Mr. FISHER.

The Minister of Agriculture came here and asked parliament for $175,000 for the Paris exposition. That was after careful estimates and calculations of the space that would be required, and he pledged himself to the House and the country that nothing would be left undone to see that the money was carefully and economically expended, that good value would be obtained for it, and that competent men would be got to administer it. What do we find to-day ? $140,000 is required in addition to the $175,000, which we were assured would be all that would be required; $140,000, and more than that absolutely thrown away without any beneficial results for the people of Canada. It is a confession of incompetence from start to finish. \\ nat did the Minister of Public Works tell us a moment ago? He admitted that all was wrong, but he said the Canadian government were not to blame. He has a habit, which we have seen a hundred times in this House, if anything goes right, to claim credit for the genius and the admirable management of the Minister of Public Works, whereas if anything goes wrong, he says, It is my staff-I will cut their heads off. I think we have had enough of that sort of thing. He told us that in his opinion the building was worth $40,000 or $50,000. I do not know where he got the experience to be a competent judge. For myself, with the greatest deference to him, I refuse to acknowledge his judgment in the matter at all, especially as his interests 'all go to make the value of the building as great as possible. A gentleman in Toronto, capable and competent, said he could put up that building for $10,000, and I will take his opinion a hundred times over on that matter before the opinion of the Minister of Public Works. The hon. gentleman says the Canadian government are not to blame. Who is to blame ? We voted the money, and the Minister of Agriculture gave us the assurance that it would be economically, carefully, and wisely expended. He told us of his plans and schemes. Where are those plans and schemes to-day ?

Mr. FISHER.

Hon. gentlemen opposite sometimes twit me a little with the failure of cold storage, but the Montreal Gazette says my exhibit in Paris was an excellent one.

A large stand, showing Canadian apples, &e., gathered last fall and preserved in the cold storage, attracted great attention. Cold storage is not familiar yet to the crowds, who would * hardly credit that the fine specimens of apples were not wax imitations. Had the French commissioners granted sufficient room, it was the intention of the Canadian commissioners to make cold storage a very prominent exhibit. As it is, all that is to be seen of this marvellous invention is in a little out of the way cellar, where the Linde British Refrigeration Co., of London and Montreal have their system in operation.

And then he goes on to describe the exhibit we have there. Now, let us take extracts from other papers. I have here a statement from the Manitoba Free Press, with the testimony of a prominent citizen of Winnipeg, Dr. McArthur. I do not know the gentleman, but he says :

Canada had the finest display of natural products. Canada had the only cold storage exhibit on the grounds and it excited a great deal of interest.

Here is a statement from a French newspaper, which, to save the nerves of hon. gentlemen opposite, I will not read. But here are one or two statements which I will take almost at haphazard from a large number. I find, from gentlemen who have had experience in exhibition work, and who have no connection with Canada or the Canadian commission in any shape or way. For instance, Mr. B. I. Bose, commissioner for British India, our rivals in the exhibition, occupying the adjoining building to us, and naturally desirous to putting forward their claims, says :-

With over twenty-live years' experience of international exhibitions, I can without hesitation testify that Canada's representation at Paris this year is the best and most perfect that the Dominion has ever made and I believe will result in a great increase of her trade. The elaborate statistical and other works (printed, in both French and English) dealing with the products and resources of the country compare most favourably with those of all other countries and reflect the greatest credit on the government of the Dominion.

(Signed) B. I. ROSE, Commissioner for British India. Here is a gentleman who is engaged in trade in England, and whose business is especially interesting to us, because he is interested in the produce trade-Mr. Walter Stark :

I have been exceedingly pleased in looking over Canada's exhibits, and must say it does both the producers, and those who have been responsible for display, very much credit. Such a splendid display of Canada's products must be an eye opener to Europe and should be of great service to the Dominion.

Here is a French gentleman of special qualifications as a representative of the Chambre

de Commerce de Lyons, and I am afraid, even though it grates on the feelings of hon. gentlemen opposite, I shall have to read it :

Paris, October, 1900.

Having been intrusted by the Chamber of Commerce, of Lyons, to gather the elements of a collection of samples, in connection with the industrial and agricultural production of Canada,

I have received from Mr. Auguste Dupuis, the secretary of the Canadian section at the Paris Exposition, all desirable data and information. The Chamber of Commerce, of Lyons, would receive with acknowledgments any collection it would please the Dominion government to send them.

(Signed) F. VERTAN.

So, here we have an anticipation on the part of a French gentleman, representing the Chambre de Commerce de Lyons, of a large augmentation of the trade between Canada and France in consequence of the exhibition. Here is another gentleman from France, who was particularly authorized to study the products of foreign countries, and especially of colonies, for the purpose of helping the French government in the development of their colony in Algiers :

Mr. Amedee Rebattu, lumber merchant, from Bone (Algeria), a member of the statistical committee of the ' Algerian Statistical Union ' and a member of the jury (class 90) at the exhibition of 1900, asks for information concerning the use and manufacture of cold storage appliances for the preservation of fruit.

He came to us for information and specimens in regard to cold storage. Here is another gentleman, the assistant commissioner general of Great Britain :

Paris, Nov. 29, 1900.

X am delighted to be afforded this opportunity of placing upon record my admiration for the successful manner in which the work of the Canadian section of the Paris exhibition has been carried out.

The installation of the exhibits, combined the most remarkable illustrations of the industrial wealth and progress of the Dominion with general artistic effect which it would be difficult to surpass, whilst the courtesy and experience of the organizers naturally contributed in the highest degree to the success of the'section.

(Signed) EDMUND R. SPEARMAN

Assistant commissioner general of Great Britain.

Mr. FISHER.

come to the front; but I would be rather surprised to find Canada coming to the front in competition with the old land in certain products which for centuries she has been working up. Take, for instance, books and binding. Great Britain received ten awards, but Canada received five, almost half as many or more in that highly finished product as the mother country was able to secure.

Take musical instruments, Great Britain received three awards but Canada received six, or this young country had doubled the success of the mother land in this line.

Again, in general machinery, in which the old land has for centuries been the leading country in the world. Great Britain received eleven awards and we received three, and that, I think, is a most creditable showing for Canada in this, to her, comparatively new field. '

In carriages and vehicles, the mother land received five awards and Canada eleven, one of which was a grand prix, and there was no such award given Great Britain.

In agricultural implements, in which the mother land entered into keen competition, Great Britain received twenty four awards and Canada twelve.

In horticulture, with the gardens and the soil of England close at hand, right at the doors of Paris, while our products had to come over 3,000 miles, Great Britain received two awards and we three.

In fruits we received altogether 109 awards, and our fruit had to come over 3,000 miles before they could enter into the competition.

In minerals-and I understood an hon. gentleman opposite to say a little while ago that in that line Canada was not properly represented in mineral display

Canada received forty-two awards and the British Isles only fourteen. In other words, we trebled their success.

In hunting apparatus, we received six awards against Great Britain's eleven, and in the clothing trade we received eleven against her twenty. In the manufacture of paper, we received three against Great Britain's four, and in leather manufacture and skins we had three awards against Great Britain's four.

Altogether Great Britain received 853 awards, and we received 394, or very nearly half as many. I venture to say that this is a showing of which every Canadian should be proud, and of which I certainly, ns the minister responsible for the collection of the exhibits and their display in Paris, am proud and have no hesitation in putting before the country without fear of criticism.

Mr. FISHER.