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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2, 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ 2.8 2.5 m " = 11111== ^">* 1 M 2.2 ;S„. „, 3.6 === u; III i III M 2.0 I- ^ I.L.^ 1 i.8 1.4 = 1 1.6 ^ -AP PLIED II VMGE Inc ^™" 1653 East Main '-'treet ~-S Rochester, New York 14609 USA '-^ ('16) 482 - 0300 - Phone = (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax / '-y^- .^■ SPEKCH BY THR Hon, R, Harcourt THE NBW LICENSE BILL. Hon. R. HAR(j<>U!vr, M.i'.F., Provincial Treasurer, in TuoviBg the second reading uf the Lic^nsf^ Bill, during the Sehsion of the Ont:iri(> Legialaturt;, 1807, spoko as foUows : — This l)ill has been discush-c I lnr, i, .J, a liill dealing with t)iJH. ^ab- ject should receive m.-irked ;',ftA;M'i')n tiu'uiyiiuut ihe country. The subject is d^soi-ving of ibc ailcr; ion \\liicb It rece'vea. No niafna" of le^ddation more aiFects t]ic woli!>Jo of oar people. n<.')ro (feeply C(,ncerns tho betterment (-f their condition, ♦••han this h^isla'ion afiV-_tiiig Vw: liquor pro; Jem and tlie direction of temperance ;■. ,'ti- mont in our midst. Siniibir h:c;iOr'tion, n -vunilar attenif)' • :t J.[,'iH- lation in every 'itlier (•'unrry h.w ' reetivoii jUst the same attention at the hands of th.^,. s, in !i;!i/;i.' meeting,", and otherwise. Not only, therefore, have we tb". ■•.d' ;•'■'.• of its being thoroughly di.s- cussed in the countr}% but j-e iuivu also tin- ad\*--'tji,ge of learning the vieus of very imp'.h'nt d'-lc '.'iions, which at one time or an- other, representing dil!i:it : It 'i'..- ■ ' ')/.- -pit/tion, have waited nol only upon the govennnent but npun groups of honorable members ■who perchance differ from, the j; v. -iinu id. It is to be regretted, Sir, th;!.t th. discussion evinces oaly a par- tifil knowledge of the contents of the bill, only a limited apprecia- tion of ita provisions. Th« bill which is now under co.«idorabKm Tthe minds of honourabk membot. differn 'f --f /^ " ^e bill a. road tho fitHt. li.no in this House. The fac of the TenoraU^ CHsion in tho country and in the pre.H. to which I have aUuded would make it almost unnocesHavy for n.e to say anything on ths occasion, were ii. not for this other f.ct t. which 7 have jast Tlud a that considerable additions and very iniportnt.b amend^ :ieut are contaixied in this bill as compared .vith the provisions of the original bill. Experience, of the Past. It is a trite observation to say that there is not and cmnot be any .ionti^c basis for legislation of this kind. Deahng wi^h an .«t any other subiect, a parlianttnt or legislature can fn d M.me scient. fi ba ly w^y of precedent or otherwise, u,on which to found the „; ,T .; bil The only basis that vvill be considered a tost ^r:r:d^<;^X wiu;thi.Lnplicated and troubl^cnne .u^ 1 ; t1 li.,uor triiilc i. the oxpencnce of the past. A bill which Wd lr,ni'dit suit one country or one province, would be found '" h"dlu;te, quite unsuitable to the needs e. conditions of the TXlZ^cr province. T. n,ight well happen thai a Ml ^uch \^7hJn ^.mivl 1 . work well, to be effective in one .tate of the ui :S e.u,a>le. would be vain and futile and ^-^-Jiv. m an- other st.ate of the same Union. Therefore, the onlv '.t U « kg^ latur. ^.;a snfely adoy-t concerning leg:slation of tbi. kmd^ o n laxui . ■,.>'! . ^, . ri-,,„i hcino SO I imrp' se with the T 'SZAftL »;, wi,n.',ho v»d,. <>« our leg, ;,l,>Uo„ .,«. V„,.'',h.Xv »»ti,f»ctx,vy or otherwise ; .ml m the tl.rdpkco I ;,;;'";.,, ..I..- n,,.™i.o i.m, ■Mar^.o. » «« h.„d» of h,.n. "Tvii™:rs;.;'wtat i i,.v, ,. «, i. ,„»ki„g of «... r- io..b- , . -^ „v,',l..- g that n TZl h.; . n ;:;",,onth. L„i,L.:.,..,. «. have Couowa m 13b,ce.1.our.tt.„npt.tol,.,m..l„ « ton>p.«no. «,,t„„«n „rae.iro to better the condition of our people 1 «.,.„o^ L^ e that there will be any difference of opn.on » th.>. cha.nber 3 lidarabion illy fi"«n ;t of the ill I have anytliiiu^' have juHfc b amend- ivifliona "f rvot be any ith alm'-jfit no scieiiti- ) £(.tmd tho crod ci test !ome qut)«- , bill which d be found iDiis of the I, bill which State of the itive in an- t this legis- kind, Ib onv .0 with the ■wthe h:gia- ic. n;i,viii}» to ask tho ■lalion h.-ive bird place, I I ail, to the lids of hon- le past lej^ia- king that in done well iu J sentiment, 3. I cannot thia chainbw M to that fact. The doplorabl'; drinking habit which provailtid m this pi-ovinco twenty nr thirty ^wuh ago i>« a " thing of tho paat. " Thei-o haa been notliim; siioit of u revolution conciiiniiig this que«- tion of the drinkin;.; liabit as it concerns our people. " Ho who runs may reatl ' 1 need not argue aa to this, fiinco every middle- aged ni.ui in this provi\ico knows full well that the evil consoquenceB of tlie drink habit twonty or thirty years ago were connnon ai'.d noticeable, and that to-day thoy huvo bien narrowed dowr. vory Hfttlsfactorily ; and we are proud to think of tliiti result If Ave look at our statute books, Sir, dealing with thLj queetion, we will find that since lS7f> no fewer than twelve statutes dealing with our license laws have Loon passed by this chamber, — twelve Htatutos inside of twenty years. And if iioiiourablu gentlemen will take up those statutes one by one, if thoy wi)! in detail read every section and examine and critioi:;o the provisions of those twelve dill'erent statutes, they will come to this conclusion, that in, each and every case they were timely, opportune, and up to the moral or ■ temperance sentiment of the poo})le of this province ; and on each of theso twelve occasions when tliis House seriously and deliljorately addressed iLself to some solution of this comjilicated subject, it is a mutter of satisfaction to know that the people whom tho legislation alTects approved of it, gave it its moral support, and that the legis- lation was therefore effective. Our legislation on these lines has been oft'ective just because wo have not gone a step too far on oitlur u(-casion ; just because on each occasion we had the firm, the well ascertained and serious and Bustiiined convictions of tlic ii('i>])lc in Kuj)port of tin; logislation wo gave tho country. Now these ne\v instalniciitK, I might call them, amending the legislation of 18'iti — the iiii])ortant legislation of that time —those new instalments, each (jue of them engrafted on exist- ing legi.slation, made useful and wise jirovislons. And they were usefvd, they were wise and they were etfective,— just because tliry were moderate ; because thoy ^comlnanded the moral support of tho people they concernid ; because the great mass of people approved of tho legislation this House saw fit to pass. To have gone one step farther on any one of tlicse twelve occasions we would have run this risk, that the sentiment of the people ht have lagged behind our legislation. Following that, there woild have been lax enforcamont of the law, and as a consequence thoso do moralizing iutluenctis which, this House can well understand, lax enforcement of any law carries in its train. And tH.it f.iut is oHrmfinUy tru« (if Icigisliitiou of fche kind I ain asking t.his Housi> to cimsidor. Tliiw kiiifl of tx/'Hlaciun is particu- larly (liit'uiut i>f onf.iic>iUfcut. Thut in a trilo oltsi.'vvuliun. TIkto can in; in> didoronce of opinion regarding it, and such logiadiition !jc- ing eapocially difliciilt of onforccnienfc, it is all the moro noceKsarj' th:it wo sliould go Hlowly, tlmt wo should "luirry Hlowly," that our ni'Uisurcs should bo modoruto ho iw to couiuiond thoui^ulvui* to tho viuwa and sontinionta of tho inasseg of tho posplo whom tho lo;^islfi tion ttffocfcs. A Moderate Bill Wanted. I think that on those grounds I nin warranted in entering a ploa for tho provisiojis of the bill, which on tho throHhold f doi:laro to }ui roodtjrato. I Kay that the bill vvill coniuicnd itsdlf to honourable gentlonicn and to tho country genorully, just l)ecausoitidinodorato ; and I repeat thd my argument to-nij^ht will bo a plea for moderate h'gi-lat'oii— sucli lijt^isliition ;i^ will cononond itself to .uid coinniand als(» tho syujpathioH of tho [)eo|>le. All kinds of ojiiiiiuiis are hold as to wli.vt is thii'ily lo^'inhvtion on this question ; and I speak gen- erally now, not oi till. [11 'viiicc, hut of all countries. I repeat, ail kinds of opinion;) (.liamelrically opposite aie held as to lcgislat.ioi\ concerTiirHjr the liijuor prnMcM, Xot only all kinds of opinions are hold, but they are honoMly In;!'', .sincerely and eiimti l!y li'ld by men who have no selfish [)iii[Hi e to sorvo. For ex;iinple lot nio outline what 1 moan. There arc souio who think, some enthusias- tic ])Ooplo with hif^h aims and honest intentions, Mi.ic tho whole piYibiem would !>'• M'!ved if you il ■ v\^:\y with the .s.'duuii,-, of the province. Then again, .sii-, jn'op'o equally honest, O'lually sincere, who have given just as nuich attention to tho subject, arguo jusl'- the contrary ; and they say that ifc does not follow tliat if you diinini.sli the nui ilH-r of saloons 3'ou diniiiiLJi the iiMrmtity of licjuor that is ci.insutried, or promotn) a temperance scnLiiuent and the sobriety of the people. These two views are hold l)y [)eoi)le equally disinterested in their in'iiM-, and with aims equ.dly liigh. Then again, a:ii!licv chi.ss of people will say, hedge tlie trallic round with more rOK.iictinn, place about it every restriction which a mind trained to the framiiit!; oC hurs can devise, and in that way you will loosen the evils of the iiipKn- traffic. Another .set of people answer that by sayuig : Not at all; you inisajiprehend tho whole subject, inasmuch as if yon unduly harass the tralhc you make your law.i . 5 ImpoBflihle of eiiforcomeut, and thorotore you create a gr<«t(|iiato reuio'ly. Uthors say, let the trnttic «1o its busincRR in Rhm-ter and fowor houifi and you solve the problotn ; and the n'{)ly Ih : that, if yon do so you do not lesson the cvP- of the tralfic, you simply open tlic aoore to Boiling in illegal And there again I find a uifliculty. I allude to these matters sin.' . ;i.h!)ow that the question is a complicated one, tli a. it bristles v, ith dithculties, that extreme views, no matter how honestly held, are not views likely to lead to such legislation as will be easily niforoeJ anrLion of our cifcizeiw to fuvtln-r restrict tlic traflic ; to so restrict it that the rcstrictioiis would be observed and tlint the law ooulc be enforced. ^\eall remember ihnt in ISTt! very important Icgi.slation in tlo" direction was enacted. 'I'he i.-;su!ng of licenses in iLat year vas withdrawn from Municipal Councils, ind placed in tiie hands of Boards of Liconsi; Connuissionei'.^. I iltink that Uie iiiajoiily of people in this country ajiprovt of that ehange. As a fact they have frequently approved of it. and the result has been satin fwctorj'. 1 will allude to that question later on. In that jear for tlie first time, 1870, the number of licenses was imited according to on- nopulntion, and in that same year inspec- tors were appointed bj i.... dovemment to enforce the law/' The following ytar restrictions were pUcod upon the sale of liquor by druggistn, and wp puTpnuc in tho pxcsont hill - iwj a confcinunUoa «f llui prinniplfl of that soctiuu - to impose further re<^friction« on tJio Bfild of liijuor !>' thoBCi whoflo prirtmrj- biisinenH it in hi hcU flr\i!j» •nrl raedicints. fn 1877 restrictions were plnueri \i]xm thu nalo of liquom nn vfsaelH, and in tho Bftmn yoar the peniklticH for infractions of the Iaw wore inoreaaetl. In that year also u provision was iniwio l>y vhick tho oliicyrB of the law coiilJ soureh unlicoiiHod premirtcs, in order t» convict [Mirties who were presuniably guilty of infractiona of the I,;w. Ill tlirno yoara foUov io^ each othor tins Uouso addmivi^d csolf tf> this important and diftioult problem. Tho following year provision was made for tho enforcement of the Diinkin Act and for paying coats and charges in connection with it. Thcro waH no legislation until three years elapsed from that date In 1881 a provi liou \>a« made for the issue of what wero called boer and wino licenses. Penalties wore further increasi d in that year for infractions of the law. For the firat time the w:>» who actually sold tlie liquor was imido liable; and in that s'lne statute additional jirovision was made for searching premise.^ nnd for the tonfiso-iLing of liquor found in those premises. It wns th'iught necessary and wise in that year to make provisions fnr er.forcing tho Soott Act, and it was done. Police commi-ssionovw and Chiefs of Police were in that same statute specially eliarged witk the duties of enforcing tho license laws of the province. Then in 1F84 a statute confeiining vei-y import.,uit provisions, md alf-o veiy useful provisions, wa.s passed by tlii.s legi.slatnro. 'l"!ie siiloun qviestion was dealt with in that year. It is being dealt with in the bill I now ask tho Houso to consider. In that year the num- ber 'l in no tlio ii^'Oi n thiih s.'Hie reuiisca ind ?efl. It wad ovisioDfl fnr nmi.sRionci'H harged witk vision*, ind if/nro. 'Hie {dealt w ith ni' the nnm- siiacted tlidt 1 which dad OA'iaicn was censes, and ription and ■ (']('r:tort; in lonses ; atid •unt tlio >,<■ ho both ihat no new some other incire atringent proviaionii wore onft<^t« h^tVituftl drunkii'-dw, And a provi»ion wtw for fho flrnfc Hmo «-ii.-irfo » to tho ort'ur't that thovo MJiould '.' <>iil . i, .ic i.-,.in in liiietmed i>r<;iius(>' , In th,i,t wuno year w • hav* n v» ry ituj[iortaiit fnovisioii forbidding tho salo of li(iiiur ou furry Im)hU ; and in tho wimo stjituto additional petwdtiws were impo ed for refusing lodging Ml tho pJtrtof those who hold liijiior IHccmhos In this yaar, (dHo, wo puHseil (I ohi\iMc iorbiddiii;,' tho Halo of liquors to parties undor tho ago of sixteen y oars. I la/ty observe thai tint- is the ago in »*onio States of the Union now. Wo arc again ih uUng with that fiuo»tion. and perhaps thoro iH no more importi illegal infractif.n.s of the law. Two vcars thereafter, addi- tional legislation was mala for ouforciii ?ht> Scott Act, and in 1S89, still further pr.>vi.si n.; wer.) enactcn: against those who jiur- thased liquor in unlicenLiod places. In IWK), mo.st vaiMalde and most iinporbint provision,-, were added to our license lawa by ■><■ insfcalmontti One of those, and not tho least important, in tJiat new applicints for licenses, for premises not under liciiuse, were required to produce cci-tiiicjite-s signed by a majority of the electors. In that year, it was provided that no ve,s!4el C(juld hold a KcBiwc fur selling liquor ; penaiLi(;s were again increased tor soliiisg wifchoDb liconsea, (U\d tlio age i>f minors in 1890 was mis d from six- teon to eighteen. The owners of liouses in wliich liquors were illegally suld, in tl).<,t stfttuto wcvo madi; Jinblo, and no aj)peals wiire allowed in the case of unlicensed persons who were convicted for InfiaclionH if the law. That year gave us our local option law. In 1891, furtVior pvovi.siuii was made for liearing special cases in the OoUrt ot Appeal concerning,' the.se local option by-laws, and th-it legielat/ion, ns hon centicmen know, has been made u.se of time and a/ain In 18!)-, prov!.=>ions were made for the onfonv.'ir.ent of t!io Lict-nso Act as apjiiiod to or ns concerning these local option uumicipaUties. In that year the (jucstion of s-'des to habitual drunkcvda was again tuUon up, and other provisions, and it waR thou^^hr, 1 ' '"' ! I" Ai'-' >■'■■• ' laeted Tho (|ncsticn of sales by drug- gists w;i.'= a:' .. ) aik'n uji li.ii yoav, and brewers wtirc restricted in their sides to partiw who held licenses. Both these restrioti(jns have bcf-n found to ly; uscfvil .'ind valaaMe. ' hat same year, the me;nl)ers of municipal councils and ct,!ista')!e.s ore rendered ineli- gible as bondsmen f' '• license holder.s • and it was enacted that local option by-lawii mIiou!'! uni i,i. ri-poiled for three years. I aslv hon menibirs to consider tlio number of ways in which this House in these twelve sf.itutes addres.sed itself to the solution of the lioui/r questioi\ a^d In njineudH-r th.at the House gave to it eax-ne.'^t. uii'l ■^iicfu! ui iciiii-'!! .m .i!i ilu ^c •.. c-i.sions ; and although the legi.slation granted did not meet the view5 of some citizens — men wliose sincerity, whose enthusiasm in the cause of ■ eraperance iKj one couh' (V)r,l)t. and t'tie sincerity of whose wif^hes no one could ujeslion • ' '" ii b'-s been proved to be useful and etlectivo, and the result has loen as satisfactory as its advocates ever suggested 6r dreamed of. All these statutes did one or two tjiingf^, and in some cases they did both of these things, viz : to i'lipni :i further re.stiiction which was found lo 1)0 useful, ^r to i :'■ vl.!, i i. ans for enforcing the law after it wrs made law. Tliese il from six- iquore were iij)peals W'^ro onviete t.'ro placed (Ttained, .-.i.^.un, Avero lis, I ask the I 1886 intro- a of the pro- TU>ce in five or six thousand public schools, and that this was done; by moans of text books spei-ially provi-iod fn: tlic purpo8*>. 1 ask bhe House further to remember that four years ago tha Miii.ter of Education made it compulsory that temperance instruc- tion should be imi)art«d in our public schools ; ami I further ask hon. gentlemen to refer to the last report of -.he Minitber of Education, lu which you will find the g'atifying statement that hvst year 191,715 pupils reot ivcd instructiou iroin thesft text books, imparted by thoir teachers on mattors dealing with » he. subject of temperance. The importance of that itstruction, tho fir reaching cdusuquoncos of it, no one can estimate. That instruction in itself assists from time to time in paving the way for udditiunal instal- ment-, ,.f le'.rislation concerning tho liceiise quesiion. Now I come to tho rt.viilt of tliis legislation. Effects of Past Legislation. I have siiiii that we have had a dozen statu'-fs j)assod in eighteen or rwcnty yoara. How can A\e judge of their oflicacy? We must look at the results ; and the only way to eitiniato these results is to r.isort to such statistics as the blue books of the Dominion or our own pro\ince will fursiis' I repc ,it i hat one result is, I do not ,;iy solely due to legislate,.,, that i! e iieoj.le of this province are rioticoably a sobiu- people. T can sul- n, tiate that by reference to st-itistics. If these statist :.'s are of a; - ^ uiu:, tliey prove abun- dantly that tho poojik; of this province are more notk'e.il)le for their sobri 't ■,■ '!;-n llio ])eople of any other provhiet in tiie Dominion. Till .,i! .ti, .; to wuieh Iv.ill refer are wiflun the roach of even- hon. gentleuieii. I will first of all quote from the Dominion Year Book, taking the two yeais for 1884 and IS'Ji, and I find that tho numl..;r of convictions for dniakeiuie^s in this province in 1883 was one for eveiy 423 jieople ; whereas ten years thereafter it was o;ief(,r .^very ()70 people, an advance of 50'-/,, io t lie direction we ail hope for and look for. In Quebec in i8B4 there \,'as a conviction for every 862 of tiie jjopulation ; whereas in 1894 tlioro. wjis a con- viction for every 35i) of the people. Matters h.id grown 50°/,, beti cr in this province during that decade, and 100% wonie in the sister Province of Quebec. We hear much as to advanced temperance .sentiment in the Pi<. vinceof Nova Scotia. The nmnber of conviuti'i. s :n Nova Scona ic 1884 was one fur every 7ol of the jnipuiati on. and m 1894 it v/ia le on© for every 361 of the poptilation. So, under this much-vuunted, much-boasted legislation of the Trovinoo of Nova Scotia, tlia number of convictions has doubled in t92, and it is grati- 892 there has been me direction. The ,6 them to us, this than Uie State of 11 Maine nrder a proiiibition law. As proof, \we find that J. 92 per thousand were coi nitted for druixkenness iV that period of five years ; in MaiL,.i -nearly twice us many, ail compared with thia province under ii". idc. \^ The somewhat e'laally interesting result is arrived at if we con-' sider the rouuction of licenses under the statutes to which I have alluded. I wii] take four years which could not be affected by the Scott Act. Th 1 Scott Act was for a time enforced in moid than twenty counties in this Province, but I do not take Scott Act years. The number of licenses which were granted in 1874, 1881, 181)1 and IH9G were respectively 6,185, 4,0-19, 3,523 and 3,132 ; so that since i'^ll we have cut off, through the provisions of our statutes, more than one-half of our licoases. Only 3,000 licenses were issued in loOO, as against 6,000 licenses in 1874. We have one license now ffr every 700 of our people. In 1874 we had one for every 262 of our people. rae city of Toronfo, in 1874, had a population of less than 68,GO0. In that year it had 300 tavern licenses, 150 shop licenses, 18 wholesiile licens(^s and 10 saloon licenses, or altogetlier 487 licenses. In 1896 its population had grown to about 190,000 and it had only 140 tavern licenses, 50 shop licenses, 7 wholesale licensch ajid 10 .saloon licenses, or .-iltouether 207 licenses. These figures show admitte.Ily great iniprovpuicnt. A great stride has been made in promoting temperance fccntinient, and this marked iiuprovemont in some sense— I do not say in every sense-in some degree, I do not say completely, must be attributed to the lejfiaLition paased by this House. Some Criminal Statistics. The. commitments for drunkenness in this province are equally Tiofciceablo under the moderate legislation which this House hjis f^iven the country from time to time. There has been marked improvement. In 1875 there wore 3,868 committed ; in lv\m there w.^-9 .•;,497 ; n 1891 there were 2,736 ; and in 1890 there were only 1,907 people ; so that since 1875, a periotl of twenty years, the Bumbor of connnitmenis for drunkenness in this province has'beei, cut in two. Oaly 1,907 in 1896, as compared with 8,686 twenty yoai-s ago, in 1875. Ivisc year only one out of 1,148 people in this pr«v,ncB were commitie.i for dnmkenncss ; t^venty years ago one 12 out of every 444 wm coiniuittocl for drunkonnosH. But moro iioticeJihle still are the figures if we t^ikc the Scott Act period, as we <«ul it. Honouvahle membeif. will remember tluit in 188G, 1887 ;u»d 1888 tw.Mity-fxvoof our counties out of forty-one were under tho i^eott Act- mora than half of our counties. I ask honourable r:;entlemen to notice the fijjures as shown by tlie coinniitment.s for drunkenness in th-se three Scutt Act. years. In 188G 1;he number (if commitments was '.i.CiM ; in the following year 4,180, and in tho iant Scott Act year 4,451. The lannbcr of commitinvMits increased during each of the Scott ^ict yars. Then I take tho la.st three license years— L^'.M, 1805 and 1896. The number of connnitinents in 1894 dropped from 4,400 to 2,274. The following year, 1895, it again dropped to 2,237. and last year it dropped to l.'W. In our last three licenBU yoiir.s the total number of commitments was tH, but to cu.Kiirtinents, which are two diflcrent things, so that my comparisons art fair I have now briefly alluded iv our past legislation, .and also ;,, some of the results of that legi.slation ; and I have .asked ih. House to nolito tint these twelve statutes, one after the other, 1. '. l.v step, gave an insfcilmcnt in the direction wished for and ,t,sK( o f';r ijy <-Iiose who now criticize our bill. i)y saying, that it does not g ■ far enough on temperance lines. 1 might add that we have 816 mui.'icipalities ; th.at in one-fifth of then- there is no license at all granted for the sale of liquors, viz: le'o municipalities; and further, that in 228 municipalitios, there are only tw.i licenses ea.h rraiited. Those f'gures are both instructive and in.erubting, if they be examined carcfidly and thought over. jimoss. But iiiM.i tt Act period, as we ;]iat in 1880, 1887 (viio wcro under tho I fisk honourable u coumiitniunts for : 18BG the nmnbor ,r 4,180, and in tho niitiiients increased take the last thrtje •or of eoinniitiiients nving year, 1895, it to 1,'.»07. In our commituicnts was i'as 12,180. > a moral revolution this revolution hi lis legislature, and nahly well eufoiccd sider tho nature of ixod the law under rut 1 have nf)t been I allude to tlio j/ro- e release of persons ) the actual arre.-t.s, thuigs, so that my jgislation, and also and I have asked )ne after the other, on wished for and ? saying, that it does it add that we have lere is no license at municipalities ; and ly twv> lIoen,sya eai ii I inwOri'stiug, if tiu'V 13 The New BUI. Now T come to tho prr visions of the bill of which I move a second r.'adir)^'. In the first idaco, at tho tirst glan.o at the amended bill, it will be found thnt it deals with tho population limit ; and I must, in the naturo of the case, si>,Mk \n-y hurriedly. We now propose, that hereafter there shall bo only three licenses for the first oiie thous,aud of population, F-^omierly there were four ; and we ask that beyond tho first ono thousand, there shall be one license for every 000 instead of 500 -a very decided advance. It may be said that we only cut ofF by this legislation, a matter of 130, pcr- haj.f< 140 licenses ; some say 153, certa.inly it is in the neigh- borhood of 150. I do not understand the position of tlios.' who s^vy that there is nothing good in thw now provision, if gradually year by year, as I have shewn, we have been able to redui^o the nund)er of licenses these la-.t twenty years, and if it appears that l.oO licenses are now to bo cut otri.y sbitute, surely that is troiiig in rhe riyht diicntion, and making a n.oaKurable advance. l?ut to those who argue that we are nut fi:oin:', far eninigh in this . due(;tion, Task them not to overlook other imi,ortant provisions of the bill. ^ a^e License Commissioners, in exercising tho duties and powers given to them under existing legislation, have fre.juently ..•fused licenses ; and is still within the power vested in the muni- cii^al councils by by-law, further to reduce the number of licenses : an.! in the third place, we have the local option clauses to which J n!')wd. Now you have a threefold way in which to reduce the limber of licenses. By st^itutory provision, this bill we are now considering cuts off 150 licenses. If that be not enough, if local s-.ntimont be educated in astriet tlie number of licenses. Or, page 2 otthis Act. tlicreissetout tho c.:.nditi.-m.« under which a bydaw r.:.Iucing the nutnbor of licenses can be hereafter pa.ssed by tiie municipal councils in cities and towns. It is providcl, for example that a notice of an applicatioji to pass the by-law must, on or beioro file J 5th Novend)er, be signed by 100 elect^)rs in a city, and 50 iii a town, and tiled with Mu.- 0!.-ik of the nnmicipalh'y ; and this notice sets o.:t that appi.caWon will be made to the Council' for rlic ^•iu<«ng of a by-law on or before the 15t!i Fe),ruary following, and the Councd on or before 1st of March, may passabydaw rurtlier reduoincf rlin iinrnljn,, ,,<: i:„^.> t-.r . , . . .' ]:uit ynar — a fow 'iiontlia ago. —provisions wore made for '■■litiii;; off !ft tavern licen.sc:. So that this retaining in the muni- cipal councils tho power to reduce is no idle power s^iven to tliem. They lnvc used tho power, and hiive used it so as to cut off 105 taverns and 30 shops in the four instances : and 1 liave only girou soDio 01 tlie instances of tlie kind which, if time allowed, I might cite to the House. Tho other side to this question i^ that only a few mutiicipalities ha\'o availed tliemselves of this power. Wo leani this lesson froin that fact, viz : (bat imbHc sentiment is perhaps not advanced far enougJi to warrant this House in making a more extreme provision j«5 to this population limit than we are now asking the Hoase fco ado]>t. Some weeks ago I attempted to got somi- useful information from our License Boards in tlic 07 license districts. I havo been able to got information from 15, nearly one-hulf of the Boards, and 4.38 muni- cipalities wliioh is ;rioro ihan i-iu-lvilf of the total number of muni- cipalities. Tiio in.f, ;i,iati''i T liHvo 1 behcvc to \k mstructivo and i know it, wiil iatcivsL hi,i,.,inble nion:b^ i x. The information come-s frou) 43S nununp.-Jit^ic^. Out of that 438, 105 have lioretofora taken advanta-re of the power given to municipalities to reduce the number of licenses by by-law, so thai, one-fuiartcr of the number of municijiuiiiii s 'vtUiave neard from have taken ad\antage of tliat I>rovision of tJie law, and only one-quarter. Now still further, in seven out of these 105 which ])assed hy-laws, no limitation was pro- vided as to the number of taverns ; and in 08 of them, liaK of tiia 105, fhei-e w.. ; no limit.'ition as to the number of shops. But this other fact is very interesting, viz., that in ;!5 cases the municipali- ties through their Councils reconsidered the by-laws. Now wliatd'd they do upon reconsidering tlie question ? In twenty out of thirty- five cases, tlie municipal Council in reconsidering the conclusion they had previously come to, extended the limit and gi-antcd mijre licenses ; and fifteen did rlie reverse, and reduced the nu/u- ber ; shewing that perhaps it is wise to go .slowly, inasmuch as it wor ill the past. Tfoc one by-law, cut off 74 Council of If/iuiilton in and lOKhoplicenaoH. In : of r'.>ducti()ji by by-law, op licenses. In Ottawa nisions wore made for ' retaining in the niuni- power s;iven to them. ii. so as to cut ofT 105 and I have only giyon tnne allowed, I might ily a few municipalities e learn this lesson from haps not advanced ifu more extreme provision w asking the House to iscful information from ?;. I have been able to ^ T'lirds, and 4.38 muni ' I'll:-.] ivKiabor of muni- t'i lie lust Mi'jlivo and 1 Till! information comes i, 105 have horetofora icipalities to rcduoo the unrtcr of tlie number of Uvfii ;td\;vntn(,'u of tliat Now still further, in , no limitation was pro- 18 of them, half of hho ler of s-hops- But this 5 cases the munieipui- by-lavvs. Now what ^i !"i;iit m any rauni(Mi.'i'i>.j^ *-^ ,, i , . i^"'"P'^ "P to the • l.n->6 about, still further reduction Iromvear t.,lZ», ' diroct rcpr»c„tativos .t tl.c people. I fi^d thnt T """"8'' *« ;;.-" limit .t .11 i„ Br,ti,,/c^lu„,bL The i ^^ ? "" r"!"- ;-t m the important province of PnncotZ^l^lJZtTl tlior, „ none in Mov:. Seotia, „( the sdvonoed „!,7l . ' .^icU ... l..r .„ n,ne,.. A„, 'nun.ber ^XlZ"', ^1^ t^ \b The la^r f.xfis noUimt in thii proving, iiwl docs not Ht^fo fcJifttthePB shall be only such or s.ic^i a number ; and 1 tind thr Han.c fclung is true ryf Quebec, so that in fc^ur of ,,ur pro uicos - Briti.s'u Cijilumhirt, PrinceEdward Island, Nova Scotia, and qmhvc h>— i.-. .,o pn, vision at all fixing a linafc upon tho iiumber of lictMi.sos -nuited fivir. year tc) ye.%r. 'nunv art Home tuiihusuiiic ' inicrtt-miudc!.! tiiun in thlH pruvinoe who say to i.i.s it should nut b.- tljroe })er thousand— it should be only twn. My answer is that the hon. gtintlenicn of this I--.Is;aturo an a.s anxiou, as thoso enthusiat-tictciiiporanco w. .lurs Riv 1.- y I'j.TK'i^ ii! any feasible way tho cause of temivTj.ucoand we Bay to then) that when vo tix the population imit at three por thousand, w*; give l^.oni another door by wliich tho Tiuuiher can be reduced. Thty can aj.poal f..r redaelion to their municipal councils ; nay, they can dcman.l it of them. They can by their voten insist that there bo a still further reduced nui.'l..cr. They can by a niomi Kontiment uiilucnce the Lkoufo ComniissioTiejs -- .uen whoai ! Ii.ive proven byaetual statiKticv, to bo more rp;.uily fo,,;i,,-is;ve to tlus sontinient tlian municipal (lounei'lorh. "■■ ' '' "'■. ' '-'''l that this is not necessarily tl>(.],i.st ''^' ' - -,.....:' a ,:its question. We are nut pronon.i. hig our last word. W o remind honorable gentlemen -md tlio country als.. that whr ^ we call the "plebiscite" is soon to be voted upon ; ami in tho bght of that fact, surely we can be contented wltii th., tJirce, fuld prvvisiun.s, aside from the statutory reduction to '.vhic'' T ) luded, by iieaus ■■(•!.(!,;, f :'■ f';:' wjp' '■ ivo av(; ^■ , piv.'V ,j.i :i-.ey cm educate rlio nbj! of rafcejj.-i V i , ■''.■: i O ' ■■■ Vi.illi- f', tiioir own ( .n secure scnt.i'ncrits, :5o that^they will see eye to eye wiUi tlu-;]i, local option clauses and st^Jl fm ther reduce the number of licens^ to be granttid. r Hours of Closinjr. Now I a-^k honorable gentlemen to i i,, ,u(^ clause of the bill which concerns the hour of clnsiu- -on page four, clause nine of the bill.<^ We have every sympathy with tlu.s.-, whether they come bj' deputation, or their views are -xpi sc' ui the public prh\t, or in whatever way, we have sympathy i u' those who say to u.s, you ncs not stAto that there . find thr aaniu thing is 3es -nrifcisii ("olutnhU, eo , ihoro ia jid pru vision I1.S08 granted fr./ui year rncst-Hii'Kied nion m ! tliree 2>er tlinu.sand — I hon. gentlemen of this ictcmporancn Wi i-kors I of te)ii[;ori,ucoand we ion iiiiit at tlire.; por ich tho muiibQi- can bo c ir iiumini^al couiicila ; T by their vote.s iiiisLsb They can by :\ morni ;i s - .uen whom ! 'uivo ly TTviinsive hi *-]us ■UK necessarily (1 . Iict '■ uvu not' prono'i !■ lug rtn 'uui thu coiiutf y alsi> >o voted upon ; and i'l bed wit ii tho tiin,: ''..Id in to whicJi i 'i •,:- WI..SO in th" ;i ,f 'Jj' J ■ ■ ''^it^H' liiid ■orin ., . , ;iL nnv Mimi- ■'•- !i;) (■'. t'loir own .uii thc;ii, ( .n HCo'ire he uumi.K!i- of liconrsos tlip clause of the bill e four, clause nino of '•, whether they (■onie n the public print, or c who say to us, you 17 should reduce the hours of closing; yon should place further lestrictmn u, that way, and by m doing you would ^.-oatly promoft, the canso of temperance and mend reform. I have tl-is to s^v ■ we have 07 licease districts. T ac-ain r.peai, that uiidev the existing law, as honorable gcntlen.on know, License CoHimissioners, and they alone, can regulate the hours of closing. Now what has Iven done HI these .97 districts ? In m out of 97 heretofore n . hours of closing "•ere fi,od at all by ihe License Board. I am nU .. iVirin., h.Satur 'lay n.ght or Sunday, fur which we have a statutory limit T am referrnjgto the action of the License Commissioners, so that we .^ art to-night with this fact that in 37 out of 97 there is no limit at •II. JSow what does the clause do which honorable Kontlomen are cons.dex.ng? By that clause, w,th n.achinery exactly dnnlar to Mic machinery governing Municipal Counciis, hereafter when they soek by by-law to reduce tho numl^.r of liciiscs. C\,mc'\tsm-^ determine the hours of dosing. We fix them in the bill at eleven o clock m towns and cities and 10 o'clock in other municipalities \ Imt .s the effect of that ? How does that work out ? We have H!<> mumcpalities. This claus. of the bill will fi.t tho houv of clos- ingm, Ob municipalities out of bl« at 10 o'clock in the evenin- In sovon n.unieipalitics r.ut of eight in this Province, if this bill hi. • n. for Mio fif^t time the h(mr of closing will be fixed at 10 'Yiock; and in the remaining municipalities it will be fixed at 11 ociuc.-. We may be met again, Sir, by the .sbitemont " that you m.ght go further. That is all very well, inu, .vhy not make a further ^^tep m advance m dealing with tho hours of closing ?" I ask you agaui to consider the provisions of the bill on pages 4 and 5 ; and there we make It possible for the electors bringing their influence '- l.ear upon the Municipal Councils to. .till fanJu r re] i... * he hour, c.t clus,ag, so that the people may govrn, and if they do not like 10 o clock they may nvake it a still cnrlier hour. If in cities and towns ■lioy do not hko il oVl.y l.- fi.^, ,„ ,.i, „4..-. ;xV , an shurten it one hour or Uiore, ,.,, 4.U n- . , '' ^v... 11, ,,in3 uuur or more, ..■^. ' as the ^iunicipal Couucil, the voice of the ueople, declares umt thm prov, on is umdered l.'ss eftective, m that we r^vmi-ea no :ce to be gu .n to tiie Clerk of the Municipality, that we lenuire 100 electors, say ni this city of 200,000 souls, to sign a notie, to th- touncl to pass a by-law shortening the hours of closing- that this mv<,Ives too much trouble^ no one will contend. I km,w ih-, no honest enthusiastic temper.a.ice advocate i« this province w,]. ava!] hm.soltofthat argument. He will say we ai-e willing, we h»,v> i#-^ 18 AlwRy* boon willing/ t>t j^ive time and truutjk and subfltance to pr<>- motfl tluH muw of moral njfonu, uud tlio p vliiimry whicli the Act pi-ovi'iijs for, viB, ;i in I hut in tlu- following yoar nti iijiplii-jitiou tf»thc (.'((unciS v/ill lie miule to still further limit Llio hours of sulliiitf, will not dotcr uh. This condition iH not n harRh condition, but a I'Oiisonahlo cundition luul foaHihle. and of easy accomplishment; a condition to ^thich no niodorato man will tliink of raising an objoc- tion for a sin[,'!(! niomont. I claim, thorcforo, that this ono provi- sion aa I.) tilt liovirs of dosing, of itself gi-.-atly counnenda tho bill to bho niindM of lioncr-ifc men throughout tins jnovince. Thit clause ju.stil'ion Ihitt bill, and tho power roposrcl in Municipal Councils makes itoaaily within the roach of our people to place once a year a further limit, and the foUowinik,' year a otill fiirtlier limit, in the matter of lionrH of closing. You will remember that in our bill, year by year this power is entrusted and given to tho Municipal Council. And the Hame thing as to the hour of opening. It may be 'uade later by the action of tlr Mnnicipul Oouncil. It must not be t'orgott(Mv that the legislation '-v,! are asking the Ilouao to accept does not interfere vith any regulatiou of the License Board now in force, providoil tliat regulation i;s fur an earlier lioiu" of closing ilian the Btatutoiy hour. The right of tlu; License Conimisaiont-rs to go below the 10 o'clock is not only pre.-;ci-veil, but if they have taken tliafc action blieu' action stands, and tho earlier hour they name in their regulation prevails. Sales to ninors. ■| ? I piiHf, on to what perha^is is the niost important feature of tho bill, and that is the clause relating to minors, on page 5. I asked honourui)Ie gontleraon to rem'^mbor a lew days ago, and I remind them HOW. that some years ago we placed the limit at sixteen years. As tim-j went by ami as tho moral sentiment of the [icople c .lied for a change, we raised it to eighteen, and the limit is at present eigh- t<'en ; and now we arc asking this House in repon-.c to what evi- dently i;i the firm wish of oiu- people, once again to raise the limit and to fix it at twenty-one y( uis. I say that thii? is as iuportant a feature as could be coutaine 'I in any bill dealing with the license question, and wliy it is impcriant, Sir, 1 need not argue. If in the tender years of the life of any young man he fails to acquire the evil habit of over-indulgenct; in strong drink ; if lie readies twenty- ciic saved froir. thut vi-'je, the oh-\i'C8s ari* ninyty-:v:;:.- to oae that sul)«trtnca to pr«>« ry which the Act ti' nil a}i|)li(;Mtion u hours of solliiJij, cnndiLion, but a c;ui;ii)lishiiiont ; a raising an objoc- t this ono provi- iinnends tho bill ce. Thvt climso iinit:ii»al Cuuncibi lace once a year a titer limit, in ihu tlmt in our hUl, A) tho Municipivl ining. It may bo It must iK)t he ISO ti) accept does inl now in force, ■ closing *Jian tho ion('r.stow) bulow I have taken tliak »y iiiiuie in tlioir it feature of tho page 5. I asked 50, and 1 remind . at sixteen years. tople ci.lied for a I at present eigh- K'.e t<.) what evi- to raise tho limit is as iiiportant a with tile licenso argue. If in the iis to Hcquii-e the 3 reaches twenty- that in no temptation thereafter can overcome him ; so tluit if we protect .IJ^ . T '"'"'""' ""'^ '^ ""''' ^"'^8" ^^'"^ '^""^ ^th safe. Kuardsup tothc tnnowhen thoy becm. t won. , -one ye.rs. when they have reached man'« esUte. when M.-.-y are account.d.le for .leht HH other full grown nien are account^tble, we place upon o„r statnle .K.k a provision than wh..!, no,h,„,, can be coneeivld which c.nld »H) moro valuabio and useful. «ut we go further n, dn., bill. Liquor .s .sold iu 01ub« in the e.lK.s ,.nd larger towns of thu Province. In this city there are per- haj« cwo score of Uiem or moro. Some have ehart.r. under wldch .oy have a nulUfo soil liquor, some li.ue been incorporutod hrough on. o. ..ho Departments of this (ioven.ment, and their I., tors of mcorporation prevent them sHlin^ ]i„uors. We have all kuuls of Clubs differently governed and ditFe.cntly rcMilnt^d and one of the n,ost valuable provi.sions of this bill is I n^^ke it arl illegal act to sell li.,uur in any c'ub or society to a boy or girl f ness of tins clause. I ask this House .0 notice, that in another uay, and if poK.s,bIe a bettor way, a more et!...i„al svay stiJ] we pi-otect the youths of the country from the dangois of ovor:iu.iri! gence m strcmg chink. We have a clause the hoauing of whi.h is mulors loitering m bar rooms "if you will look on page o sub .00 ion 4 of clau.so 10. That provision makes it illegal for a hoy to hMd or h.iter „i a bar room or t^xorn where Hcpior issohl. The bo v hunself can be fined ; and the keeper of the tavern is liable to a Now I :i.Hk honourablr g.ntlemon to conceive, if you cm, tho pos- Mbie g. c.d. nay the likely good, from that single .I.u.se in our Ll If we can ke..p the boys at home offtho sh-oeUs. .md make their cuucat.,., .„.,.tlun, other than a paveun.nr, education, if we can *l<>se the W roo„, .!,„>,: to them and the clubs until thoy nro •> I ye;irs, then I .,y wo l..,,v. done more ,. promote a health!,,, and ellectual moral sentouont than -« have ever been able to accomp- iisl, many other statute. We have 2,114,000 peoph, ;„ tV uio ymce^ Of tlds numlH-r 1.1 01,000 are mulor the age of ,1 years so that half our population, Su-, . ,>me un . > '"'^ ^''"^«'^ have 135,000 peor.L in this province '; .. T.. oy the e , '""' "" our oiU,_ appareudy .simple pr.visio.., we ctlectually slueld:!and for the first time as eflectualiy as legislation can devise-iaS^S 20 from the ;.»"- pnrt of the youtlw «>f our On page 6 will bo found a^ r new iirovision which iUiike» it impoHHildo to erect Ji t;iv m I witliiii wvy 30l» feot of h chur be on» in lOHpoiisp to tho ' t of tetnpemtico ftdvocati. , but it will i)o such a roflponso M ' . 'iniiieiiU itri'lf ti tlic ittii^sup of our people. I deal now for the niomeufc with tlio penalty olavises of the bill, whieb vvill Im found on page H of the amended bill. Under section 75« of the existing law wa hcve penalty clauses which may result in tbp cancoUation of a license if it be found that I'lo liconHon i.s uUow- iiifjr gambling or riotous conduct to bo permitted in the liotel. [n i^ection 01 of the existing Inw u county judge under ecrtiiin cimili- t ions can cancel the iicenso. We ao further in the provisions of fliis bill, and make it law that if a licensee knowingly allown liquor to be sold during; prohibited hours, and if ho bo three times con- victed on throe di/1'erent days within tAvo years, the License Uommis-' Rioiiom not only nuiy, but Hliall revoke his license 1 am sure you will agree with me that this pv(>vision will have a healthful, deter- rent effect, find that iuieafter it will be easier for the Dep ii'tmc:it and for tb.e Connui.ssionevs in the districts to enforce our Sunday clause, or any clause dealing with the sale of liquor duvin^' pro- hibited hours. And further, im*-. "nly shall tlie license be euicelled but the lioonseo shall nob be allowed to got a license for tine.' years Ui':rfcMfter. Ho L; di3qu,.'ifiivl froin holding a licence durnig that time. 5aloons. On page 6 there will be found a clause dealing with the saloon licenses. We have in this province 34 f^iloons-^iO In T.nduto, 10 in Hamilton, 4 in London, 4 in Ottawa, 2 in i^eterboro, 2 in Windsor, I in St. ('arliarines and 1 in 'Stratford. On the tirat day of Api'il, 1898, half of them are wiped out, and on the first of April, 1890, the remaining lialf disappear. So that in two j ..ivi5 from the opening days of tlie ensuing lioen; e year every saloon 'H M""" r'ro- vinoe Mill 1)6 wipeiJ out. There are 34 of them ; and ';.>,nte r..^ hat this is not douig very much, b\it if there happened to be a line in MliH bill tli IVS 21 roiitlw of our which lUukea 301) ffot of II :m fe.'i-, uiui I ftfit^ue, the ponsM to tho ft roHponso m •s of f-he bill, 'ndor socfiun may ros'ilt in iiHO.n is (illow- f Indol. [n ortiiin condi- [irovisioiiH of iiUort'M liijuor ee times con- cise Uonunis- (im 8U10 you Ithful, doter- I Dejinrtmcr.t our Sunday V dm i)i>_^ pro- I be C'Hiicened r thioi- yciira e dun Hi,' that h the Balooa 1 T.uduto, 10 oiljoro, 2 in tho tirat day 5rst of April, iMti from the tA thi" !'.'-o- onie Pay '.hat be a line in hecjisei VV8 wouW hour a grout deal abou- 'ert* cprtiiinly if. . ••■juiiug to be said of thnt provifiion which will i ihxiii licenHcs on premises wlii> h have not tavtsm v* otiuuodaUuu^, und for tho exist- t-nce of which lesH can l>o n-.- d thun f i ilu. ,>«i^. u-,' <.f other lifunst's Saici by Diuggisti. Then again wo deal, on page A, with i iw matter of thesiiKr liquor by drntr-ist^. Wo are asking the Huuso to limit them to mll- mg in (i>iantilio« tip to six ouncis, unless the litiuor Ik- mii^.^l wHh otl-er drugs, and should it be bo mixed, then the limit is !iri!la, or any aerated, mineral or otter- Aescent drink, shall be liable to the penalties imposed by section 70 .•f this Act." It has been said that druggists, imder Urn color of selling theae \ii the ten electors or other ])artieK mny see thiit the other proceedings follow in due time, and ii becomes the duty of the Licen.se Board (the conditions having been fulfilled > to liiuke it impossible that a license shall be granted tu that u^ ^i r . 22 ji 'I. Contrasted with Nova Scotia. I have been niakmg some enquiry a- tr) (.he working of tiie liceus* laws in the Province of Nuvti Sc<>t ia. ;:on\" t -(vnosh inon ooniinpr to ^his Houho as members cif deputacions h;ivo pointed to it always a« a. aystem to he envied. I hnvu reniindod tho Houne that in that province there is no population limit at dl!. and that thore are somo very Bciions deie.ct+i which go to tlip. roni. of tho matter in tl;p licouse Jawij of "Nova Scotia. Foi- t>x!imp!o, the licensoH aro issued by f.he Municijial (Jdumri)-, of tlio Province of Nova Scotbv, and thoro us no limit to the number of them. Tho Licen.-4c Inspectoiaaroappomfcod by tho Municipal Connoil.s. No one would HU^^'go.st that we gc. ij.ick to that .system hero - adepartirj from which was eagerly .sought by t've people long yeai-s ago. But further, the Ac' in Nova Scotia, while rforne of its proviKions are more I'igid than eon-esponding provisiorw in our bill, i.s by no means onforoed. I ask you tinted by the City f'oimoil, and rh.'t t I'cosawny my ind'M- ,0 ■! , ,.. .?. curU-un extent." l^e^.'irding il,i' ■, -.uo:; ..f licenses-, he J.o.-i i'j-.; th/it even if lie ri'jioiti J riiif.ivnr.ibh i.iic (^)uu oil wr.uld gram tho licen.so. .^... i; ;i thing never Iius occurred and nev(:r can occur in Ontaru., T'n' Nova Sc(iri:i I .■ 'isi.vt'.ire simnlv pa ■■( ,i til.: Act, and ])aiid.u;i it over to tlti> Mn, ■ , Co ejUoroc it. Tho MuiiijiiJiiJiiic.'- ha^'- nut ]. roved e(|Uiu f<> t-)io ':\.-k. Then Mr. Puhfier, an advanced firohdnliuniNt in Nir.a .Scof.i,!, gives simil.u iesujiioiiy, aiii'i iu' says emphatically that <)u, hcenno provi-sions of JVov.a JScotia are by no moans enforced This proves that if your provisions iite extreme, too hen.ii^ (0.1 dra.stic, if you ciniiol e.i,rry popular :-(;itiment willi you, yon euuiot enforce the ..■ . ■ M'le Ui think of pa:„sing .•!, law which cannot bo en- forced. 1 remind tlie thousands of earn' hi- men who ask for a meiusare mor ; licioic than tJiis, more drastic t.hfin this, I remind this HoviBe, that iu a 1 great social questions sucli as this, the growth of sentiment is necessarily slow, is a matter of . de,cation. There is an educatied to free tho slave ; to the life work of Shaftes- bury and to bamuel Plimsoll, the seamen's friend. I repeat that it IS id e to legislate until educaticm has done its work, until Dh, pt>ople see eye to eye with those who ask for this or that advance and until public sentiment is ripe it is idle to ask for extreu.e o^ heroic measures of legislation. I have taken some pride in proving, to my own s^itisfaction, afc any rate, tliat the people of this Province are eminently a sober people. I nave accounted in my own mind, partly at least for this eminently satisfactorily state of things by referring to tlie ,.:... legislation of tliis chamber on twelve different occasions I do not pretrud that legislation in itself and by itself alone accomplished this great work. Then what did accomplish it? My answer IB that every pulpit in this land, and tliere are tens of thou sands of them, have assisted in bring about this great chaii-c- and inpi-omoting temperance sentiment. I answer that .-very "school house m this land, six or seven thousand of them, day by day and month by month, has assisted in eU how lauch tU- people of any country owe to the press in ita powerful adNor-acy of reform-has contributed to this result, f say that every well rciu lated home in this land, and eveiy happy fireside has contributed m bringing about this great result. And 1 <.,uinot say, I cannot apply the scaler, I do not pretend to weigh or aieasure it, I cannot say just to what extent the work of legislation h..9 contributed to this result. I do argue that it has ,lone much, and what it has done it has been able to do only wl.„-„ the oducaiional process ban made the people ripe for tho legislation which the legislation from time to tAme enacted. t\,\. ""'] ", ~ '" ■"'" ," ; ' "''«ga consiuoieu, in the light «f all that lias bee), accomplished ~.,ur licenses, 3,000 lass in number 24 thrtu tliey vcvo twenty years ngo ; , nr po .plo more tempomfo than those 0'- any Provinoo or State on tJii.scui.tiiient ; tin. u umber of tlioB© comi iutrd for drunkeneaa one-third of whia iu wis t-^nty years ngo ; I ,1, xHi'to romen) her with me tliat this ha.s heen accomp- lished unucr iitn,U i,ne legislation, step by step legislation, underth© policy of " hurry slowly," and, judging from the past, I ask you to agree with me tliat if the legislation on this bill is to I>e en'octive, is to 1)0 usefid, us to iead to grand results, it can only he cjlooti-va in proportion to its moderation, and in proportion to the extent in wliich It shall carry with it the moral acunment of the whole connimriity. u ) than years ;oi!ij)- :,'!• Urn ou to .'fcive, ■cti