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It was stated by the various speakers that what the farmers re- quired was not a few specially good trunk roads, but rather a system of useful roads. Good roads as a whole were not opposed. When re- ference was made to the large urban deputation that waited on the Gov- ernment recently asking for a second trunk road through West- ern Ontario, members of the depu- tation said it was manipulated by the cities and did not represent the farmers. it was claimed that the building of' the road would result in decreased agricultural production because it would take labor from the farms. Opposition to the Government policy of building a Provincial high- way has been voiced at various U, F. o. meetings in different parts of the Province of lute. Yesterday the opposition took on official form, when a deputation claiming to re- present 10,000 farmers placed their objections before the Minister of Public Works, Hon. Finlay G. Mac- diarmid, and the Minister of Agri- culture, Hon. George S. Henry. The conference lasted for more than two hours, the Ministers taking a large part in the discussion. At the con- clusion ot the meeting there was no evidence that the objections had made any impression on the Min- isters. Mr. Mucdiarmid declared that the Government was not build- ing speedways for joy-riders. and he pointed out that many associa- tions had adopted resolutions favor- ing the Windsor to Ottawa and Mon- treal highway. The deputation was introduced jointly by the two U. F. o. mem- bers of the Legislature. Mr. Beniah Bowman and Mr. J. W. W'iddifield. Mr. R. H. Hulbert, President of the U. F. o., introduced the various speakers. He claimed that the highway would not be for the benes tit of the people, but for the motor interests. WANT OLD PLAN AGAIN Deputation of Farmers Lays Grievances Before Provin- cial Ministers Present Resolution Said to Have Been Signed by 10,000 ROAD SCHEME OBJECTED Ti) The resolution which they pre- sented to the Ministers, and which they said had been signed by 10.- 000, pointed out the necessity for economy. It argued that the pro- posed highway would not help pro- duction in any manner commensu- rate with the cost. It objected to the power conferred whereby the re- moval of timber. buildings, and the regulation of trattle might lead to serious abuses. It also asked for the repeal of the Provincial Highways Act. Mr. E. C. Drury, the Vice-Presi- dent, said he had no objection to the highway. but he thought this highway should not run parallel to existing railway lines. He was ques- tioned closely by Mr. Macdiarmid; and admitted that he would not ob- ject to the Toronto-Hamilton sec- tion or the Hamilton to Niagara Falls link. "You are picking on the most defensible parts of the sys- tem," he said, adding that he was against the construction of the Kingston road as a Provincial high- way. Mr. Saunders of Huron county ad- vocated going back to the old sys- tem. He was told by the Minister of Public Works that if he could get 90 per cent. of the ratepayers to fav- or going back to the old system the necessary legislation would be passed. it was the idea to construct an all- ooncrete highway. This was not the intention", he declared. The type of road would depend entirely upon local conditions as to material and trattle. Members of the deputation includ- ed Mr. R. H. Halbert, Mr. E. C. Drury, Mr. J. J. Morrison (Secre- tary), Mr. H. Currie (Middlesex), Mr. Alex. McKiHop (Elgin). Mr. D. M. Ross (Oxford), Mr. Alex. Noble (Ontario). Mr. Saunders (Huron), Mr. Menard 'Russell), and Mr. H. J Pettypiece t Lambton l. Mr. Drury asked if it were the intention of the Government to for- bid a farmer from taking his cattle to market along the Provincial high- way. make such a regulation ?" asked Mr. Macdiarmid. hotly. "No such thought ever entered the mind of any member of the Legislature on either side of the House." Not All Concrete. Replying to the deputation. Mr. Macdiarmid pointed out the dift1cul- ties the Government had to contend with in framing a policy that would be beyond criticism. He told ot the many associations that had adopted resolutions favoring the Provincial highway. Nearly all cities were in favor of it. too. Good roads, he be- lieved, would increase production on the farms and Vastly improve condi- tions in the rural sections. County Councils had favored the scheme. The Minister also took the oppor- tunity to correct the impression that Opposition to Kingston "Do you think any Government would be so absolutely insane as to