UNITED STATES AND CANADA 239 



March i. After deducting the two voyages, about 

 109 days would be left. Thus the expenditure was 

 at the rate of ^33 or £34 a day. Now at Wash- 

 ington, as everybody knew, there were fixed 

 charges ; about $5 (or 3^1) a day. Then suppose 

 the right hon. gentleman were allowed £1 2i day for 

 wine — (laughter) — and allowances were also made for 

 incidental expenses. Then about ^5 a day would 

 be a reasonable allowance. It might be said that 

 the right hon. gentleman was hospitable. But we 

 had a Minister there. Sir L. Sackville West, who 

 received a salary intended to be spent in hospitality. 

 Sir Charles Tupper was sent by the Canadian 

 Government, but he should be much surprised if 

 the Canadian Government authorised so lavish an 

 expenditure. It was not necessary that our repre- 

 sentative should live like a prince and practise 

 princely hospitality at our expense. He would not, 

 however, move for the reduction of the vote, as, 

 though he objected to its excessive amount, his 

 main objection was to the mission itself. As his 

 hon. friend (Mr. Collings), who also came from 

 Birmingham, voted with him last year against Sir 

 Drummond Wolff's mission, no doubt he would 

 also vote with him on this occasion. (Laughter.) 

 The talk of the noble sacrifices made by politicians 

 who went on these special missions was all claptrap. 

 Gentlemen were glad to go out and obtain some 

 sort of political position by spending the country's 

 money and enjoying themselves. The House ought 

 once and for all to oppose these special missions^ which 

 ought to be discharged by our permanent Ministers. 



