SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT 125 



good to need embellishment or exaggeration, and 

 any figures which are quoted here have the 

 imprimatur of the high authority to which I have 

 referred. 



The Government of Manitoba is administered by 

 a single Legislative Chamber, and executive Council 

 on practically an electoral basis of manhood suffrage. 

 The public school system is excellent, and entails 

 the largest expenditure in the annual budget. Public 

 works come second, and the administration of justice 

 third. Schools are free to all children between the 

 ages of five and fifteen. In larger towns resident 

 pupils are free to the high schools and colleges. 

 They are maintained largely by Government, who 

 set apart sections of land in each township which 

 yield part of the revenue ; the rest is provided by a 

 land tax. The growth of these schools is an index 

 to progress. In 1886, the number in the province 

 was 422, with an attendance of 16,834. In 1906 

 there were 1,847 schools and 64,123 scholars. 

 Schools of agriculture are also provided, and associa- 

 tions for instructing the settlers' children in live 

 stock, fruit growing, dairy farming, and practically 

 every branch of industry within the province requiring 

 skilled labour. 



There is an excellent tram service to the out- 

 skirts of the city, where there is a fine park, contain- 

 ing zoological gardens which hold good specimens 

 of bear, wapiti, mountain goat, beaver and other 



