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Mr. Nickle's criticism was very pointed. He told the House that under this bill every precarious loan would be thrust upon the Province. It was, he added, "the rankest kind of class legislation,'" since it applied to farmers only. The Kingston man, however, did gain a little from Mr. Doherty, succeeding in getting the word "agricultural'"' in-- serted in the Minister's clause. It now reads that loans may be made "to consolidate outstanding liabili-- ties incurred for agricultural pro-- ductive purposes.'"' agricuiturist." When the same bill was again in committee during the evening ses-- sion, Mr. Ferguson reopened his attack, again trying to draw the Government on going into the loan-- ing business. Mr. Ferguson, re-- ferring to farmers, addeod that the Minister to Mr. Doherty's left, Hon. Mr. Raney, was '"not much of an "Oh, yes, he is," replied Mr. Raney. ¢ '"What have you got--a garden?" asked Mr. Ferguson. "A farm," retorted the Attorney-- General, which left the House won-- dering if its legal head was contem-- plating a change of occupation. It was Mr. Raney's joke, and the Conservative Leader was momen-- tarily nonplussed. Mr. Ferguson further alleged that the new clause permitting loans for production purposes was throwing the door wide open under a subterfuge of words. He even accused the Minister of not being particularly enthusiastic for the measure, only fathering it under pressure. Mr. Doherty assured the Conservative Leader he was quite prepared to accept responsibility for the bill, and he further pointed out that the Provincial Treasurer was taking in more money in his savy-- ings banks than would be required for the loaning scheme. Class Legislation. Mr. Hay argued that there ought to be more Ministerial responsibility than merely leaving these loans to ness. He trted his best to get such an admission from Mr. Doherty, for obvious political purposes, but the Minister was cautious, continuing to smile the bill through. The amendments to the act pro-- vide that loans may be made against farms to 50 per cent. of the Government's valuation, and "to consolidate outstanding liwbilities incurred for productive purposes." Mr. Ferguson at once characterized the bill as "a dangerous measure," one which would be reducing the security of the Province. He stressed the point that Ontario was simply going into the loaning busi-- of criticism and questions. Hon. Manning held his temper so well and displayed such remarkable patience that Mr. Nickle accused him of trying to "smile away criti-- cism." At 6 o'clock Mr. Ferguson was still trying to pound home his argument and draw admissions from the Minister, and meeting with little success. To Consolidate Liabilitics. V hi napednntiintn mds dnc Pss tint sint ds acusinds Atcodh c ; -- 4.A son and' Mr. Nickle of Kingston, l')ptrql'gy' kept up an incessant flow ress made without a harsh word being uttered. Hon. Manning Doherty's amend-- ments to the Agriculture Develop-- ment Act were blocked in commit-- tee for more than an hour before 6 o'clock, and even then no person got angry. The opposition all came from twg mem_b_grgx.} Hon. Mr. Fergu-- Either the Easter vacation or the April showers must have had a moderating effect on the Legisla-- ture, for yesterday saw some prog-- 5 OBSERVE]! IN QUEEN'S PARK _ board. _ Since the loans had ~aggregated nearly three millions in two years, the business was likely to expand to huge proportions. He thought the Minister himself ought to give the loans supervision, and argued that a 50 per cent. valuation | was sufficient. Mr. Doherty then said quarterly reports would -- be i submitted to the Minister, while the House would be given an annual report. This statement gave Mr. Ferguson another opportunity for criticism, claiming that such reports constituted no check. The Con-- servative Leader, while most critical | of the measure, apparently did not desire to force a vote, because some of his own followers are favorable to the legislation. Three More on the Budget. "I believe in taking the short course, and bringing them right to the cities first," added Mr. Slack, amid laughter. He facetiously went further, and advised bringing out professional men, doctors and law-- yers, so as to cheapen these pro-- fessions for the common people. In Dufferin, said the member, the school attendance had shrunk 100 a& year every year for the past fif-- teen years. The debate was adjourned by Mr. Hay, in behalf of the Liberal Whip, Mr. Marshall, who has been ill. advartage of it. Mr. Black, as a good Conserva-- tive, prophesied utter defeat for the U.F.O. at next election, a state-- ment which, of course, was vio-- lently contradicted by Mr. Slack, who spoke later. One point in the latter's speech was a criticism of the Government's immigration pol-- icy, another evidence of the inde-- pendent feeling engendered by the group system of government. Mr. Slack feared the immigrants Mr. Doherty proposed bringing out ypul_d eventually drift to the cities. He also drew attention to the new anaesthetic produced by Dr. Cotton of Toronto, adding that the University of Toronto and the Gen-- eral Hospital had been offered this discovery, and had failed to take advartage of it. Capt. Ramsden, in the course of a remarkably coherent speech, had several constructive suggestions. For instance, he advised Hon. Peter Smith to try selling bonds over the counters of the Provincial banks. The small investor would then be given a chance, and the bonds could be sold at par. He thought the Government ought to have the serv-- ices of an expert financial adviser, similar to what Toronto has. Capt. Ramsden, by pointing out what the Government pald in rents, showed that the erection of a big Provincial building on University . avenue would be a good investment. Three speakers also added their orations to the Budget debate, mak-- ing 31 members who have so far participated in this one debate, and not one of them has submitted an amendment. The three heard yes-- terday were Capt. Ramsden (Lib-- eral, Southwest Toronto); W. D. Black (Conservative, Addington), and T. K. Slack (U.F.O., Dufferin). The debate could have been con-- tinued at greator length, but as it nears its end the parties are jockey-- ing for positions. The Government party has more speakers who are anxious to go on than the others, and the Oppositions are desirous of forcing them forward so that their men may reply if necessary. At least seven more members, includ-- ing the party Leaders, will yet have to be allotted time for their speeches, and perhaps the number may reach ten. There now is no chance of the debatse being con-- cluded this week, but efforts will be made to wind it up cearly next week. c Capt.;: Ramsden's Suggestions. Another attempt was also made]| yesterday by Mr. Raney to obtain| second reading for his blue sky bil} | but, as on half a dozen former oc_| casions, the men who wanted to! speak" to it were absent, and it had to go over again. | Hon,. Peter Smith, Provincial Treasurer, was once more in his seat, after his battle with the flu.