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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