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FRIDAY, MARE 31, 1916 | Government Expects Revision Following Inquiry ' Mr, J. C, Flliott Urges That the Amount be Increased Considerably ----Subject Debated at Some Length in the Legislature, The plausible statement of the Hon. G. Howard Ferguson, Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines, to the ef-- fect that the tax of $40,000 per an-- num imposed on the Canadian Copper Company's nickel ore output was ac-- cording to a five--year agreement, was erposed by Mr. N. W. Rowell, Oppo-- sition leadcr, towards the conclusion of the debate in the Legislature yves-- | terday. The Minister on Thursday| had offered the explanation that 340,-: 000 was a fiat yrate agreed upon for a | period of five years, expiring this| summer. | It transpired yesterday from Mr.l Rowell's questioning of the Primei Minister that there was no provision!l in the act which authorized the Gov-- ! ernment to make a five--year agree-- , ment with the Canadian Copper Co. for an annual tax of $40,000. Premier Hearst, in reply to Mr. Rowell. ad-| mitted that there was no provision in i the act for a five--year agreement, and that there was no agreement with the company in writing, although there was a general understanding that un-- less something developed to show a | marked difference the $40,000 rate ; would prevail for five years instead ~ of an assessment on a percentage basig. § No Authority For Agreement. Mr. J. C. Elliott (West Middlesex) | said if heread the act correctly there | was no authority for the Minister or I any official of the Government cnter-- ing into an agreement such as hadl been reported by the Minister of | Lands, Forests and Mines. The House, he declared, was the only authority, and no power was vested in the Gov-- ernment to say that instead of an as-- sessment on a three per zcent. basis there should be a $40,000 rate. Quot-- ing from a Government report, Mr. Elliott showed that the value of the output of nickel in matte had increas-- ed from $5,109,088 in 1914 to $17,-- 019,500 in 1915, which he considered "~a material change." For the future it seemed that they should endeavor | as far as possible to make up for | what had been lost by not charging sufficient in the past. Avoid Heavy Taxation. f Hon, Mr. Ferguson stated that it had been the policy of the Govern-- ment not to tax mining concerns too heavily, as heavy taxation might dis--! courage investors who were contem-- plating putting their money into On-- tario mining enterprises, They -- had recently appointed a Nickeo] Commis--