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Government Opposes Major Iolmie's Amendment of Grant to Soldiers MW HOUSING BILL "Not Time and Place," Says Mr. McGarry, for Such Aotitm Before the Housing Bill was fin- ally given its third reading in the Legislature yesterday, a short but sharp fight occurred between the Government 'and . the Opposition. After the debate on the measure last week, the bill stood for third read- ing, but yesterday the Prime Min- ister moved that it be considered in committee again, to permit of sev- eral unimportant verbal amendments being made. The changes were agreed to without opposition. The Liberals, however, availed them- selves of the opportunity of the bill being sent back to the committee to propose that some special provision be made for returned soldiers. The Opposition Leader, Mr. Wil- liam Proudfoot, first urged the matter on the Govern- ment, and the proposal was placed in concrete form by Major J. C. Tolmie of Windsor, who intro- duced an amendment to provide for the payment of a grant of $200 to "a returned soldier, or the father or mother of a returned soldier." The amendment was discussed for a few moments, and then dropped, as the Chairman, Mr. A. E. Donovan of RULED OUT OF ORDER Brockville, ruled that an amendment affecting the revenue of the Pro- vince could not 'be introduced by a private member. His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Hendrie. will assent to the bill to- day. The municipalities will then be able to go ahead and operate under the provisions of the act. _ . Not Practical, Says McGarry. The Government contended that the proposal of Major Tolmie was impracticable. Hon. T. W. MoGarry deprecated the suggestion in view of statements ot Opposition speakers last week that there was really a de- ficit of a million and a, half in the Budget. There were 200,000 soldiers sent overseas from Ontario, and if 1ir0,000 of them desired houses, and they were each given a. grant of $200, "I take no back place to any man regarding the returned soldier," de- clared Mr. McGarry, "but this is not the time and the place, when we have a Housing Bill before us, to con- sider what money grant we shall give to the soldier. If honorable gentle- men opposite will atop injuring the fair name of the Province, the ttnancete of Ontario may at some future time be in a position to per- mit a reasonabe grant to the return- ed soldier." it would necessitate an outlay ot $30,000,000. Even if only 25,000 soldiers built houses, the grants would total $5,000,000. Mr. McGarry said that there was nothing in the bill which prevented the Government helping the return.. ed soldier. He declared that mem- hers of the Opposition would not tind Government supporters second to them in their generosity to the re- turned soldier. "After mature con- sideration, after the Dominion Gov- ernment, which has the tlrtet liabil- ity, is in a. position to state what their whole intention is in regard. to providing for the returned soldier, we can consider the matter," said the Provincial Treasurer. "hut are we going to rush in and commit our- selves to an exoenditgre of $30,000.- Il UbsUAY, Y MARU-d 18, 1919.1: 7360 when we iiisn't know what the Dominion Goprernmenf iy going to tio? Until the conclusion of this session we will not know the total assistance they are going to give the returned soldier. However com- mendable the object of the honorable member is, this is not the time nor the place in which such a motion should be made." Mr. Proudfoot Urges Amendment. Sir William Hearst pointed out that the amendment proposed was out of order. Mr. Proudtoot. how- ever, further impressed the desir- ability of the change in the act upon the Government. He declared that no $30,000,000 was involved in the suggestion, as contended by Mr. Mc- Garry, since the bill did not pro- vide tor the expenditure over the amount of the Federal grant, plus the $2,000,000 set aside by the Pro- Vince. Sam Carter (South Wellington) argued that for the next two years 10,000 houses would be the maxi- mum construction. Of these not more than 3,000 would be built for returned soldiers. and the cost to be borne by the Province therefore would not be so large. 7 Major Tolmie denied that the Op- position had been injuring the fair name of the Province in any way, as alleged by Mr. chGarry. Nor did he desire to make political capi- tal out of the motion. Such was not the intention of any Liberal member. He said he knew the difficulties the soldiers felt confront- ed them, and many of them were anixons to get homes started. Major Tolmie declared that now was the time to assist the returned men, and not wait until next session. as had been suggested. "The soldiers are back now, and if we are going to help them this is the time to do it, and not a year from now. 1t would take away that reetless spirit and it would show them that we really meant business," he declared. It was suggested by Mr. Proud- foot that the discussion on the amendment be adjourned, but the resolution was declared out of or- der by Mr. Donovan, and the other minor changes gone on with. "When the Government proposes to help the returned soldier," said the Prime Minister. 'it will bring down proper and welbthought-out means of enabling it to do so." IMajor Tolmie suggested earlier In the debate that the returned men be loaned the money at 4 per cent. as an alternative to the $200 grant. To this suggestion the Prime Min- ister said that Major Tolmie was no more enthusiastic in the interest of the soldier than the Government. Other Bills Passed. 'as only a portion of his time would be taken up with sittings. The sal- 'ary of Mr. Ellis for the two posi- .tions would be $6,000, of which {$4,000 was for his services on the , Railway Board. 3 Several Government mills were 'given second reading, and the Va- cant Lands Cultivation Act, provid- ing for the extension of a measure passed last session for one year, was put through committee without op- The companion bill providing for an amendment to the Bureau of Municipal Affairs Act to permit of the appointment of Mr. J. A. Ellis as Director of the housing scheme. was opposed by the Liberals. It was finally given tnird reading after a, motion by Mr. Proudfoot to give it a six months' hoist was voted down. The Opposition Leader reit- erated his objections of last. weekl to allowing Mr. Ellis to hold two offices. one as a member of the On- tario Railway and Municipal Board and the other as the Director of thel Bureau of (Municipal Affairs. . A t Hon. I. B. Lucas in reply point- ed out the advantage of co-ordinat- ing the work'of the bureau with the municipal work of the Railway Board. He emphasized the fact that as a member of the board Mr. Ellis would have opportunity to de- vote himself to municipal matters, position.