The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-13
WINNIPEG WANTS
GOVERNMENT AID
Asks Dominion Parliament for
Aid in the Worlds
Fair

Ottawa. Dec. 13-Sir Wilfrid Laur-
Ter, Hon. w. S. Fielding, Hon. Frank
Oliver, Hon. George P. Graham and
Hon. William Paterson this morning
In the railway committee rooms of
the. house of commons, met a delega-
tiCn representing the proposed Cana
dian international Exposition and Sell
kirk Centennial. The delegation was
accompanied by about fifty members
of parliament from all parts of Can
ada.
The delegation was introduced by
D. c. Cameron, president of the ex-
position corporation, who explained
what had been done. He informed
the ministers that If properly sup
ported the exposition would be one
iof which Canadians would be proud.
He said it had the support of the
nine provinces.
Premier's Reply.
In reply to a request for a govern.
ment grant of $2,5O0,OOO, the premier
replied:
"It certainly requires no argument
to convince the government and the
members of parliament that the pro-
posed large exhibition would be Of a
great advantage to the whole Cana
dian people. This is second time
that delegation of the gentlemen
who have taken the matter in hand
have appeared before the government.
Speaking in behalf of the govern
ment on the previous occasion, l ex-
pressed the same idea then that you
had not advanced any argument to
convince us of the advisability of hav-
ing an exposition of this kind propos-
ed. The only criticism which / Offer
ed to the project when brought before
me few months ago, was that the
figures submitted to us were altogeth-
er too small. If we are to have an
exposition such as is held in London
and Paris and Chicago and ST. Louis,
a big national universal exhibition,
1t seemed to me that the figures would
not meet with that idea.
Winnipeg's Qualifications.
Looking at the papers placed be-
fore me I take 1t that you expect to
have all the nations of the earth take
part In the exposition, the United
States. France, Japan. Australia.
New Zealand. Belgium. Norway, Swe-
den, Russia, Spain, these embrace
practically the whole civilized world.
II we are to have such an exposition,
for my part do not know that any
other city but Winn.peg should be the
place. Winnipeg is full of ambition
and we have heard evidence of 1t here
today. 1t claims to be the center of
Canada, to that L do not object; they
claim it to be the point of juncture
between the east and west. II we are
going to have such an exhibition
have no hesitation 70 say 1t should
be in Winnipeg, but l am little dis
appointed in the figure placed before
US. The west is large in everything,
and SO far as the dominion govern
ment is concerned. the request. to 1t,
is pretty large They ask S25OO, 900.
Amount Not Pr0portionate.
Now, the minister Of finance has a
word to say to that. For my part.
am always for sDending money; that
is my fault. and am extravagant.
I am one of the government. but 1 am
not the one who looks after getting
the money. The minister of finance
has to look after that and to see that
my extravangance is checked. When
the people of Winnipeg, claim their
city as the best place fer such an ex-
position. for my part l am ready to
advocate their claim, but l must cX-