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He also said that "the vublic might just as well realize that if they are to have the road service it now enjoys they who use the roads must pay for them. The time is rapidly approaching," he stressed, "when we will have to increase the | gas tax to take care of our system land our service." t Operators' permits had been in-- troduced, he said, to provide a close ! check on reckless motorists and in general to better protect the motor-- ing public of the Province. He could not understand the Liberal Leader's criticism of the cost of the indi-- vidual license. It was a small thing. '"'You haven't a large family," Mr: Sinclair interrupted. -- "Down in Quebec, where they have large families," said the Premier, "they pay $5 a head for a motoring ?et.'mit. and they say nothing about t.. He referred to Dr. EAward Ryan's very satisfactory survey of condi-- tions in Ontario mental hospitals, and intimated, while in this depart-- mental field, that the Government had in mind the appointment at an early date of a supervisor of the or-- dinary public hospitals. This offi-- clal's task would be to co--ordinate services, cut down expenditures, and. broadly . speaking, improve _ con-- ditions. "But most large families can't afford a car,' said Aurelien Belanger (Liberal. Russeil). Rural Hydro Extension, Mr. Ferguson dwelt with the ques-- tion of rurar Hydro extension, saying that in the last four years 3,238 miles of line, serving 25,000 rural custom-- ers, at a total cost of approximately $7,900,000 had been built. Of this cort, the Provincial Treasury had met one--half. One of the Government's en-- deavors was directed toward en-- couraging the training of nurses for eccupational therapy work. The Research Fund. Regarding the research fund, the Premier said: "I would like to make it. clear that this Government is in no way endeavoring to compete with the Dominion Government in re-- gearch work. The steps we are tak-- ing are being taken with the full cognizance of the Dominion Governa-- ment. 1 have discussed this proposed fund with Hon Jaimes _ Malcolm, Minister of Trade and Commerce, and with Dr. H. M. 'Tory, Chairman of the National Research Council --_*"While they believe this effort should be centralized _ under _ one head at Ottawa, we believe the best results can be accomplished in an almosphere in close proximity to some large educational institution Mr. Ferguson spoke at some length on the Government's policy of af-- fording "reasonable educational op-- portunities'" to people in remote sec-- tions of the Province by means of correspondence courses and travel-- ling schools. He said that the cor-- respondence courses had been won-- derfully successful; that now older people were availing themselves of them as well as the children. 'The travelling school cars had also worked so well that the Government intended this summer adding two more cars to the system. Mr. Fer-- guson referred, indirectly, to the Booding of the North with "Soviet" propaganda, saying that if the courses and the cars only succceded in teaching the foreign--born chil-- dren how to read a Canadian news-- paper and properly imbibe a Cana-- dian spirit they would have accom-- plished much and justified their existence. On the question of highways and highways administration, he reiter-- ated his hope that by next year the Government would be able to bring in a scheme whereby the highways would be made self--supporting. To Make Highways Pay. The Premier spoke of the estab-- lishment this year of a Library School -- "something."' he said, "greatly needed in Ontario. In the past all Ontario librarians have hbad :o :z? to the United States for train-- ng.' --ducating the North,. cases until we catch that particular bootlegger This Government has the most firm determination that it is goilirg to put in jail every one of those men we can lay our hands on. If we have the co--operation/ of the public in this effort it will ¢{n much to foster public apinion, and will greatly assist the officers of the law in their endeavors. "My honorable friesd says the liquor interests supported this law-- as it he is the first who ever thought of that. But the great body of tem-- perate, law--asbiding citizens, who had become weary and fearful of the econsequences of conditions which had been prevailing for over ten years. supported this law. They turned for reélief to a new method. and felt that the Government should take hold of the situation itself and remedy it. Calls Control a Godsond. "I am not alleging that there have been no disappointments, but I would ask the House to remember that this law has been in force eight or nine "Ours is to be largely complemen-- tary to what is going on at Ottawa Here we have the problems and here we have the student body from which to train young men. 1 think the Government would be sadly remiss it it didn't give our capable men the opportunity to engage in research work here, at home," declared the Premier. happened throughout the centuries. It hanpened under the old license sy«tem. and in a most aggravated way under the Ontario Temperance Act. It will happen in individnal ecases until we catch that particular bonotlegger This Government has the most firm determination that it Bome "Peddling"® Done. "I am not saying that you won't fAind in certain localities some fellow purchasing liquor from a Govern-- ment store, possibly in a perfectly legitimate way, and later peddling It at so much a drink. That has "My honorable friend (Mr. Leth-- bridge) emphasized the point that We uyre in the, liquor--selling busi-- noss 1 never-- knew -- any member of the CGovernment opr any Oof its supporters to deny that, 1 am un-- rthle to suggest how we can control the dtiquor situation unless»-- we are in it and governing its developments. "The first great problem facing the Government was to drive out the bootlegger. 1 believe my honorable friend will agree with the general public everywhere that we have done that in practically every part of this Province, "Our suggestion from the first was that, rather than allow a great army of bootleggers to sell a great variety and quantity of liquor, under all sorts of cirecumstances, the Gov-- ernment had better take hold of the situation and sell the liquor itself, thus regularizing the situation and removing many of the existing evils. months, and that it came into force to combat an organization which had been in force for ten years. It had to overecome public opinion -- which had developed during those ten years. It had to change conditions. It had to alter the attitude of the people, lormed over that decade. At-- ter eight or nine months, I say with the utmost assurance that this law has proved a godsend to Ontario, so far as it has gone,"" exclaimed Mr. Ferguson, while supporters thunder-- ed applause. The Opposition groups sal in stony silence. »e "I don't feel," continued the Pre-- mier, "that mer holding positions of public intluence should be offering carping criticism before this . legis-- lation has had a reasonable trial, and before the public has been given a fair opportunity to judge if it is the right system for controlling liquor or not. | "'This Government proposes to see it has that fair opportunity, and also proposes to eliminate all defects and weaknesses from time to time, 'as may be needea, in its enforcement and operation." On Liqnuor Control. Premier Ferguson had the House anq crowded galleries intensely in-- terested from the moment he first mentioned the phrase, "the Liquor Control Act." "My honorable friend (Mr. Leth-- bridget emphasized the noint that from a Govern-- Iy in a perfectly id Jlater peddling drink. That has SA '&\,/ € .. 15 hibitionist an active Churchman, and told him it was his duty to serve the public in a liquor store. "And he accented," he concluded. "And did he stay with Ohis Church?" ashed Mr. Sinclair. "All Churches haven't the same views, said the Premier. "Mv friend." he went on, "com-- plains about the p¥ce of the bottle. 1 was surprised to know that he was interested in liqguor prices. True, we've endeavored to sell liquor at a reasonable price, not extort unrea-- sonable profit " Turning, in concluding his address, to the subject of old--age pensions, the Premier stated that it would be a mistake to deal with this problem in any partisan spirit. It must be considereq »as a grat human and social problem. a problem which not only Ontario, but every country had to face. And it should be considered also from the business standpoint. |\ He recalled correspondence between |the Province and the Federal au-- thorities on the question And the iproblem. he noted. was one of those considered at the last Interprovin-- icia\ Conference. | The Dominion Government. some years ago,. had appointed a com-- mittee, and it was decided that the question should be one on which the Provinces should confer and work out for themselves. Notwithstanding this, said Mr. Perguson, the Do-- minion Government had framed an enactment imposing liability on the taxpayers of the various Provinces, and it was to be administered through the various Provincial Gov-- ernments. Mr. Ferguson recalled Mr."'n- clair's words about a Gover nt candidate getting a job in a liquor store. Government candidates, said the Premier, seemed all to be pretty nice fellows and should make good officials in the stores. They were men of "unsullied reputation, stand-- ing in the community." the type the Commission wanted in the stores "In fact" said the Premier, "I asked some men myself if they would take positions." *'*You did'" said Mr. Sinclair, in amazement. "I thought that the Strong Man was to do that! You should draw some of his salary." '"'The only remedy is to buy an-- otn--r, as far as I know," replied the Premier. "1 m not conversant with that part." e 4 l fs" Mr. Ferguson went on to sziy that he had approached a lifelong pro-- '"*You can go into villages about the Province, of course--you can even go into back alleys of this city --and find infractions of this law, but today there is a stronger and growing opinion toward law observ-- ance and law enforcement in the Province of Ontario." "What about the complaint of the bo«':e beingz too small?" asked E. Provix (Liberali, Prescott). "I1t has been eclaimed that this act is into puolitics.. Whether it is or not. it has met with public approval. I could, if 1 had time, read jetters which the Government has received commending this law from people who were opposed to us in the last election. . Everywhere I have gone men who opposed its origin--out-- standing prohibitionists--have come to me and told me of the vast im-- provements which have resulted from the operation of this act. Not Patronage--Efficiency, ~ "For the reason that we intend to see that this law has every reason-- able opportunity for a fair trial, this Government has determined that not in any materiai way will it be amend-- ed until that reasonable time has passed. For the present, the Liquor Control Act is going to remain as it is, except for some minor amend-- ments which the Attorney--General may want for its better administra-- tion. In the meantime. it is going to remauin as it 4s until it has had a fair trial. Not Changing the Act The Federal Government, said he, had done this without askWing On-- tario to express its views, except through one letter.. The majority of the Provinces were opposed to the Federal plan. and looked on it as a Dominion liability, he declared. an active Churchman, it was his duty to serve a liquor store. "And he > enncluded.