSON Treasurer of the Province of Quebec. h'J LEGISLSTIYE ASSEMBLY QUEBEC, MAY 7, 1886. GAZETTE PRINTING CO., MONTREAL. 1886 ^w SPEECH ON THE BUDGET DELIVERED BY HON. J. G. ROBERTSON, TREASURER OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, QUEBEC, MAY t, 1886. - In the Legislative Assembly this afternoon, after routine, Pro- vincial Treasurer Eobertson rose to deliver the budget speech. He said : — Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to move, seconded by Hon. Mr. Tail- Ion, that you do now leave the chair and that the house form it- self into committee of supply, in presenting this motion, Mr. Speaker, I do it, feeling— from the state of my health— unable to do justice to the matters in detail which the motion includes and which the house usually expects on such an occasion. I feel sure I have no need to bespeak the indulgence of the honorable mem- bers of this house, under present circumstances, and that the uni- form courtesy and consideration which I have always received from my honorable colleagues in the house will be extended to me on the present occasion. T hope, when in committee, to be able to give satisfactory explanations upon the amounts asked for, and the purposes to which the sums voted by the house will be applied. Before proceeding to consider the estimated receipts and expenditure for the coming fiscal year I have had prepared a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the past year end- ing 30th June last, separating what may be considered ordinary noimal receipts from proceeds of loans, trust funds, etc., on the one hand, and common ordinary expenditure, from extraordinary expenditure, such as on railways, public buildings, etc., on the other : and I am happy to inform the house that our ORDINARY RECEIPTS EXCEEDED OUR ORDINARY EXPENDITURE by some $24,950, and it is to bo taken into account that the Dominion Government did not pay us 863,618.67, upon the in- terest due the province on the railway grants mode two years since, under the misapprehension that the interest only com- menced from the date of the ordor-in-council, instead of from the passing of the act. Last session, in summing up the ordinary business of the year previous, I remarked that " the difference between ordinary usual receipts, and ordinary usual expenditure would seem to be $240,000, a considerable reduction on former years, and a step in the right direction." Last year, as I have said, so far from having any deficiency, we have an actual sur- plus, small, it is true, but as compared with former years when the deficiencies ranged all the way from $200,000 to twice that amount, I think the Province is to be congratulated upon the change which has been brought about, and I hope we may here- after, with prudence and economy, soon find our finances in a sar tisfactory condition. Had we received what was due from the Dominion last year we would have had $78,568.71 to the good, and I have no doubt we will receive the amount during this yeai-, and advices from Ottawa have been received to that effect. What I mean to say, and do say, is that upon our ordinary usual receipts and expenditure, the former exceed the latter by the sum I have mentioned, not including extraordinary receipts and extra- ordinary payments, the former from loans, etc., and the latter on capital account. (Cheers.) Some of our newspapers have been trying to make it appear that there was no surplus last year, because TEMPORARY LOANS exceeded what had been paid thereon, but the parties overlooked or,— what is more probable, did not know— that no part of the 1 i a 1 » < t • 6 temporary loans was included amongst the usual ordinary re- ceipts on the one side, or among the ordinary usual payments on the other, but those loans and payments were classified with what belongs practically to capital account, that is, that wo have some tangible asset, the product of the loans, to show for the ex- penditure; the Province being liable during the currency of the loans to payment only of interest, until the maturity of the loans made, whether temporary or permanent. To proceed in the way these pi'etended financiers propose — by placing temporary loans as ordinary revenue — it would be easy in any one year to show a surplus, larger or smaller, by borrowing money sufficient to place the receipts over the expenditure, and the surjjlus thus obtained would be a false surplus, large or small, corresponding with the amount borrowed. In other words, if temporary loans were considered as ordinary revenue, by borrowing a sum suffi- cient and placing it among the receipts, we could, notwith- standing a real deficiency, make it appear that our receipts ex- ceeded the expenditure and shew a seeming surplus in any year's transactions ; whereas, by the statement I submit to the house, placing our ordinary revenue on the one side of the account as re- ceipts, and placing on the other among, payments, thoc made for oi'dinary usual purposes of the public service, discarding tempo- rary and permanent loans from the ordinary receipts and pay- ments account, we can see at a glance whether our ordinary re- ceipts exceed our ordinary expenditure, or otherwise, as the case may be. On this principle I maintain we had an excess of or- dinary receipts last year over ordinary expenditure, as I have mentioned. (Cheers.) Others say the amount received from THE iMUNIOIPAL LOAN FUND should not be treated as ordinary revenue, but I fail to see why a receipt from this source should not be treated the same as if a tax was laid for any purpose, which, when collected, would ba applied to ordinary expenditure, and why receipts from this source should not be treated as say receipts from crown lands, the pro- 2 16 Interest on prito, il M. O. & ( ). Railway 374,539 36 Kefunda, including refunds on account of traffic oxiwnses Q. M. 0. & O. Railway 8,687 28 Premium, discount and exchange 1,355 12 Common ordinary revenue $2,962,806 99 Trust funds, marriage licenaon, interest ou R. C. Sup. Educa- tion deposit, etc 8,155 48 Teachers' Pension Fund contributions 20,512 65 Repayments of advances 4,500 00 Quebec Court house debentures sold 150,000 00 Refund on construction a count Q. M. 0. caP- 8 $2,394,000 00 Special deposits 1,000,000 00 Cash in banks 265,481 56 Cost of the Jacques Carder school, Montreal, to be repaid from sale of property in Montreal 133 343 02 Quebec Court House debentures to be issued 50 000 00 Loans and amounts due by Province of Ontario 147 970 OO City of Montreal— Subscription to Hull bridge 50 000 00 City of Montreal— Difference between $132,000 and cost of lands expropriated between Dalhousie square and Hochelaga 75,226 96 Dominion of Canada — Interest on capitalized railway sub- sidies from April 19, 1884, to October 1, 1884 53,618 67 $11,774,645 21 Leaving a balance of liabilities over assets at June 30, 1885, of $8,815,430 51 It will be noticed that notwithstanding we reduced our funded debt outstanding by upwards of 050,000 during last year, that the balance of debt is a little larger than per last statement, occa- sioned by the increased estimate of the cost of completing the Parliament buildings and Quebec Court House, and the furnish- ing of these buildings, but I thought it better to give the figures large enough to fully complete these buildings, furnishing and heating, for which no estimate was previously given. I have added also to liabilities the amount of contributions made towards the Teachers' Pension fund with interest up to July 1st, 1885, which increases the amount by some $8*7,000, which the Province is bound to pay when the pensions fall due. It will be in the re- collection of honorable members, that last year I DID NOT PUT AMONG OUR ASSETS available for payment of our funded debt $2,549,213.61, the capital and interest upon what was withheld from the Province by the 16 Dominion between 1867 and 1873, when the DommionaBSumed thesa,-plusdebtoftheoldP.-ovinceofOanaaaove.-the»62,500 000 assigned the Dominion in the Confederation Act of 1867. I have been found fault with by some because I did -t at o„ce tal.e credit for the amount mentioned as so much m deduction of the Ced debt of the province, inasmuch as the Dominion became bound to pay the same to this Province, but, Mr. Speaker, am etm of the opinion that as the Dominion Government are obliged pay only the interest at 5 per cent, annually upon the sum mentioned, K more properly should be treated as annual revenue Td not tr;ated as so much capital at our command as we have no control over the latter, but have upon the annual 'nt»™^t ^«- ceivable from year to year. I f-^.'^ -•'■'?;^8';tt213 01 be mistaken in my views on the application of the ((2,5+9,213.01 ref'-^'cd to, and it is urged in support of the other view that it should be placed amongst our assets in reduction of our deb ,b- cause when our loans fall due there is no question but the Do- mTnTon would rather pay us theprincipal than pay interest at 6 per Tent, on the amount, when the Dominion can borrow money at \ per cent, or less. And besides that, if we did not receive the principal sum named and it was retained by the Dominion, we !ould easily make a new loan and save at least 1 per cent per annum interest by borrowing at 4 per cent, and receiving from IZminion 6 per cent, per annum. If the opinion expressed as to the application of the amount is correct and I »» .^'■™g- and this is quite possible-it would reduce our liabilities o «6 266,217.50 instead of «8,815,430.51, a consummation devou y to be Wished. In either case the statement I consider eminently satisfactory. (Cheers.) Honorable membei'S wdl notice that amongst our assets the DEPOSIT IN THE EXCHANGE BANK is put down at the full amount. Since the beginning of the cur- rent year we have received on account $3t>500, and it is uncer- tain how much more we may receive in the futui-e, and I could not alter the figures till the matter was closed. As the funds in V 16 this bank formed part of the principal of the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa & Occidental Railway, should any lona occur, it must be made good out of the Consolidated Eevonue Fund, so as to keep good the amount appropriated as Sinking Fund on part of our loans. As to the Jacques Cartier Bank, I considered it right to place the whole amount as an asset, as before. We do not and cannot agree with the pretensions of the bank officers, and means will be taken to arrange this matter as soon as possible. It was remarked in the House, the other day, that the success of the Province with respect to the license question before the Privy Council was to be attributed solely to the efforts of the Province of Ontario, and that our Province had little or nothing to do with the success of the Provinces. This statement I do not agree with, and may have something to say about it by and by ; but one thing is indisputable, and that is, that the assumption of the surplus debt of the late Province of Canada by the Dominion, whereby Ontario and Quebec were relieved from nearly $11,000 - 000 debt, was obtained by our Province against the action of Ontario— and consequent upon this, the large amount thus added to Ontario and Quebec revenne, year by year, was brought about by the Province of Quebec, notwithstanding the opposition of Ontario, although our sister Province benefitted more largely by our action than we did. (Cheers.) I have no fault to find because Ontario received larger benefits from our efforts— at the same time I do not like to have the efforts of our Province over- looked, or treated as if we did little or nothing towards asserting provincial rights ^s henever we consider them infringed upon by the Dominion authorities or any other. We frequently hear from speeches on the hustings of the large debt of the Province of Quebec, and the amount is stated to be from $20,000,000 to $25,000,000 ; but certain parties who seem to take delight in run- ning down our province, in every way possible, by magnifying our liabilities and throwing discredit on the acts of our public men and imputing motives anything but creditable to them, in most cases forget to give our assets in reduction of oui' debt. 17 A otANCE AT OtTS ASiSTS Should convince any reasonnMo man timf H and available to meet part of T.f , 7"™I""''"''«"^'good tl.orefo,.einfi.ofecl„coou doLh "' ""''"' "">» "ue, and that the efforts of eertain "rtt ^o "° '"'"\ ' ""• ''"1'?^ '° »7 ^ince, have little or no effect in « 1 '"""'" ""'^" '"' ""■• P™ debentures are held, n.Z'„ f T "f ""'""" '^'«'™ mo.,t of our Ket, of Europe, if .io^ larsot 'l™'" '" "'" """"^ ■»»" campaign i„ «„■, p,^; ™ ^»"e tempora,y effect in election taken into aeeount, its 'el't vllt ' ™''* '^™^™ ""»■"" « ™ich have been bu It by ™ea„Jof „ """""^'eially, the railways -".ce. and the increased vaTue of J,;?;" '"™" "' "'" P™' way expenditure, and look at our C» ? ^ ""'^V^'"'^ "n the rail, buildings, a credit to anyeounfv 3' "';■""" ^"'•"""■""'-■y ■ncreased for those imZiZtl,', 1 T^"' """ »■»• ''obt was b-nineluded amo„gst?h tetfof 'tirP™ '■""^ "^ *'>'»'> "o™ submitted, the man who consTder, t IP ' '" 'he statement financially, is possessed of'^t' I, '"'' '" " ''"' Po™""" Which I confess 1 cannot «nd« o^ """'"'""^^ organization 8U-, """'«"«'and or sympathize With. Why, WITH ANrTHWO LIKE P8UDENCE ^^:^t:TX^J:^'fT'' '» *» --tionof our - reason why thl Xv c 'r:tr ""'• f^" '» envy in any other part of this 6anad,T '"'" ^""^^^ ""'"»« "> course, understood by hono™ hi. \ ""• ('^^^^'^^»-) It is, of .■ceeipts and OKpenditure " "'"'""•^ ""«* ">e statcnont of FOR THE OUEEENT YEAR *;:;rs:;^r;:srxf;^^^^ ^-^ - '"^ -se of the with but few receipts and at otC "f'"""'""'' '« very large and the e^^penditt .e'cTilt:/:-? ^^^^^r ''''' 2 x- J' Huidii, and it is only at the I 18 close of the year wo can ascertain how the accounts stand. At the same time it will bo gratifying to the House when I say that for tho period of the fiHcal year already pasHod, our ordinary usual revenue exceeds the ordinary u.sual expenditure. I now come to the CHlimatod receipts and expenditure for the next fiscal year, made up as near as possible of what revenue is expected, and the proposed expenditure. These estimates are, of course, liable to error, as it is impossible to judge accurately of what is future, but I present them, feeling confident the results will not vary very much from what is anticipated, either as to receipts or expenditure. (Cheers.j THE ESTIMATED RECEIPTS FOR 188G-8t vary but little from year to year, and might be given in one sum, but by giving them in detail, a comparison can be made of any changes from year to year, and the actual receipts can be com- pared with the estimated to show whether the anticipated revenue is realized or not. The first and principal item is ; — Dominion of Canada, subsidy under Confederation Act. . • . $ 889,252 80 Allowance for Government under Confederation Act 70,000 00 Additional subsidy, under Act of 1884 127,460 68 Interest on grant for Q. M. O. & 0. Railway 119,700 00 Interest on trust funds 55,459 32 Making in all from the Dominion $1,261,872 80 Then from Ontario there is : Interest on collections on account of Common School Lands in Ontario 30,000 00 and License Duties which I have estimated at 275,000 00 which will, I think, be realized. Had it been possible I would have introduced A NEW LICENSE ACT this session, but the short time which elapsed after receiving the judgment of the Privy Council establishing the rights of the Pro- vinces to control licenses and the meeting of the House, and other circumstances, prevented me from attempting to consolidate our 19 present Acts on this subject at the present session. It Is import- ant when a change in the law is made to have the new law us perfect and complete as possible, and to do this will require a good deal of time and much labor. There are many clauses in the Dominion Act, which were disallowed by the Privy Council, which should be incorporated into the Provincial ^ct and arranged in such a way as to fit into our Act and make it as complete as pos- sible. Personally I am inclined to think that in cities, and large towns especially, the number of licenses should be diminished for the sale of spirituous liquors and the price increased upon those who obtain licenses. It is also a serious question whether the sale of these liquors in groceries should not be prohibited, and some better provision is required for so-called restaurants, which, in many cases, are mere drinking saloons and not places where travellers can obtain meals when required. (Cheers.) I received information respecting the argument before the Privy Council in England, as to the part taken by Quebec before that Tribunal, to the effect that the factum of our solicitor was a complete vindica- tion of provincial rights, and was listened to by the honorable judges and quoted from in giving their decision. On the other side it was not thought that our solicitors were behind in their advocacy ofprovincial rights, and I consider their statement of cm- case in the factum produced as creditable to them and advan- tageous to the provinces. The PASSAGE ^P THE SCOTT ACT in so many counties will possibly curtail the issue of licenses by us. Personally I have no objection to its adoption, if proper means were used to enforce it, but in many places I fear the quan- tity of liquor sold is not much diminished from what it was form- erly, and for us unfortunately our officers cannot enforce our law for the illicit sale of liquors, and while we lose revenue by the adoption of the Scott Act, the evils it was intended to prevent in many localities seem as bad as before its adoption. I have endeavored to induce the Dominion authorities to amend the Scott Act in such a way as to allow provincial officers to prose- 20 euto ortomloi-H against our law in countios wlioro the Scott Act is in force, the Hamo as if it was not in operation. I am not uwaro what success will attend my etlbrts. (Cheers.) CROWN LANDS. The estimate from this source in the various branches I have placed on the report of that Department at $700,000. I am satis- tioi that this sum and more will be received from this source. The price of lumber is advancin*^- and the demand, I understand, is increasing, which will doubtless increase our receipts consider- ably. The next item is I I ADMINISTRATION Of JUSTICE. The items of this source of revenue are as follows: — Law-stamps $175,000 00 Eegistration stamps jg qqq qq Law fees, exclusive of stamps 7 500 00 Building and jury fund i^qoo 00 Maintenance of i)risoner8 iq 000 00 Houee of Correction, Montreal 5000 00 Jail guards 4^000 00 High ('onstable's fees, Quebec 1 000 00 ^''^"^s liooooo Montreal Court house 5 qqq qq Making in all for Justice $ 238,500 00 These items, I have every reason to believe, will be found with- in the mark on the whole, and the estimate will be realized. Public ofHcers: percentage on their fees, $6,000.00; per- centage on fees for registration of renewal of mortgages. jm^-^0 ^ 700,00 Legislation, fees on private bills ^ oqo 00 Official Gazette, from estimate of Queen's prir i ■ • 20^750 00 Lunatic asylums, from municipalities and paying patients.. . 35,000 00 This item will, I think, be realized if anything like what is due 21 ami coining duo is colloctod. As time passes on all newentrie. in .0 usylu.n involve payment l.y municipalities of half the cost of the.kecp of patients, and I .nn sorry to nay (hat the.e is groat indisposition on the part of «omo localities to contribute their share of the expense of keeping the poor unfortunate individuals fro . I their own municipalities who are deprived of their reason and t ns is more strange, as the cost of keeping them at home would he more onerous to the poo,)le, than what they have to contribute in the asylumN of the province. (Cheers.) Rents of public buildings, I estimate at « i n/.n Casutd rovonue * ^'''^^" Pension fund contributions ..... . .'.".'." .",', H?J Interest on deiwsits, judicial and otherwise. . .!*.'.*. . .'. -innc^n Quebec Fire loan "*"'""" Interest on price of Q. M. 0. & 0. R'y q7r a!n Municipal Loan fund :.•.■.■.•.•.;•.:.•.•.•.*.•; foi^ol I must acknowledge that I did not realize as much from the Mu- nicipal Loan fund as I anticipated, but municipalities have been notified that arrangements must bo made to close up their ac- counts and more disposition is beginning to be expressed for set- tleinent than heretofore. The repayments on loans to ^eauport *4,DUU. Ihose estimates foot up the sum of $3,093,622.80. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. Before proceeding to the expenditure of the current year I beg to lay certain supplementary estimates of amounts required to complete the present financial year, either to provide for insuffl cient appropriations or for services which could not be foreseen the whole amounting to $50,501.17 ; the items consist of: Legislation— Salaries and contingent expenses.including printing, binding, etc ^,^, Civil government-Salaries (this is an increase) as per '' order-in-council, submitted to the house some days since Administration of justice-Administration of justice '^ ^^ P'°^^ $8,000 -23,000 00 1,500 00 2,000 00 22 Reformatory prisons for boys 15,000- Agriculture — French Veterinary school Public works and buildings — Towards permanent in- stallation of both houses of the Legislature Miscellaneous services— Help to distressed people of Bonaventure and Gaspe 2,000 Central Board of Health 4,000 Eegistration service— ( 'rown lands 5,000 11,000 00 Railways— Inspection of railways for years 1883, 1884, 1885, and part of 1886 850 00 $50,561 17 EXPENDITURE FOR 1886-87. I now come to the expenditure proposed for the year beginning July 1st, 188G. It will be observed that in making a comparison of the proposed expenditure for next fiscal year, as against the appropriations made for the current year, I have included amongst the latter the supplementary estimates of last Session and also the Supplementary estimates introduced at this session to cover want of appropriation made last session for several services. For legislation the amount of appropriation for next year is $212,100, of which requires to be voted $152,645, and already voted $60,065, showing an increase of $25,198.83 in this service. To account for this increase, it should be borne in mind that provision has to be made for expenses of elections which will take place during next year. For civil government the amount required is $183,920, of which requires to be voted $44,420, and previously voted $139,500, as against this year's appropriation of $188,275, showing $4,355 less than voted last session for the current year. (Cheers.) It is quite probable that I may ask in the supjilementary estimates a sum additional to that mentioned in the estimates submitted, as additional help is needed in some of the departments, and I hope the time is not far distant when a revision of the salaries of employes will be made and in some cases an additional amount added to such as are entitled to it in consequence of services rendered. The next item is under th a head Justice,including police,reformatoi-y prisons and school8,indu8trial 23 islal tl";'"''""- ""'' '"^"'^^ ^'^^^"^'^^^ ^- ^^- --ice lessened until the Dominion Parliament amends the criminal law a matter already laid before the Dominion Government for theii- consideration. There requires to be voted $457,360 48 and ah-eady voted ^8,400, making in all $465,76* 48/ as against appi^priated for this year the sum of $484,28^.48, shLing $18 524 less than this year. It will be noticed by hon. members that . have included, for next year, industrial and reforma- tory schools whic.h heretofore were included among general chanties, and will this year and hereafter appear under the head of Justice and not among Charities, as was the expressed wish of the House last session. The expenses of Justice are very large and press heavily upon provincial funds, much more so than in any other Province of the Dominion where the municipalities have to expend out of municipal funds towards the cost of build- ing and repairs of court houses and jails and the expenses of criminal prosecutions and maintenance of prisoners, which come in this Province principally out of provincial funds direct. Then we come to Public Instruction, literary and scientific institutions arts and manufactures, the amount asked for which combined services is $362,585, against $366,785 for this year-a dimi- nution of $4,200. The appropriations for Superior Education »78,410, and for Common schools $160,000 ; schools in poor muni- cipalities, $6,000; Normal schools, $42,000, and for School Inspec- tors, are the same as formerly. Some grants to other institutions lapse, and further provision must be made for the Board of Health than thevoteoflasc session, which reduces the amount on the whole services mentioned. Then we come to agricultnre, immi- gration, repatriation and colonization. The amount asked for these services is $164,315, of which $106,315 requires to be voted, $58,000 being previously appropriated. Last session the amount appropriated was $280,003.74, a difference in favor of next year of $115,688.74. This, however, includes the special grant for • Colonization roads. The grant to Agricultural Societies, $50,000, is the same as before and the usual ordinary grant of $70,000 24 for Colonization roads and to Colonization Societies $5,000. On Immigration and Repatriation $2,000 less; the other grantg are pretty much as usual. It will be noticed that in the grants last session, $100,000 was special to Colonization roads, not expected to be paid out of ordinary revenue but applicable to capital account, so that, aside from that special grant, with the special grant to come up in the sujiplementary estimate this session, the difference is only $15,688.74 less for next year than for nis year. Then for public works and buildings, the amount required is $204,115.76, and requires to be voted tn full, as against $309,889, voted for the current year. The usual item,' Eents and repairs of Public Buildings generally, is put at $54,889^ the details of which, as well as details on all the services men- tioned, aj-e given in pamphlet form to the House for reference. The cost of completing Parliament Buildings is placed at $54,420, of which $4,000 is a re-vote, and of Quebec Court House at $73,'70o' of which $14,000 is a re-vote. The Quebec Court House, including heating apparatus and furniture, will exceed the first estimate's largely, caused by the changes in the plans since the contract was given, in order to make the building fire-proof ; at least $100,000, beyond the debentures chargeable to the district of Quebec,' will be required to fully complete the building, vaults, heating and furniture. There is $105,773.24 less than voted for this year now asked for. The next item is charities— For lunatics proper at Beauport, St. Jean de Dieu, and St. Ferdinand d'llalifax, $230,000 is required, and for miscellaneous charities, $37,776, in all $267,- 776, all of which require to be voted, the same as last year. Mis- cellaneous services include Crown Lands expenditure, Pension fund, Quebec Official Gazette, stamps and licenses, and miscella- neous generally, requiring $200,811, of which requires to be voted ^185,811, and already voted $15,000, being $29,827.40 less than appropriated for the cui'rent year. Next we come to public debt. The amount of interest and sinking fund upon our public debt is put down at $1,005,820.31, being an increase of some $20,000 more than last session. I thought it better to jjrovide for interest, if need be, for temporary loans for the coming year. The next item •V! « 1 25 is Railway Expenditure. The amount expected to be requii-ed for railway purposes is $284,000, of which requires to be voted $34,- €00, and already appropriated $250,000. As I have already said, it 18 impossible to make a correct estimate of what may be re- quired for railway purposes, as we do not know how many miles of subsidized railways will be built during the year, and the amount payable depending upon this, we can only be ready to meet the subsidies when earned. From what I have stated it would appear that I have estimated the receipts for the coming fiscal yea,, omitting $8,500 estimated to be repaid on account of loans to proprietors of asylums, at $3,085,122.80, and the pro- posed expenditure for the ordinaiy purposes of the Province at $2,939,693.55, showing a DIFFERENCE IN FAVOR OF THE ESTIMATED RECEIPTS of $145,429.25, but 1 am not to be understood as meaning that I expect so much surplus on the year's transactions, because there will bo supplementary estimates for ordinary expenditure brought in which will diminish the balance considerably. It will be noticed that the gross estimated expenditure of $3,351,813.55 includes $412,120 of extraordinary expenditure, viz., $284,000 for railway subsidies and Q., M., O. & O. claims; $54,420 for the Parliament Buildings and $73,700 for Quebec Court House, which are to be pro- vided for by loans, leaving the ordinary expenditure, "s I have said, at $2,939,693.55. This amount of extraordinary expenditure is not taken into account in making up the difference between amount of estimated receipts and common usual expenditure for the year. It will be noticed also that the legislation proposed by me pro- vides permanently for $2,394,000 on account of the sinking fund required for the balance of the loan of 1874, so that, although in the estimates submitted provision is made for the whole $30,854.67 for sinking fund as usual, $23,940, being provided for, will not require to be invested out of estimates submitted, and as the sink- ing fund expenditure does not require to be voted, the appearance of it in the estimates will not affect the accounts in any way. 26 In other words, the estimate for sinking fund of $30,854.67 mi^ht be reduced by $23,940, as that amount will be provided for, but it will make no difference in the application'of the Sinking Fund or in the statement of accounts at the end of the year. (Cheers.) THE COMING CONTEST. Mv. Speaker, before this House meets again, the electorate of the Province will have expressed an opinion upon the conduct of the present members of this House and their appreciation of the manner in which the business of the country has been carried on. It is not for me to express any opinion upon what the result of the general election will be, and it would be out of place for me to express an opinion on how the election contests should be con- ducted. Everyone must decide for himself, not only as to what side he will choose to support, but in what manner the contests shall be carried on. I have faith in the general intelligence of our people and of their desire to have our public affairs well administered. That there will be many changes in the personnel of the House we may reasonably look for, as former general elec- tions uniformly gave a similar result. On the people rests the responsibility of a proper choice of representatives. It is well that they should have an opportunity of expressing their views periodically at the polls upon those who represent them in the Legislature of the Province, and I ti-ust the wisdom of their choice will be exhibited in sending as our successors a class of men patriotic, intelligent, capable of understanding the wants of the country, and of legislating to meet these wants, and men who prefer and will support the real interests of the Province, irre- spective of the party lines which have hitherto too much divided our people. Canada, in common Avith many other countries, has had a time of commercial depression, but we have suflfered less than many other parts of the world, and I am pleased to say that things look much brighter than they have done during the years immediately preceding. We have every reason to look for increased prosperity in our Province and throughout the of $30,854.67 e provided for, f the Sinking [ of the year. ! electorate of the conduct of iciation of the ;en carried on. the result of place for me should be con- y as to what L" the contests ntelligence of c affairs well I the personnel ir general elec- 3ple rests the 3. It is well g their views them in the 3f their choice class of men wants of the nd men who *rovince, irre- much divided countries, has suflfered less ed to say that ing the years to look for oughout the 21 Dominion. The Government has tried to do what was possible, within our means, to assist in opening up our wild lands for settle- ment, by means of railways and colonization roads, aided and sustained as it has been by the honorable members of this House, which cannot fail in the future, as in the past, of further develop- ing our resources, inducing further improvements in agriculture, in its various branches, by causing the introduction of various kinds of new manufactures— by implanting in the minds of our people a desire for further progress in education of all kinds, literary and technical, moral and religious. I have every FAITH IN THE FUTURE PROSPERITY of our Province, as also in the prosperity of our Dominion. (Cheers). We have unlimited natural resources not yet developed to any great extent; and resources, not yet known or dreamed of, await exploration, examination and development, by means of capital properly invested, which cannot fail to benefit succeeding generations. Our fisheries are unlimited in extent, our coal mines in the east and west are just beginning to be known and appre- ciated and worked to advantage. Our gold and other mines are iu course of being opened, and in the near future, if properly worked, will give good returns for the capital and labor expended thereon. Our manufactures of various kinds have already as- sumed an importance which a few years since was not expected. Our railway communication in every part of the country has pro- gressed with a rapidity unexampled in any country in the world, taking our population and means into account. Our agricultural capabilities and resources are only beginning to be appreciated ; the raising of stock for use in our markets and for exportation, although assuming proportions creditable to our farmers, is only in its infancy. The manufacture of butter and cheese has increased wonderfully during the last few years, and is beginning to attract t .e notice of our agriculturists as to what may be done in these important branches of industry. Our commerce is extending to foreign countries to such an extent that Canada L .Ids no mean place in the commercial marine of the world. Our education is J 28 being extended in all its branches, and is becoming more and more appreciated by the poo])le. A few more words, Mr, Speaker, and I have done. The completion of 4 THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY will have a great influence in pi-omotlng the prosperity of the Dominion at large, -'n which our province cannot fail to partici- pate. When it is taken into account our comparatively sparse population, our comparatively limited resources, the vast territory traversed by the Canadian Pacific Eailway, from ocean to ocean, across this continent, and the completion of a work of that magni- tude in so short a time, it is certainl}^ wonderful how much has been accomplished. The countries of Europe cannot but feel that their descendants in Canada are worthy of their ancestry, and proud that, instead of deteriorating in this Canada of ours, their descendants are found equal to any emergency that may arise, and determined to extend civilization to the utmost, and to render permanent those free institutions which are the boast of those nations from which the people of Canada have sprung. (Hear, hear.) The Colonial Exhibition in London, at present in opera- tion, will have a tendency to show that Canada is not that cold, snowy, barren country, which some have supposed, and that the products of the soil, of manufactures, of education and of the fine arts, entitle Canada to assume a place amongst the most favored nations of the world, and worthy to stand side by side with the old countries of Europe as respects civilization, advancement in mental culture, of energy and entei-prise in every department of life, and- that even in the arts and sciences some of our people have nothing to fear in coming in contact with the savans of Eucope. (Hear, hear.) Our province will, I doubt not, do its share in the Colonial Exposition, as also the other Provinces of the Dominion, and will tend to attract settlers from Europe to our shores, and will show also that in as far as respects a comparison with oui- American cousins over the line, Canada fears no competition, and affords equal, if not superior, inducements to parties who wish and more akor, and by of the partici- [y si^ai'so territory to ocean, t magni- luch has feel that jtry, and rs, their ly arise, i-ender of those (Hear, n opera- hat cold, that the ' the fine fiivored .vith the tnent in ;ment of o\e have Europe, e in the 1 mill ion, res, and fith our ion, and 10 wish 29 to settle on the Western continent of America. In my last Budget Speech I remarked that " in this country we have peace and plenty in all our borders." I little thought at the time, that ere a few months elapsed, in our Western territories the TORCH OP REBELLION would be lighted and the people of the eastern provinces obliged to put down, by the strong hand, the outbreak in the West. I am not going to enter into the question of whether the rebellion in the West had any justitication or not. I merely allude to it, so as to express my humble testimony in favor of om* brave volun- teers who, at a moment's notice, at an inclement season of the year and without a moment's hesitation, offered themselves in defence of our country and who conducted themselves in the camp and on the battlefield equal to veteran soldiers and won not only the applause of their fellow-citizens, but commendation from old experienced soldiers and the thanks of the mother country, and well they desei'ved these tokens of recognition. (Cheers.) We regret the loss of many valuable lives ; we regret the loss of valuable time and property ; at the same time we have gained a knowledge of what our volunteers really are; that they are quick to respond to the call of duty ; that they are strong and hardy and amenable to discipline, alike on the field of battle as in the camp or on the march, that they have the stamina and constitu- tion to endure fatigue, not only without complaint, but with cheerfulness and gaiety — (hear, hear), — that all classes of our volunteers and of various nationalities are equally ready to defend their country or protect our free institutions against any and every foe, and, what is better, that when their public duty in defence of their country is over, they can and did return to their several avocations and show that in peace as well as war they are deserving of the respect, esteem and love of their fellow citizens. All honor then, I say, co our volunteers — men as well as officers, — all are enshrined in the hearts of our people, and we trust a like occasion for their services will not arise for many many years to come. (Cheers.) 80 THE IRISH SITUATION. The British Parliament and ])eople are now anxiously consider- ing and discussing most important measures affecting the pros- perity and happiness of many of our fellow citizens across the water. It is not my province to discuss these questions, but I may be allowed to express the hope that a practical, peaceful and amicable solution of the difficulties which are now agitating the public mind at home, may be arrived at in such a way as to pre- serve the unity of the Empire, to reconcile all difficulties existing amongst the people and produce and promote harmony from one end of the Empire to the other. I hope Mr. Speaker, I have not wearied you and my honorable colleagues in this House. In clos- ing may I be permitted to express the hope that whethei' here- after the members of this House occupy seats again here or not, we may each and all of us be found always ready to do our duty in whatever sphere we may occupy, public or private, so that when we follow the great majority over " that bourne from whence no traveller returns," it may be said of us individually that we did our duty towards oui- God, towards our country and towards our fellowmen. The hon. gentleman was frequently interrupted with applause, and on resuming his seat was greeted with prolonged cheers from all parts of the House. t i t