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Sir William Hearst said that he will see thit he would fil1 the position of Minister of Agriculture for the time being, but he had no intention of oc cupying that post permanently. if Prof, Creelman's duties proved too heavy, a new Commissioner would be chosen, or a new professor would be appointed for the Ontario Agricul-- tural College, said the Premier. Dealing with the bill to reorganize the . Agriculitural -- Department, Mr. Rowell submitted that the Govern-- ment was making a hydra--headed, inefflcient department by the manner in which it was proposed to reorgan-- --.ize matters, and urged the Prime " By the same vote second reading was<given. to the bill introduced by mir William Hearst providing for the reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, involving chiefly the ap-- pointment of Prof. Creeiman of the Ontario Agricultural College as Com-- missioner of Agriculture, and mak-- iq legal the appointment of two De-- D:'les and an Assistant Commissiton-- By a vote of 45 to 19, the Gov-- ernment just before midnight defeat-- ed a proposal of the Liberals to ap-- point a Minister of Agriculture to succeed the late Hon. James Duff. In a resolution offered by Nelson Par-- Hament, Prince Edward, the Opposi-- tion urged the Government to select a man who is able to devote his whole time to the work of the department, and who by practical training and ex-- perience is able to give leadership in agricultural matters. They also advo-- cated the appointment of a Deputy Minister, who by reason of his tech-- nical and practical knowledge of ag-- riculture in Ontario is fitted to fill the post. er. In the course of the debate Mr,| Rowell, speaking for the Opposition, | offered. that if Sir William Ekearst would appoint the ablest man that c_o'}!ld be secured for the position of Minister of Agriculture, 'the Liberals would undertake not to oppose him at the' by--election that would be neces-- sary. Sir William made no reference to this offer in his reply. Mr. Nelson Parliament (Prince Ed-- ward) moved, seconded by Mr. J. Grieve (North Middlesex), an amend-- ment to the Government bill "reor-- ganizing the department," that all the words in the imotion after the fAirst word "that" be struck out and the following substitu'ted therefor: . "In the opinion of this flouse, the conditions created by the war make increasingly important the demand for efficient leadership and effective administration in he Devartment of Agriculture, and that ths present urgent need is the appointment of a Minister of Agriculiture, to succeed the late Honorable Mr. Duff, who is able to devote his whols time to the work of the department, and who by prac-- tical--training and experience is able to give leadership im agricuitural matters, and the appointment of w De uty Minister who by reason of hts wegmxoal and practical knowledgs of dgriculture in this Province is fitted to fill this most important post; and that therefore the said bill be not now read the second time, but be read the second timsa on this day --ix months." NO MINISTER JUsT NOW~ FOR AGRICULTURAL DEPT. Government -- Rejects Pro-, posal of Liberals Demand--' ing a Reorganization That ' Would Insure Leadership --Generous Offer to Let Such a Man be Returned Unopposed Leadership Necessary in Department of Agriculture WEDNESDAY," MARcCH it (Prince .Ea-- a° by* c MB. J. x), an amend-- ant bill "reor-- Minister to withdraw the bill. ~"I be-- | lieve what the Province of Ontario | wants, what the farmers of Ont'ariol want,"'. said Mr. Rowell, "is an em-- | cient leader.in the administration of / the Department of Agriculture, a practical man, who has the qualities of 'Jeadership, who will devote his whole time to the work of the depari-- ment, and who will go throughout the Province, meet with the agricul-- } tural community and will be a -- real | jeader in all matters that relate to the t interests of ~agriculture throughout} the Province. The agricultural in= | terests want associated with him, just as an article in The Farmers' Advo-- . cate very fairly pointed out, an able Deputy Minister, the most efficient that can be secured, a man with the largest practical experience and the wldest vision. Reason Given in Ssimecoe. "My honorable friend the Prime ' Minister, in introducing the bill, sug-- gested that his reason for taking the portfolio at the present time was in order that there may be some re-- nrganization, some change of certain branches hitherto associated with the Aepartments, -- transferring them «-- to other departments, That is a simple matter. It is not necessary for my honorable friend to take the position of Minister of Agriculture to do--that. t may be my honorable friend the Attorney--General expressed the real reason when in the «West . Simcoge campaign he suggested a reason hagd been given by The Globe Why.'f.'é {armer had not been appointed: tfi"l& if a seat were opened it would "Reé contested. y Liberals Will Not Oppose "I want to say to my honorable friend the Prime Minister and the members of the Government that if for that or any other reason they nave hesitated to do-- what we --believy-- ed the public interest demanded and what the agricultural interests | de-- mand--the -- appointment of _. the strongest and ablest practical man to this department--because of -- any question of opening a constituency, --s0 vitally do we deem it to the agricul+. tural interests of the Province at this time that the ablest possible practical man should be chosen, with the ablest: available Deputy Minister that I say, speaking from this side of the House, the honorable Minister may open any constituency in this Province . and may appoint the biggest man for Minister of Agriculture to be found. in the Province, and we on this side of the House will not oppose an honor--« able member when hescomes--to seek re--election. So my honorable friend may be absolutely untrammeled _ in choosing the biggest man he can find for this important post." The leader of the QOpposition suggested that the present bill be withdrawn, that: a Minister be appointed and have as-- socikted with him a Deputy with scientific and practical knowledge. Under what was proposed in the re-- m'ganizu}ion bill, the two most im-- portant 'officers, the Minister (the Premier) and the Commissioner '(Dr. Creelman} were able to give to this vital department only their spare tims, and in order to supplement that and to supply the operation of the department an Assistant Commission-- er is provided for with two Deputy Ministers. .e Premier Too Busy. Mr. Severin Ducharme"~(North Es-- sex}) said be was opposed to the bill because he thought it would--lead 'to the running of a great department by proxy. He had a great deal of ad-- miration for the Prime Minister, K6 was a good and clever lawyer, but he did not think he was able to 'become Minister of Agriculture at the pre-- sent time for more than one reason. The principal reason was he was busy at something else and could not de-- vote the necessary time to such an important department. The member PS L s ud e wiide P genn ie atle 4 LEL JCE CELOICEL -- COPNe EVCOE OO ERICR CE NE o oapetoupnn wen for North Essex declared that what was proposed was leading to what he calied an officer--ridden deparitment. -- Late Hon. Mr. Duff a Farmer. _--.,.Mr. A. H. Musgrove (North Huron)