The Canadian News of March 25, 1875

In a report of the Minister of Agriculture, which was laid before the Senate the other day, we find the following paragraphs:—
" The combination of steamship companies, commonly known as the North Atlantic Conference, broke up on the 7th May last, from differences among its own members. The combination had for some years previously maintained the steerage or immigrant fare on steamships at the uniform rate of £6 6s. steerage to all parts in Canada and the Northern United States. Thus any steamship lines, parties to the conference, would take an emigrant to Boston or New York for £6 s6., and pay the intervening railway fare to Quebec; or, if the emigrant were landed at a Canadian port he would be taken to Boston or New York for the same fare. After the rupture of the conference, the steerage fare practically fell to what could be obtained, but the prevailing rate was £3. This state of things continued throughout the year. The arrangement that had been made by the department with the Allan, and the Dominion, the Temperleys, and the Anchor Lines, to afford passenger warrants to approved immigrants to Canada at the rate of £4 15s., remained in abeyance, in consequence of the rupture of the conference. A special warrant, however, enabing [sic] families of agricultural labourers and female domestic servants to obtain passages for £2 5s., became in very great demand."