INTERNAL ELEVATORS 173 



subject of government control and operation of the 

 internal elevators as asked for by the Saskatchewan 

 Grain Growers' Association. 



Two days later, at the annual convention of the 

 Manitoba Grain Growers, Hon. George Coldwell 

 announced for the Manitoba Government thatfthey had 

 accepted the principle of establishing a line of internal 

 elevators as a public utility, owned bv the public and 

 operated for the public. So unexpectedly did this good 

 news come that the farmers were amazed at their own 

 success. They had fought for it long and earnestly and / 

 victory meant a very great deal ; but it had seemed still . . 

 beyond reach. ft p^ 



In the case of Manitoba it only remained now to get jf"^ 

 together and thresh out the details. A strong com-^ 

 mittee was appointed to conduct negotiations with the f 

 Government and there was prepared a memorandum of 

 the plan which the farmers recommended the Govern- 

 ment to follow. This was presented on January 

 5th, 1910. 



The Government and the Grain Growers then each 

 got ready a bill for consideration by the Legislature. 

 Many conferences took place. The Government refused 

 the farmers' bill and the farmers did not approve of 

 the Government's proposals. While leaving full 

 financial control in the hands of the Government, the 

 Grain Growers demanded that the operation of the 

 elevators be undertaken by an absolutely independent 

 commission without any political affiliations whatso- 

 ever; it was provided also that no officer of the Grain 

 Growers could act on this commission. The Govern- 

 ment did not deem it wise to let control of the 

 managing commission out of its hands. So negotiations 

 were broken off. 



