Hon. Mr. McGowan (Minister of Justice).

This gentleman also talks of the danger to the country of allowing me to control a section of our railways. I have replied to this argument in my comments on Mr. G. W. Russell's speech, as I also have to the question of a guarantee. Mr. McGowan speaks of the demand made upon me as "such a reasonable request." I consider it as the most unreasonable one ever presented to any private citizen, and, as I have shown, it is one that the Department knew it was quite impossible for me to comply with.

I take exception to Mr. McGowan's statement that the introduction of the Stage System will depreciate the value of laud near our great cities. No class of land will benefit so much; for it will enable all laud within a radius of 30 miles to be brought in as suburban residence sites and for small market gardens, for which purposes land will pay a higher rental than for any other. I contend that from the city out the Stage System will add value to every acre of land in the Colony.