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had mis-stated the Hogarth charges, his remarks became merely a. formal defence of Drury policies. Walter Curry, K.C. (Liberal, South-East Toronto), who followed Mr. Watson, soared for the most part into the clouds of citizenship ideals and Poli- tical and economic theory and only descended at times to indicate that he was to all intents and purposes The failure to bring down a re- distribution' scheme was practically the only point during the day upon which the Administration was at- tacked. Edgar Watson (U.F.O., East Victoria), started vigorously enough by a statement which denied in toto Mr. Hogarth's charges Cun- cerning the Backus deal. When, however. he Was forced after a sharp controversy to admit that he a Druryite disciple except in so far as approving its non-redistribution policy was concerned. G. G. Halcrow, the final speaker ot the evening was concerned prin- cipally with private grie mnces be- tween himself and other Laborites. and touched only upon general mat- ters in order to introduce his amendment to the Address. .- _ \VatSOn Misses Fire. The feature of the afternoon sit. ting was undoubtedly Mr. \Vatson's attempt at a sweeping denial of the Backus charges. With Mr. Hogarth. who had reviewed the notorious features of the deal, out of his seat, he declared ringingly that that mem- ber's statement of the case had been nlnE H] AMEND _----- SPEECH FROM JliliN The Ontario Legislature last even- Ing had its first taste of night life, so far as the present session is con- cerned. The Late sitting was held in furtherance of the Govcvntnent's plan to have the debate on the Speech from the Throne concluded by this evening, but it is doubtful if this purpose was at all advanced by the procedure. For G. G. Ital- crow (Labor, East Hamilton) seized the last few moments of the even- ing in order to introduce an amend- ment to the address, which called upon the Government to bring in some form of redistribution and which, before it is disposed cf by the House. will undoubtedly be the cause of a lengthy discussicn. The amendment which Mr." Hal- crow proposed. while in itself rather a novelty in Provincial House pro- cedure. is not vital in its relation to the life of the Government, simply calling, as it does, for some form of redistribution which shall embody the principle of representation by population. Its chief significanvc lies in the fact that it may delay somewhat the Governtnent't4 pro- gram, the discussion upon it being capable of preventing the House from entering upon consideration of its budget to-morrow, as had been planned. FIRST NIGHT SITTING Watson's Counter-attack on Hogarth is Based Upon an Error. G. G. Halcrow Calls Upon Government to Bring in Redistribution. WEDNESDAY, FE??UARti',1_921, Ientlrely false. Hon. Mr. Ferguson , protested that Mr. Watson could no Iso sweepingly discredit anothe. "merttber's remarks unless he wen prepared to point out the point con- cerning which they were in error. .Mr. Watson said that he did not l, intend to discuss the deal, but that "In: Hogarth's' statement that Mr. 'Iruwkus had secured $25,000,000 !worth of timber for $50,000 had "new: (-ompletely inaccurate, as the (lumber magnate had to pay the irregular Crown dues. ' Mr. Backus had received $25,000,000 worth ot timber for $50,000. "That is not correct," he declared. "What is incorrect?" asked Hon. G. H. Ferguson. "It is all incor- rect," rejoined Mr. Watson. He added that the $50,000 did not in- clude dues. Then, tackled by Col.l J. A. Currie as to whether he had', made any comparison with amounts; paid in connection with other limits,! Mr. Watson could only reply: "I aml not dlsCusalng the matter exhaus-i Mr. Backus paid the Crown dues. His argument had been that Mr. Backus was not paying any bonus in addition to the dues and that, in this way, he was pocketing $25,000,- 000 which would have been paid to the Government had the limit been sold upon the same terms as had others in tho same locality. Mr. Watson was finally forced to admit that such had been Mr. Hogarth's statement, and he had previously conceded that the Crown duos con- stituted the only revenue which Mr. Backus gave in return for his con- teretn'ons. "Kim-thgz; vbéint Mr. Hogarth re- entorcd the House and pointed out that he had specifically stated that Mr. Watson, at the outset of his speech, said he would not discuss the Backus deal, as he understood another opportunity would be at- forded by the Government for doing so. Then there wasabreeze. "The half has not yet been told," re- marked Hon. G. S. Henry. Mr. Watson took exception to the statement made by Mr. Hogarth that Before the orders of the day were called, Hon. Mr. Ferguson drew the Premier's attention to a press report which stated that the C.P.l{. was contemplating an invasion of the T. and N. O. Territory. The Conser- vative leader considered the pro- nouncement to be of utmost sig- nificance to the Government road's future. The Government, he said. was contemplating an extension to James Bay. a project ot which he did not disapprove, but which he believed to have a rather slender basis. The actual feature of the Government's policy with which he did quarrel, however. was that it was neglecting the T. and N. O.'s proven territory in the silver mining area, while proceeding with this other somewhat visionary develop- ment. Hon. Mr. Ferguson instanoed par- ticularly the South Lorraine and Kirkland Lake. areas. The Keeley and frontier mines in the former district, he pointed out, had access to the T. and N. o. road only by means of a. poorly constructed road- way. The Kirkland Lake area', tor its part, was on the eve of a great development in its eastern section towards the Quebec boundary line, a territory which the T. and N. o. at present failed to serve. Premier Drury stated in reply that he wished to postpone consider- ation ot the t and N. O. situation until he should take it up in con- nection with the budget. He be- lieved, he said, that he would be able to satisfy Hon. Mr. Ferguson upon all the points which he had raised. Further criticism by Hon. Mr. Ferguson was directed towards the fact that the proposed T. and N. o. extension is routed along the west side of James Bay. He held that it should skirt the east side of the buy and thus tap the rich lumbering part of the country. may yet be provided for the mining companies, and that, by branch lines and feeders, the Government line may secure the business that must come from the development of this district." "I bring this matter before the House," Hon. Mr. Ferguson de- clared, "in the hope that it may not be too late-that railway facilities Watson Takes Up Cudgels. Wars for T. and N. o.