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ONTARIO'S POWERS WILL BE EXERCISED Hon. W. E. Raney Also Renews His Attack in the Budget Debate on the Board of Commerce Reviews in Detail the Probe Into Affairs of Hamilton Wholesale Grocers -- Z. Mageau Contributes to Debate At the outset Hon. Mr. Raney said that the average man was more concerned about the pgice of neces-- saries than the price)a't which the Province was able to flost bonds. HMe knew that combincs and price--fix-- ers did not work with a brass band, and the average man was therefore alert to seize upon any loose end of information-- whuich might leak out and whch seemed to offer any clue to the source of his troubles. RHcwiews Hamilton Probe. Further activity against combines was indicated in the speech of Hon. W. E. Raney, Attorney--General, in the debate in the Legislature on the Budget last night, The Attorney-- General again attacked the Board of Commerce, and sa'd that the Log-- islature, as the highest court in the Province, would take its place. He reviewed in detail the action against the Hamilton wholesale grocers be-- fore the Board of Commerce, Mr. Raney then delved into the history ~of the action against the Hamilton Grocers' Association, stari=-- ing with the letter written by Mr. Porter to the Premier. He told the story about his sending a represen-- tative to investigate and later, w.th the reports made to the Board of Commerce, the board's direct on to have an investigation. The aAttorney-- General defended the grounds on which the investigation was asked. Mr. laney then reviewed much of the evidence taken by the Board of Commerce, reading letters and reso-- lutions passed by the association, "In some cases," he continued, "the manufacturers -- frankly told Fear-- man Bros,. and other wholesalers not in the Grocers' Association that the latter could not supply 'them with goods because they were not mem-- bers of the Wholesale Grocers' As-- sociation. In other cases the manu-- facturers resorted to pretence, cves-- ions and subterfuges. In either case the effect was that the whole-- saler who was not a m:mber cf the association -- was either compelleqd to do without the goods or to buy them from brokers surreptitiously and split the commission with the brokers. He quoted letters to show that the association favored fixing prices right down to the retail irade. The 'prices, he continued, were fixed by the manufacturer to the whole. saler and by the wholesaler to the retailer under penalty, and the ulti-- mate object "was and perhaps still is to fix the price to the retailer. The only other person in the com-- munity is the consumer, and he is MORE WAR IS DECLARED _« _ ON ONTARIO COMBINES BY ATTORNEY --GENERAL THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1920. . '"But that is not my theory. My theory is founded upon law, upon the Constitution of Canada and of Great Britain. This Legislature is the High Court of Parliament for the Province of Ontario. It is the highest court in the Province. The only appeal from it is to the high-- est court of all in every democratic country--the people. This Legisla.-- "The theory of some of the bers of the House, AaApparent that --the Attorney--General t have sat helplessly by and merely remarked, so far as -- is concerned, 'It's too bad, bu: can I do? People the MHighest Court. z7. _ 6 ®vine statéments at the Hamilton inquiry. He was also criti-- cal of Mr. Duncan in the Toronto khearing. Regarding the Juagment of the board., Mr. Raney said that it came to this: '"'There was no specific evidence before the board to prove that the price of shredded wheat or' soap or tobacco had been increased . to the consumer by reason of activi-- ties of the combine, and the board did not feel called upon to infer any-- thing or assume a.nythinq. The Commissioners did not belleve that | there could be anything detrimental to the consumer on the oath--bound agreements to fix prices and restrict competition." Bpeaking of the Porter incident Mr. Raney eaid, 'The board had in-- sulted the public, on behalf of whom the investigation was being held, and the Crown, which was repre-- senting the people in the matter, and as Attorney--CGeneral I felt it my duty to protest, which I did by let.-- ter to the board. have every reason to believe are still active in the same direction." He criticized Mr. O'Connor -- for not allowing a cross--examination re-- Earding some statements at the Hamilton inquiry. He was also criti-- cal of AMr Ininasam 11o-- u. U pl THALE® "It is undoubtedly true that hun-- dreds of telegrams were sent to Sir Robert Borden urging Mr. O'Connor's appointment. Of course, if Sir Rob-- ert had known that these telegrams were not spontaneous, but inspired, arnd proceeded from the same source, kis views with regard to the urgency of the appointment of Mr. O'Connor might have been modified. Perhaps he may have known some of the facts, because Mr. O'Connor was not appointed the first Chairman of the board." Mr. Raney noted that Judge Robson, the first Chairman, resign-- ed in February, and that at the time of opening the investigation into the alleged combine the position -- was again vacant. "So that you have a group of respondents before the Board of Commerce in the invest{-- gation of February and March who are known to the Commissioner to have been exceedingly active and urgent in the advancement of his interests fn July, 1919, and he wil! Mr. Raney pointed out that no prosecution for an offense may be undertaken -- without ~the written authority of the Board of Commerce. He accused the wholesale grocers of attempting to name the Judge or Judges to conduct the inquiry, and quoted a letter from the wholesale grocers asking that Mr. O'Connor be head of the board. not consulted. The argument throughout by the Board of Com-- merce seems to have been that it was quite reasonable and proper to leave the interests of the consumer to be looked after in the transaction® by the manufacturer and whole. saler. It is only fair to say that there are wholesalers and manufac-- turers doing business in the old-- fashioned way in the open without oathbound agreements, but the out-- siders are a small minority." Makes Charge Against Grocers. vine of the mem-- , Apparently, -- is y--General should y by and have so far as Porter oo bad, but what