Excerpt from The Local Elections: Liberal Conservative Campaign Pamphlet, Containing Facts and Figures for the Consideration of the People, Relative to the Issues to Be Decided in June, Also the Speech of W. R. Meredith, Esq., M. P. P

The figures throughout are' 'those for 1877, the latest obtainable in a complete form; the figures for 1878 not having is, been submitted yet' in Q'iiebec, 'lnova Scotia, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island. To sum up, the total cost of government, Dominion and'l'r'o vincial-exclusive of the amounts spent on, Immigration, Police, Pe'nitentaries, Debt Management and 'interest, Hospi tals and Charities, Indians, Public Works Maintenance, . &c. - is upward of $10, a year, or over $2. 50 per head of the population. In addition to this load, moreover, we have to carry our munici pal governments, of the cost of which it is. Impossible to form an estimate. In Ontario alone, there are 39 counties with county governments, and 490 township municipalities, and 172 incorporated cities, towns, and viliages, each with its little government, its office-holders, and paraphernalia. It needs no argument to prove that all this is at tremendous' tax upon the energies if the people.' Whole: sale reducfion and simplification could', not fail to be advantageous {certainly they would save the rfederalf system from the agitation by which it is.already menaced. -the present Dominion government;i although the short. Time they have been in office has been fully occupiedin the, preparation of measures' of vast import ance, have already taken a step in the direction Of economy. The new Govern: h ment in Nova Scotia - the so-called Re form' Government of that Province was' hurled from power on the memorable 17th September - have also entered on a policy of retrenchment, although the Reform majority in the Legislattve' conn-ti Oilfhas baulked, for the time being, their 'l efforts to abolish that body; and the men who have just been called to power: in Prince Edward Island are moving on the same line. In this Province, then f necessity for economy is equally pressing. The bogus Reformers who have ruled us for seven years, have added enormously to the cost of every branch of the public service. They did wrong, but, it was 0a piece with their general extravagance, when they increased the number of. Representatives. In the Dominion Parliament it is only right and proper that the leading Province in the Union, should have a commanding repre sentation; but there is little need for eighty-eight members in the Local House. And the Opposition opposed strongly Mr. Mo wat's Bill, adding eight new members at the. Last general election.

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