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Date: 1866-06-26
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 5th Sess, 1866 at 24-25.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, June 26^th, 1866.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 3 o’clock.

After routine,

Hon. Sir. N.F. Belleau moved that when the House adjourns to-day, it stand adjourned until to-morrow, at half-past nine o’clock.—.Carried.

Hon. Mr. Boulton moved that the returns of certain Sheriffs in Upper Canada, to addresses from this House, be referred to a Special Committee composed of the Hon. Messrs. Christie, Burnham, McMaster, Simpson, Currie, Vidal, and the mover, with power to report by bill or otherwise.

• (p. 25)

Hon. Mr. Campbell thought that before taking this step it would be more expedient to refer the returns of the Sheriffs to the printing Committee. The members generally knew nothing of the matter, and until they had information on the subject could not, intelligently, decide whether or not it would be better to proceed in the mode indicated by the motion. For his part, being acquainted with the nature of the returns, he had no objection to send them to a special Committee, but the house generally were not informed on the subject.

Hon. Mr. Bolton said that last year he had proposed to have these returns printed, but it had been objected to on account of the expense. It was well known that dozens of returns were printed which were not read by members other than the Committee’s interested. If the abuse complained of existed, a remedy was much needed and he hoped the reference would not be objected to.

Hon. Campbell reiterated his objection then in voting the reference that house would be voting in the dark. Supposing the motion was adopted and the Committee reported by bill, the house could not proceed with it until it had examined the returns. The printing Committee need not print the returns in full, but might make abstracts of them which would sufficiently indicate their character, and after that the house could proceed safely.

Hon. Mr. Courier inquired into the subject of complaint against the Sheriff.

Hon. Mr. Bolton said that it was for taking poundage upon seizures which had not come to execution.

Hon. Mr. Campbell, if that was all, the fees so taken by each Sheriff could be ascertained without going into particulars.

Hon. Mr. Curry suggested that the Committee simply make a report and leave the house to determine whether it could proceed by bill.

Hon. Mr. Bolton said it had been his intention to assimilate the practice with that of lower Canada, but he was willing to leave the words ” by bill ” out of the motion.

The motion was then amended in that sense and carried.

The bill to regulate the sale of wood on the reserve of the Iroquois Indians settled at Caughnawaga was read a third time and passed.

Hon. Mr. Allan move the second reading of the bill to amend the charter of the Bank of Upper Canada. In making the motion the hon. member said that the bill had been submitted to a general meeting of the stockholders, and approved by them. The amendments proposed might be classed under 3 heads. 1^st.  the reduction of the capital stock of the institution. 2^nd. The issue of preferential shares, and 3^rd. the charges rendered necessary by the two previous clauses so as to determine the qualifications of the directors.

The hon. member did not propose to go into an argument to show the expediency of granting the measure. It would be referred to the bank and Committee, composed of the ablest men in regard to such matters in the country, and they would have the evidence of shareholders, cashiers and other parties to guide them. He was aware there might be objections to the issue of preferential stock, but it was proposed to do so in such a form as to guarantee completely the present shareholders , and besides the preferential shares would be first offered to them.

Hon. Sir NF Belleau did not intend to raise a discussion upon the bill or to oppose its reference to the Committee, but would express his entire descent from the propriety of the proposal to issue preferential stock.

Hon. Mr. Curry — how is the new stock to be disposed of?

Hon. Mr. Allan — it would have to be taken up within a limited time.

Hon. Mr. Ryan cannot approve the proposed issue of preferential stock. It had been permitted in respect of other institutions but did not think it should be in the case of a bank. However, he would preserve his objections until the bill came before the Committee. The bill was then read a second time and referred to the Committee on banking and Commerce.

The house then adjourned.