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'"We recognize we must have pub-- lic opinion, a strong public opinion, behind the Government to enforce a law of this kind as successfully as it should hbe enforced, and in order that public opinion should be solidified to my mind the question should be taken out of the domain of party politics and party controversies. So long as it is made a party football, so long as one party or another tries to take party advantage of the question, so long will it be impossible, in my opin-- ion. to obtain the best results. '"'This is not the time to speak of He commended the work of the On-- tario License Board, saying that the regulations enacted by it had, in his opinion, not only been productive of great good from a temperance stand-- boint but had paved the way -- and made possible temperance legislation which, without these, would not have made the coming legislation so suc-- cessful. The steady advance of local option, backed by strong public opinion, had, in his judgment, helped in a marked degree to prepare the ground for any further advance in temperance legislation. There were neariy two '"dry'" municipalitiee for every "wet'" municipality in Ontario. If licenses existed in Ontario to--day in practically every city, town and hamlet as they did a number of years ago, an advanced measure would be very difficult to enforce. Thrift Must be Practised. '"'There is, I believe," said the Premier, '"a call now--a most earnest and special one--for ser-- vice and sacrifice by everyone in this Province and in every part j of the Dominion, and every rea-' sonable step should be taken at °. this time of _ stress and strain that will add to the strength of_' the country and conserve our re-- sources in every way possible for [ the great task. It is surely -- a ; time for all of us to abstain from luxuries and extravagance in what we wear and what we eat as well as in what we drink "In view of the dangers which con-- front us, which perhaps we do not fully realize here, and after full con-- sideration of the question from every standpoint, the Govern-- ment has come to the conclu-- sion that the time has arrived when further legislation might be enacted with advantage to the temperance cause and without introducing greater evils than those we are attempting to destrov. Premier Hearst, who rose at ten minutes past four and had a rousing reception, said there was not now nor had there ever been room for differ-- ence of opinion as to the evil effects of intemperance or as to the fact that these evils existed in this Province, although happily to a much lesser degree than in most places. The only difference of opinion was as to the best method to adopt, as to the best laws and the most beneficial course to take. He deprecated the branding by temperance workers of men with whom they could not agree as foes of temperance. Not-- withstanding the drastic legislation the Government was about to sub-- mit he was well aware there were many conscientious men who might disagree with the Government and who honestly thought that a prohibi-- tory measure would not attain the end sought. A Call for Sacrvifice. religiously or racially, and when we should unite in pursuing the one great common objective which we all have at heart--the successful prosecution of this war. Any man, no matter what his motive or impulse might be, who would seek to take advantage of the present occasion to discourage re-- cruiting in our Province or recruit-- ing elsewhere is not doing himself, his friends or his country any ser-- vice, but is doing them a great dis-- service. We should ali unite in this great hour of crisis in bending our un-- divided energie®to the accomplishment of this great object. As we now ap-- proach the half--century mark of our Canadian confederation, has not the time arrived when we can co--operate, as they are trying to do in the United SBtates, to banish the hyphen which distinguishes perhaps our racial or-- igin, and let us go forward under the common name of Canadians? Must Have Public Opinion Time to Quit Luxuries, Says Premier Hearst of Ihe speaker mentioned the of the Soldiers' Aid Commission -- had recently 'been formed, and a gracetu&tribute to Mr. w,. p Pherson, .P.P., who, as Cha of the Commission, gave pract the whole of his time to the He also mentioned by name the members of the Commission, said that a grateful country 53 back up their work and do every possible for the men '"'who we the front and fought and suffere us in the trenches." New Ontario Development. Passing on to the question of the development of New Ontario, the Bremier announced that it was the in. The Government had given much consideration to the material _ and moral welfare of the Province. He referred to the report recently pre-- sented by the Unemployment Com-- mission:and said the Government was giving the recommendations _ most careful congéderation. Their thanks were due to Sir John Willison, Chair-- man, and to the other members of the Commission, who had given their services voluntarily. To Aid Disabled Soldiers, Mr. Hearst felt that the Legislature should be united in order that every-- thing possible might be done to help to accomplish the overthrow -- of a common enemy. '"'We do not ask our friends opposite to withhold criti-- cism altogether," said he, '"but we fee!l that this is a time when party differences and party strife should be forgotten, Let our watchword be 'None for a party and all for the State,' and let us endeavor to leave behind us a record which those who come after us will read with pleasum and pride." Unemployment Question. the details of the bill, whniCn i1-- nave stated will be subgnitted at an early stage of the session, when there will be ample time for discussion. -- The Province has no power to prohibit the manufacture or importation of intoxi-- cants, but provision will be made for medicinal, scientific, sacramental and mechanical purposes." The Premier paid a high tribute to members of the Legislature who are on active -- service, He -- mentioned Lisut.--Col. _ W. H. Price (Parkdale) and Capt, J. I. Hartt (East Simcoe). mover and seconder respectively of the Address to in reply to the speech from the Throne, saying he felt sure they would both do their duty at the front. "Both sides of the House, ir-- respective of politics, would wish them success," he said, amid ap-- plause. Then he spoke of the dis-- tinguished service--rendered at the front by Lieut.--Col. A. E. Ross, M.P. P. for Kingston, who had been men-- tloned in despatches and honored by the King. Others who were in khaki were Mr. D. Hogarth (Port Arthur), Dr. A. W. Nixon (Halton), Mr. Tho-- mas Magladery (Timiskaming), Lieut.--Col. A. G. Pratt (South Nor-- folk), Lieut.--Col. H. A. C. Machin (Kenora), Mr. A. F. Rykert (North Wentworth), Major Donald Bharpe (Welland), Lieut.--Col. T. Herb. Len-- nox (North ¥York), Major J. C. Tol-- mile (Windsor), Mr. Malcoim Lang (Cochrane). He was sure all would jJoin him in wishing them success and a safo return. War's Purifying Influence on People of Canada 112 CV B 4* BP PRWWTT RETE 7 would: have a purifying and ennobling influerce on' the life of the people, and he felt there would be a greater and more powerful feeling of brother-- hood than before existed, a greater desire to serve and sacrifice, . not only for the Empire, but for the common good of humanity. He trusted that the present Government would never turn a deaf ear to the call of duty, no matter from what auarter it came. Whatever the future might have in store for the Govern-- ment, he could always look back with a clear conscience to the fact thatl, with the aid of the best light on the subject the Government could obtain, they did what they believed to be right, and discharged their duty as they saw it in this Christian Province of Ontario. Tribute for soldier Members. The Premier declared no one could tell what conditions might exist after the war, but he believed the conflict through which we were now passing 1A s LsM NCAE ies oWEA aee vLrlIIvili mnad given, much )n to the material and are of the Province. He _ the report recently pre-- the Unemployment Com-- mO C slat. ve n [3 ~_, -- PVb cand il country should and do everything en '"'who went to t and suffereq for and paid W. D. Mc-- Chair'man practically the work. the other work which ACi ud \ Aar