THE GRAIN EXCHANGE AGAIN 121 



Hon. R. P. Roblin it became the duty of the Acting 

 Premier to make it. Hon. Robert Rogers, then Minister 

 of Public Works in the Manitoba Government, was the 

 official head of the Government in the Premier's absence 

 and in the Winnipeg Telegram of April 4th, 1907, the 

 statement appeared as follows : 



" The action of the Council of the Winnipeg Grain 

 Exchange in refusing trading privileges to the Grain 

 Growers' Grain Company is regarded by the Government aa 

 an arbitrary exercise of the powers conferred upon them 

 (the Exchange) through their charter from toe 



Assembly of Manitoba, and unless remedied !>y the Exchange, 

 the Government will call the Legislature' Together daring the 

 present mont!rfoT--tnfl purpose Of remedying 

 by Legislative '' 



On April 15th the farmers' trading company was 

 admitted once more to the full privileges of their seat 

 on the Exchange. 



The case against the three members of the Grain 

 Exchange, who had been indicted under Section 498 of 

 the Criminal Code, came to trial in the Assize Court a 

 week later, on April 22nd, before Judge Phippen. It 

 was now a matter for Crown prosecution and under 

 direction of the Attorney-General, R. A. Bonnar, K.C., 

 proceeded vigorously. The Grain Growers claimed that 

 the Exchange had rules and regulations which had been 

 carried out in restraint of trade and that in combina- 

 tion with the North-West Grain Dealers' Association 

 there had been a practice of restricting the price to be 

 paid for grain to certain daily figures, sent out by the 

 parties conspiring. 



Also, they expected to show that there had been a 

 combine in existence between the elevator companies 

 so that there wan no eoin;>etiti(ii in tho tuying of grain 

 at certain points while there was an agreement that 



