After holding office for eleven years, the Greenway gov- ernment was, in 1899, defeated at the polls. Mr. Hugh John Macdonald, afterwards Sir Hugh, the son of Sir John A. Macdonald, became the leader of the new Conservative administration. He, however, resigned in a short time and was succeeded by Mr. R. P. Roblin, afterwards Sir Rodmond. The Roblin government at once adopted a vigorous policy of railway extension within the province, mainly in the way of guaranteeing the bonds of new railways. The government, also, purchased all the interests of the Bell Telephone Company in Manitoba and established a com- plete system of government-owned telephones, the first on the continent. A similar experiment in the operation of grain elevators did not prove successful. The demand for better financial terms from the Dominion government still continued. To this was now added a demand for the extension of the boundaries of the province to Hudson Bay. Indeed, at one of the local elections the chief issue was the boundary question. In 1912 the claim of the province for further territory was admittted by the government of Sir Robert Borden. The boundaries of Manitoba were extended northwards to a level with the northern boundary line of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and north-eastwards to give the province a shore-line of five hundred miles on Hudson Bay. At the same time a new financial arrangement was made with the Dominion, very much to the advantage of the province. In 1915 charges of corrupt dealings in connection with the construction of the provincial Parliament buildings, were made against the Roblin government. The premier resigned, and Mr. T. C. Norris, the leader of the Liberal opposition, was called upon by the lieutenant-governor to form an administration. The election which followed re- suited in a decisive victory for the Liberals, under the leadership of Mr. Norris. Since the coming into power of the Norris government much important legislation has been passed. The open sale of liquor has been prohibited within the province. The franchise has been extended to women. Education has been made compulsory, and the English language only is allowed to be used as a means of instruction in the schools of the province. Compensation to workmen for injuries has heen provided for. The civil service of the province has been removed from politics. Pensions have been secured for widows left without means to bring up their children. 246. British Columbia, 1871-1920. - Between 1871 and 1876 three premiers held office. Between 1876 and 1903 there were no less than eleven premiers. Up to this time political parties had not appeared in local elections. In 1903, however, Mr. Richard McBride, afterwards Sir Richard, took the bold step of choosing his Cabinet entirely from the Conservative party and appealing to the country as a Conservative. The appeal was successful, although the majority for the government in the Legislature was but two. Sir Richard McBride continued to hold office until 1915. In that year he resigned to take up the duties of agent-general of his province in England. His successor, Mr. W. J. Bowser, carried on the government until late in 1916, when his party suffered a crushing defeat at the polls. Mr. H. Brewster, the leader of the Liberal opposition, became premier. On his death, in 1918, Mr. John Oliver, the minister of railways, succeeded to the office. Three very important questions have taken up the attention of legislators in British Columbia since confederation-the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, |
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