John Graham Haggart
Conservative (1867-1942)
Mr. HAGGART (Lanark).
What provision would the hon. member (Mr. Osier) make in regard to the objection he raises? The trouble is this: The object of the society is to secure co-operative action among different parties intending to borrow money among themselves from some particular members of the community. You may make provisions such that you cannot carry on the work of the society. There must always be some risks and the question is, are the risks greater than they ought to be? If they are greater than they ought to be those who oppose the Bill should be in a position to say how they would guard against undue risk, what provisions they would make and still carry out the provisions of the Bill.
What is the primary object of the Bill? It is a co-operative society to get money cheaper for neighbours amongst themselves. You make all the provisions possible for the purpose of guarding against frauds of any kind, but you may make so many provisions that you cannot loan the money. The trouble is that you cannot make it perfect, you cannot accomplish your object without running some risks. Are the risks greater than they ought to be? If they are greater than they ought to be, some one who is objecting to the Bill ought to give a practical illustration of how he intends to guard against them.
Subtopic: CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT SOCIETIES.