Mr. LALOR.

Has the minister any knowledge as to a comparison of the work done by dredges owned by the government and the work done by contractors' dredges paid by the hour ? Which is the cheapest? Is it profitable for the government to use their own dredges ?

Mr. LALOR.

How about your own side ?

Mr. LALOR.

Is not that association organized for the purpose of furnishing pure seed to the people of this country ? and have they not seed for sale, which will be recognized as pure seed 1

Mr. LALOR.

This will be the germ of competition by the association against ordinary seed gi'owers. The latter will have to compete with an association which is officered largely by men paid out of the public exchequer and connected with the Department of Agriculture, and I am also advised that the Minister of Agriculture is himself a member of the association. It does not seem to me fair that the ordinary seed merchant should have to compete with an organization of that kind. Whether that be the case or not, to the ordinary individual it looks as if the Bill now before the House were in the interests of the Seed Growers' Association ; and, of course, the farmers will naturally go to an association which is so closely identified with the Department of Agriculture. That is not fair to the farmers or seed merchants or the wholesale trade.

Mr. LALOR.

What inducements are held out to manufacturers to exhibit ? Have they to pay their own freight, or what means should they take to have their goods exhibited ?