748 THE FEDERATIONS AND THE UNION [PART Iv
The Act of 1908 (c. 22) was stated in the Legislature to effect
this purpose, and its intention seems to have been clear,
but its wording was not, and one mayor declined to sign the
contract passed by the Council of Galt, An action was
brought to compel him to sign, but it was then held that the
Act did not suffice to render it unnecessary for the ratification
of the ratepayers to be extended to such a contract, and
actions were brought against the cities of Toronto and
London to restrain the Municipal Councils from entering
into an agreement with the Commission. The fact was, of
course, that the existing companies were not at all anxious to
see this rival interfering in the electric supply business. The
municipalities petitioned the Legislature, and in the result
an Act (9 Edw. VII. ¢. 19) was passed to validate the contracts
made, though not confirmed by submission to the rate-
payers. Requests were made for disallowance, but the
Government of Ontario drew up a learned memorial which
it sent to the Governor-General in December 1909. After
reciting the facts and dealing with supposed objections to the
constitutionality of the legislation, the memorial ends :—1
Finally the people of Ontario take their position on the
positive and unshaken foundation formed by the British
North America Act and the decisions which have been
indicated, and in agreement with the principle laid down by
the present Minister of Justice in fhe report and speech
herein above quoted, and respectfully submit that for up-
wards of two hundred years the Lords and Commons of
Great Britain have legislated without fear of the royal veto,
although its existence has been undoubted, and therefore,
in full accord with the spirit and genius of British Institu-
* There have been of recent years constant complaints of Dominion
interference—the provincial authority is asserting itself and increasing ;
the Inter-provincial Conference of 1887 demanded the abolition of the
Dominion veto power; cf. Sir W. Laurier in New South Wales Parlia-
mentary Debates, 1910, Sess, 2, P- 714, and the total refusal of the Dominion
Government in the negotiations in 1910 and 1911 with the United States
to attempt any interference with Ontario and Quebec legislation forbidding
the export of pulp wood. Cf. also Provincial Legislation, 1899-1900, PP.
17 seq. ; House of Commons Debates, 1910-11, DP. 3390: the Quebec view.
Canadian Annual Review, 1905, p. 314.
