I say that every man willing and able to work should have work, and I say that it is the duty of legislators to see that he has it.

To-day there are one hundred thousand men and women hanging about our streets deteriorating morally and physically through the impossibility of following their trade.

I say that it is time for legislators to inquire into the cause of this, and to remedy it.

So I propose to move in the House of Commons, should your votes enable me to find myself there, that a Royal Commission be immediately appointed to deal with this matter.

And I propose, further, to insist that this Commission be composed of manufacturers and business men, and that we dispense with all figure-heads, and I can promise you this, that the first question which shall engage the attention of these men shall be an immediate revision of our tariffs.
We won't have men with theories which work out beautifully on paper, and bring a great country into the throes of commercial ruin.