182 THROUGH CANADA 



3. To obtain ownership and public control of the 

 Hudson Bay Railway. 



4. To amend the Railway Act in certain par- 

 ticulars. 



5. Urging Reciprocity with the United States, 

 and the reduction of duties on British goods. 



Papers were read on these subjects, but the dis- 

 cussion most vital and interesting followed on the 

 question of Reciprocity and duties. 



Tariff was described by Mr. J. W. Scallion, 

 President of the Manitoba Grain Growers, as "a great 

 burden upon the agricultural industry and the great 

 body of consumers." 



The delegates representing the agricultural 

 interests of Canada, and the mass of the common 

 people, " strongly protest against the further continu- 

 ance of a tariff which taxes them for the special bene- 

 fit of private interests. They say that this is wrong 

 in principle, unjust and oppressive in its operation 

 and nothing short of a system of legalized robbery. 

 Prices for the produce of the farm are fixed in the 

 markets of the world by supply and demand and free 

 competition when these products are exported, and 

 the export price fixes the price for home consump- 

 tion ; while the supplies for the farm are purchased 

 in a restricted market, where prices are fixed by 

 combinations or manufacturers and other business 

 interests operating under the shelter of our protective 

 tariff." 



