Excerpt from Speech of Mr. R. L. Borden, M. P., On the Budget: House of Commons, April 17, 1903

The total expenditure was1 could not get my right hon. Friend the Minister of Trade and Commerce to pay the slightest attention to that celebrated article when he addressed the House two years ago. Might 1 not ask from the hon. Gentleman the favour of passing reference to that published statement of his Might 1 not ask him to makea comparison between the figures of our present expenditure and that which he denounced in those days, and especially draw attention to the fact that be attributed all the wretchedness and misery and maladmlnistration in Canada to what do you think To the fact that in Canada at that day protection existed. Of course we know that, according to the right hon. Gentleman's view, no protection exists in the present tarifl, and 1 think we are en titled to some other argument from the right hon. Gentleman to show that that which was food for comment and criticism so severe in days gone by. Is now a matter of lndld'erence to the hon. Gentleman, even though it is exaggerated a hundred fold.

Let me now. Mr. Speaker, deal with the expenditure on a per capita basis. 1 am not' objecting to fair and even liberal ex penditure. We have a young and growing country, which needs to be developed, but 1 must say that a good deal of public money in this country is not used for very wise purposes and not expended in a very states manlike way. In making the comparisons which 1 do to-day, 1 wish to be' understood as not carping at fair and reasonable espen diture. Because 1 am always willing and ready to support the government in its ex penditures. So long as they are made on some systematic plan and for some wise purpose. In the true interests of our coun try. But it is only right that 1 should bring to the attention of the country. In these times of growing trade, increasing revenues and prosperity. The fact that our expenditure is also increasing by leaps and bounds and we may well bear in mind the words which my hon. Friend the Mlnis ter of Finance. Uttered only two or three sessions ago, that we-cannot always ex pect to have these prosperous times. But must look for lean years in the future.

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