The Ontario Scrapbook Hansard

Ontario Scrapbook Hansard, 27 Mar 1912, p. 1

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The municipalities of the Province, Mr. Rowen pointed out, during the past twenty yet-us had expended $19,- 000,000 on highways, while during the same period 22,000,000 days of 'road work had been put into the high- ways. This latter at the value of one doller per day would represent on expenditure of over $40,000,000 upon the highways of the Province during the last two decades. In the face of of rural Untario. "If there is any way in which we can make people stay on the farm it is by making it more attractive and more remunera- tive." This must be done if young men were expected to remain on the land. Good roads facilitated and cheapened the cost of transportation. Those who travelled through. the country during the autumn and Spring realized the difference between im- proved roads and township roads. Have Spent 840,000,00. Mr. A. w. Campbell. There were about 50,000 miles of highway roads in old Ontario, only 4,000 of which were in a good state of. repair. Peo- ple were regretting the depopulation Mr. Howell began by recalling the work of the lute Mr. Andrew Pat- tullo, whom he styled as the "apostle of good roads in Ontario," which had been followed by the appointment of Mr. Hearst's mdtioh was lost by the same division. The Apostle of Good Roads. The vote stood seventy-eight to twenty, Mr. Allan Studho.lme voting with the Government. Messrs. Mathe- son and MacKay, Anderson and Proudfoot were paired. The amendment moved by Hon. W. H. Hearst expressed sat- isfaction with the policy of the Dominion Government and full Conti.. dence that such a policy would be carried out in the interest of the people. A further amendment to include theyaragraph strieken out by Mr. Rowell's resolution for good roads received only partial endorse- ment in the Legislature yesterday. There was little difference of opin- ton regarding the advantage of a thorough system of good roads in the Province. Gratification was expressed over the progress so tar made under the highway improvement act, but the Government would not accept the clause representing to the Dominion Government that the Federal grant should be upon a fixed basis with a view ot preventing political "log-roll- ing," and insisting that as the title to the highways was vested in the Province, the Province should dis- burse any appropriation made by the Dominion. Government Will Not Insist on ' Provincial Autonomy. UNIFORM SYSTEM NEEDED. PROVINCE SHOULD V DIRECT AID Hon. Mr. Hearst's Amendment Kills Mr. Rowoll's Good Roads Resolu- tion-Expresses Thanks for Fed- eral Grant-roto 78 to 20. [ Dominion Should Not Build Roadways Alone. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1912. Hon. Mr. Hearst said with refer- ence to the manner in which the money was to be given to the Pro- vince, that it was not intended that the Dominion Government should PX- pend it without the co-operation and authority of the Legislature. The Government of Ontario would take good care that the interests of the Province were safeguarded. Mr. Hearst moved an amendment to Mr. Rowell's resolution expressing satisfaction with and approval of the policy of the Dominion Government, and full confidence that the policy would be carried out in the best in- "(2) That this House is gratified at the program so far made in road im- provement under the highway im- provement act passed in 1901, but this House is of the opinion that the time has come for a more Compre- hensive and adequate policy to pro- mote the construction of good roads throughout the Province, particularly roads leading to market towns." Ontario's Interests Guarded. "ll) That this House is of the opinion that a thorough system of good roads in this Province would increase the value of farm lands, les- sen the cost of transportation. im- prove marketing facilities, increase the comfort and convenience ot farm life, and greatly promote the general progress and prosperity of the Pro- vnce. Concluding, Mr. Rowen pointed out that it was essential in the harmoni- ous working together of the Pro- vinces that the expenditure should be distributed on a fair basis. Rival claims would promote Jealousy and contfict. vThrerpart of Mr. Howell's motion that stood was: __ l _Mr. Rowell warned against a di- ; vision of the work. T The grant from the Dominion shoui-l he disbursed by the Province. Tr, systems of de- velopment would t_,,ult in confusion and loss of money. The money should be paid into the Provincial Treasury and expended for this common pur- pose. "No more serious departure can he made than consenting to the Dominion Government coming in and takingjurisdiction over our highways, even to the extent of improving them." The roads were vested in the Pro- vince and controlled by the muni- cipalities, and they should insist on controlling and maintaining them in the interest of the people. "If the Dominion is allowed to come in and spend money on good roads of its own 1 motion, where it chooses, I venture1 to think the result will be just as we have in many cases in our own colon- ' ization roads: the money will be Spent tor political purposes and political ef- tect, and we will not get good roads throughout the Province, and it is the duty of this Government to insist that no such policy should be entered up- Another important consideration was the securing of properly trained highway engineers. In Europe a man had to be a graduate of a highway en- engineering school before he was charged with road construction. It was well known that motor-cars be- cause of their Weight were hard on highways. It would therefore be fair to all to make. the motorists pay " special highway tax, which they were willing to do. The cities should con- tribute to county roads, as the (Titivs enjoyed the facilities which gout} roads provided. l Province to Spend Money. The Opposition leader suggested that a scheme might be promulgated whereby the Dominion grant would amount to (MP-half the amount to he spent on highways. the Province contributing one-quarter and the municipalities the remaining quar- ter. "I venture to think that prac- tically all the municipalities of this: Province would gladly come into such a, scheme. It may be the proportion, cannot be worked out as I have trut. gested, but some such plan would: enable the development of a highly: important policy which would give a remarkable impulse to the roads of this Province." Highway Engineers. all that, the time had come when the Government might move forward and adopt a more comprehensive policy than at present.

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