Official Report of Debates, House of Commons Volume 84 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...no Minister of Public Works to attend to the matter. That being the case, the government should insist, before we proceed any further, that the equitable rights of these parties who got a charter two or three years ago should not be lost sight of. Further than that, it seems to me that when two parties are-seeking to control this river, it is important that their actions and applications should be reported before we deal with this matter in this House. It is an every day occurrence that we renew charters where the parties cannot give one single ground of excuse for not having proceeded with and carried out their Act of Incorporation. Parties come back year after year, after five, ten, or even twenty years have elapsed from the time of their incorporation, and, on the most flimsy excuses, or, sometimes, even without even the most flimsy excuses, they get their time extended. Notably, this session, we are extending charters almost on sight. Because, of course, we recognize the financial stringency that, perhaps, prevents the parties from putting their charters in operation at this time even more than under ordinary conditions. At all events, we have the fact that, only two years ago, we incorporated a company, and they immediately put their engineer at work, who devoted his time, and, within six months completed his surveys, so that they were in a position to lay before the Minister of Public Works their plans. Before these, couldi be considered by the Public Works Department, the charter limit expired. I submit-that we ought not, at this time, to proceed against the interests of thnt Company, without having their rights, at all events, considered by the Private Bills Committee and ultimately by the House. I have no interest in this matter. Or, if I have any ...