480 



NEW BRUNSWICK. 



Labillois; Members of the Council, L. P. Farris 

 and A. D. Richard. 



The new Government, like the preceding Blair 

 and Mitchell ministries, claimed to be a coalition 

 of Liberals and Conservatives; but the former so 

 predominated in its com position, and so controlled 

 its policy, that a long-expected revolt among pro- 

 vincial Conservatives took place, partly as a conse- 

 quence of gradually growing feeling, and partly 

 through the intervention of the Hon. G. E. Foster, 

 the local Conservative leader in federal politics. 

 On July 27 Mr. Foster came to Moncton and ad- 

 dressed a large gathering, at which the following 

 resolution was passed unanimously : 



"That in the opinion of this convention it is 

 desirable that at the approaching general local elec- 

 tion for the province of New Hrunswick we sup- 

 port candidates pledged to establish and maintain 

 a provincial administration in sympathy with Con- 

 servative principles." 



Messrs. Tweedie and Richard, however, still main- 

 tain their places as members of the Government. 

 Meantime all kinds of preparations have been pro- 

 ceeded with for the elections of 1899. Mr. Emmer- 

 son, on assuming office, was banqueted at St. John 

 on Dec. 2, 1897, and strongly expressed his desire 

 to keep federal issues out of provincial politics. 

 This line of thought was continued in the speeches 

 at a demonstration held at Gagetown on Sept. 13, 

 1898, in honor of the Hon. A. G. Blair, late Premier, 

 now Dominion Minister of Railways. Practically 

 it amounted to an appeal for Conservative support 

 by Liberal leaders. The situation at the close of 

 the year, therefore, is that of a strong Government 

 being attacked all along the line by an active oppo- 

 sition, led by Dr. A. A. Stockton and supported by 

 his Dominion leaders, as the Liberals are by theirs. 

 The House of Assembly met on Feb. 10, 1898, and 

 was opened by Lieut.-Gov. A. R. McClellan with a 

 speech from the throne, in which he said : 



' It is gratifying to know that never in the his- 

 tory of the province has its financial credit stood 

 so high as at present. The general prosperity and 

 contentment of our people here and throughout the 

 Dominion, the many eminent blessings richly show- 

 ered in the past upon the land in whose interests 

 we are assembled, and the many encouraging 

 grounds for trust in the future, are all sources of 

 congratulation, and merit our devout thankfulness 

 to the Sovereign Ruler of our destinies. 



"The official visit of his Excellency the Gov- 

 ernor General and the Countess of Aberdeen to 

 sections of our province during the year elicited 

 cordial greetings from our people, testifying to the 

 high esteem in which their Excellencies are held, as 

 well for the interest shown by them in the welfare 

 and advancement of the people as for their exalted 

 position. 



" The many economic, social, and other advan- 

 tages arising from well-directed additions by immi- 

 gration to our productive agricultural population 

 have led my Government to give attention to the 

 subject, and your consideration will be invited to a 

 plan whereby it is hoped that we may not only be 

 enabled to infuse some new elements into our too 

 sparse population, but also further to encourage our 

 own sons to remain at home in pursuit of agricul- 

 ture, thus occupying and settling valuable vacant 

 lands of the province. 



"Agriculture, as an essential basis of all arts, 

 will, 1 feel confident, claim your first consideration. 

 The stock importation made during the recess, in 

 accordance with the recommendation of the Fann- 

 ers' and Dairymen's Association, met with popular 

 approval, as evidenced by the interest mani- 

 fested in the sale and the satisfactory prices real- 

 ized. The special efforts made under the direction 



of the Department of Agriculture in the holding 

 throughout the province of farmers' meetings to 

 disseminate knowledge pertaining to agriculture 

 have contributed largely, I believe, to advance and 

 energize this great industry. Past efforts have re- 

 sulted in a large increase in the dairy products of 

 the country, and 1 am led to hope that like efforts 

 will result in stimulating and encouraging the 

 farmers of New Brunswick to produce their own 

 wheat supply, as of other cereals, thereby saving to 

 their pockets the large annual drain therefrom now 

 necessary in furnishing bread for their own tables. 



" My Government strongly entertain the opinion 

 that butter of the best quality can be profitably 

 manufactured within the province during the win- 

 ter season, through the agency of dairies supplied 

 by auxiliary skimming stations located at suitable 

 points and, with the view of demonstrating the 

 possibility of conducting this enterprise success- 

 fully, have established one such winter dairy at 

 Sussex. As there can be no doubt that great bene- 

 fits will accrue to the province should this experi- 

 ment prove that the enterprise can be made gen- 

 erally successful, you will be glad to hear that the 

 results thus far have been eminently satisfactory. 

 In furtherance of the interests of dairying, the 

 Government have established and are now conduct- 

 ing a dairy school at Sussex, where all interested, 

 can obtain, free of cost, instruction in the most ap- 

 proved methods for butter and cheese making. 



" The active and continued interest of a large por- 

 tion of the progressive business element of St. John 

 in a provincial exhibition has been brought to tho 

 notice of my Government, and should the plans 

 matured by the association in charge involve par- 

 ticular and substantial recognition of agricultural 

 exhibits, without lessening the usual display of the 

 products of other industrial arts, a bill authorizing 

 financial assistance on the part of the province will 

 be submitted for your approval. 



"Public attention abroad has been more and more 

 arrested by the advantages of New Brunswick as an 

 inviting spot for sportsmen and tourists. With a 

 view of increasing the travel in this direction, so 

 productive of profit to our people, my Government 

 nave thought it advisable to encourage an exhibit 

 at the Sportsmen's Exhibition, to be held in Boston 

 in March next, representative of the chief charac- 

 teristics of our province in this regard. 



"The commercial character of our country, not- 

 withstanding all past discouragements, has begun 

 to display itself in the successful establishment of 

 lines of steamers sailing regularly from the com- 

 mercial metropolis of our province during the win- 

 ter months, whereby we are placed in relation to 

 commerce in a position of advantage. 



" A claim of long standing against the Dominion 

 Government on account of eastern extension has 

 been pressed during the recess by a delegation <>f 

 my Government, and I have reason to conclude that 

 a reply will be promptly given in the early days ot 

 this session." 



The Hon. J. P. Burchill acted as Speaker, and 

 the address in reply to the speech was passed after 

 considerable discussion. 



The House adjourned on March 18. after the fol- 

 lowing, among many minor bills, had been given the 

 royal assent by the Lieutenant Governor: 



To amend chap, xlvi of the Consolidated Stat- 

 utes. " Witnesses and Evidence." 



To amend an act entitled "An Act to incorporata 

 the Exhibition Association of the City and Count/ 

 of St. John." 



To amend an act to incorporate the New Bruns- 

 wick Masonic Hall Company. 



In aid of the settlement of Crown lands in tha 

 province. 



