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fl " n 'its: FEE to temperance matters. He pomteg out that when the Liberal party he introduced a bill to abolish the has not a Government supporter ha voted in favor of the measure. With- in a year the Government had even gone farther than the Opposition. Mr. Clarke declared himself as em- phatically against the bar being again legalized. A -- .- h -- Mr. Clarke commended the Gov- ernment for its housing bill, but pointed out that there should be some provision whereby the Govern- ment would protect the purchaser of a house for three or four years. He had some fun at the Govern- ment's expense as the result of the recent by-elections. "It is a peculiar thing to me that if this Government has been doing as much for the far- mers as it thinks it has, the re- sults should have been what they are." Of course. he remarked, the farmers knew about Government House and similar extravagaitces. There was Just one way the Gov- ernment could retrieve itself in the eyes of the farmers, he said, and that was by asking the Dominion Government to remove the special tariff. "I will move it now, and you can second it," shot back Mr. Clarke. But Mr. Ferguson would not take up the challenge. move ii?" interrupted Hon. G. How- ard Ferguson. - -"I would m/ave it, second it and carry it," rejoined Mr. Clarke. Highways and Radium. The speaker thought the highway scheme gas a big proposition.' He suggeste that there would be great- er satisfaction if instead of spending so much money on highways it were spent on building radial railways through sections not being served by railways now. Major J. I. Hartt (East Simcoe) said he believed it would have been better had there not been the truce between the two parties. He crit- cized Mr. Proudfoot. the Opposition Leader. for applauding the previous speaker in remarks anent the by- elections, and also applauding when Mr. widditield was introduced. - Mr. Proudfoot rose to a point of order and objected to this statement. He denied that he had applauded on either occasion. "I am bound to accept the word of the Leader ot the Opposition." said Major Hartt. "There Was so much evidence of joy across the floor of the House that I may be excused for believing that he participated in the rejoicing." Country's Debt to Soldiers. Dealing with the question of sol- diers, Major Hartt said that the problem of providing properly and adequately for the returned men was a large and complex one, but it must never he thought that the re- turning veterans were of a type who would assert that the world owed them a living. They did not sug- gest such a claim, but, on the other hand. the country unquestionably did owe to these home-coming vet- erans the opportunity to make a liv- ing. In connection with the Hous- ing Bill he hoped to see special pro- vision made for the returned man, such as in cases of default. In such instances there ought' to be provi- sion for fair adjustments and some special privileges might very well be granted to veteran soldiers in the working out ot the bill itself. He also hoped to see provision made by the Province for mothers who were left destitute by the taking of their bread-winners, even although these were without dependent children. He had changed his mind on the matter of extending the franchise to women, and would now welcome them because of what they had done in the war. While overseas he had learned much of the benefits of reforesta- tion, and in his own county there were large areas adaptable for such work, mentioning particularly the Camp Borden district. Such work would be the finest for soldiers. The road question would also find as- sistants in solution in the returning men, who had studied road building methods in England and France. Mr. J. C. Elliott (West Middle- sex) Joined with his colleague and spoke kindly of the late members of the House and Sir Wilfrid Laur.. CI hy doesn't my hppprablg f_r_iend i,, who had represented the hum.. est integrity in public life. In' dis- cussing the termination of,the war, Mr. Elliott said that the women had, contributed very largely to the re- sult, and they were entitled to seats in the Legislature. He criticized Major Hartt's attack on Mr. Proud.. foot, and expressed disapproval of that member's remarks anent Mr. ('ti1idt1i'iii't, that he had "stolen" into the House. Advocates Fixing Wheat Prices. Mr. Elliott said that Ontario would pay its full share of the expenses of the war. He referred at length to the fixing of the wheat prices. The price of $2.20 fixed in June, 1917, was not set in the best inter.. ests of tho farmers, because at that time the market price was 20 cents higher. When the cost of labor and materials went up the price of wheat did not do so, although the agricul- tural machinery manufacturers took advantage of the increased prices. At the present time the farmers should be assured of the fixed prices for another year, now that other costs are decreasing. The members were all curiosity to hear the maiden address of the first United Farmer representative elected to the House. Mr. Beniah Bowman, of Manitoulin. who fol- lowed Dr. Musgrave. Mr. Bowman made a good impression on the House. He had his address care- fully prepared, his facts well mar- shalled, and while a back bencher. the members showed much interest in his remarks. The principle of public ownership was strongly supported by Mr. Elliott. He recalled that in 1914 he had favored the taking over of telephone systems in Canada. They should be expropriated by some Gov.. ernment before many years had passed, and the speaker thought the sooner this was done the less it would cost the country. "I will suggest that this Govern- ment should take up the question of the expropriation of the Belt Tele- phone System at the earliest pos- sible moment," said Mr. Elliott. "They have been accumulating large profits and assets. which, it turned into a Provincially-owned system. would be preserved for the public." Continuing the debate after re- cess, Dr. G. J. Musgrave (Niagara Falls) reviewed the good deeds of the Government during the war period, and particularly during the last year. He spoke highly of the services of the district agricultural representatives and commended the Government's good roads policy to the farmers. U.P.O. Member Speaks. The L'.F.O. speaker was glad to see the unanimity on the part of the Government and the Opposition on all measures having as their pur- pose the welfare of the returned soldiers. Whatever criticism the farmers had of expenditures by the Government. they were thoroughly in agreement with all monies de- voted to the soldiers' cause. He was surprised at the matter of tariff being introduced into the debate. but even as a farmer he would not deal with that question. While he had not "intended to make any complaint, he would not allow the aspersion of Major Hartt on Mr. Widditield as "stealing his way into the House" to go unchal- lenged. Replies to Hartt. . hr Referring to the defeat of the Government in the by-elections; and particularly in his own case. Mr. Bowman said that the Government had made great efforts to defeat him. The Prime Minister and Bev- eral Ministers had entered the rid- ing, and they had taken the speaker and his campaign as a joke. "I don't wonder at the. Govern- ment not saying anything about the by-elections. I would not either," declared Mr. Bowman. "That statement 'stealing into the House' has taken hold of me," said Mr. Bowman. "We never spent a dollar for a vote, and in my election campaign I never made a promise. I said that I would stand by the people and would work for the in- terest of the people, and on that ground_we won out." Mr. Bowman expressed pleasure with the O.T.A., and voiced the opinion that the law should be what the people really desired. "The Deo- ple should have a direct vote on this, as welips on every other great estion." He urged the necéssity