The Ontario Scrapbook Hansard

Ontario Scrapbook Hansard, 26 Feb 1929, p. 4

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co--operation of public--spirited citizens, in our reforestation plans." | Going on, the Minister told of timber sales which had resulted in towns be-- ing kept going, and which were of gen-- eral advantage to Ontario. Mr. Finlay-- | son pictured lumber companies, the sole , nor~ sed that the Government had con-- , tracted for 25 new steel towers for fire | observation work. which was just a | little evidence of how the work was ad-- | vancing. \"This Real Progress." |__Resuming his remarks after the din-- |\ ner adjournment, Mr. Finlayson em-- : phasized that the department was do-- ' ing important work in reforestation and ; tree distribution. He regretted that Mr. Sinclair did not see what he termed to | be "this real progress." ; | Hopes for Co--operation. "The board has done much for the Province at no cost whatever," said Mr. Finlayson. "The board has considercd the bill, and they approve of it. They have said that it is an advanced step in forestry practice. The board has studied brush disposal, selective cutting and other problems in a scientific man-- ner. They have recently looked over the North to find a good location for spruce planting. They even brought back samples of soil, which are being tested at the University of Toronto and the Guelph Agricultural College. I am glad _ my 413.0norable friend approves of "If," the Minister said, continuing, "we are not discouraged by too much partisanship, if the issue is not made a political football, we hope to gain the "I merely intimated that it was my opinion that the establishment of the board should have done away with the necessity of such legislation." "I made no complaint about the com-- position of the board," said Mr. Sinclair. '"that the Liberal Leader objects to the composition of the Forestry Board." Then he reviewed the work done in cutting down the fire losses in the tim-- ber wealth of the Province, and an-- Next he recalled Mr. Sinclair's ref-- erences to Dean Howe. Why, said he, didn't the Liberal Leader ask Howe concerning the entire forest policy? The Government was willing to accept the Dean's statement on the general situation. he was the only one who didn't treat the pulp situation seriously. | Objects to "Inferences." _ Again Mr. Sinclair objected to "in-- ferences," and declared that Mr. Fin-- layson was out of order. "He's quite in order," he was told, : but these words came from Colonel . J. A. Currie (Conservative, Toronto--St -- Patricks). } Mr. Finlayson went on to tell of hov" the Government supplied trees to the | farmers 0' the Province, and then to refer to the moving of settlers from Haiburton to New Ontario. He told the House that William Newman (Lib-- eral, North Victoria) knew all aboutf that movement and he "put it up" to | Mr. Newman to tell his Liberal Leader ' "whether that's a failure." t uw know Fini« Mr. Finlayson said he was particu-- }'arly addressing his remarks about _barty politics" to Mr. Sinclair because hats the use, when you "don't know what you're talking about?" Mr. Finlayson retorted. "1 have only a common understand-- ing, not one of the magnitude of the Minister of Lands and Forests," Mr. Sinclair shot back, sarcastically. "I've had a hopetul feeling," Mr. Fin-- layson went on, "that this matter was out of party politics." "Glad to Forget 1920." e ho "What's ues J a y ~ ['e/figagy- & °* #A4. ," he continued, | . After this lengthy debate the House dealt speedily with several measures. Among these was Mr. Finlayson's pro-- vincial Forest Bill, which was passed through committee. In all, a dozen measures went through | committee, and six were given second reading. Among these latter was Hon. Charles McCrea's amendment to the | Mining Act, which embodies the recom-- | _ _In concluding his defense c4 the bill, Mr. Finlayson declared: "The bill is the result of careful study, and is an ' effort to deal fairly all around. I have letters from lumbermen stating that they wished something to this effect had been put into operation fifty years ago. 1 am extremely sorry that any partisan spirit has been injected into ; this discussion. It is a sincere effort ; to solve one of our greatest problems. ' We don't want partisan advantage. We want to make Ontario in the newsprint 'i and pulpwood industry the great strong and growing Province she should be." & five--year period rather than the ten-- year period specified in the bill. | Deplores Partisan Spirit. i Mr. Finlayson laughed when he re-- called Mr. Sinclair's suggestion that a committee conduct an inquiry. Why, said he, the bill provided for state-- ments from all companies, and it gave the organization to Sept. 1 to file these |reports. Yet Mr. Sinclair suggested that 'the committee get all this information ?in a month. ;Only Real Objection. t _The Minister declared that the only Jobjection really raised against the blil was one from a paper company repre-- sentative, who suggested that the re-- iports asked by the department be for Earlier in his explanation of the pur-- pose of the bill, he explained that the ideal aimed at was to make consump-- tion of pulpwood balance with its pro-- duction. To this end conferences had been held with men interested in the industry. He was responsible for the scheme, he continued, and it was the best solution he could devise. The measure was then given second reading amid much Conservative ap-- plause. will be a good thing ficr the Province and business." As for Mr. Sinclait's request that an in-- quiry be made into the timber wealth of the Province, the Minister declared that the Government had been con-- ducting just such an inquiry for sever-- al years. With cruises and air surveys, it was trying to ascertain this wealth, and after six years of such work 60 ! per cent. of the undertaking was ac-- t complished. | _A moment later, when Mr. Finlayson 'referred to the Liberal Leader's speech 'as a "rehash" and said: "All this mat-- «ter has been worked up for him this year," Mr. Sinclair protested again, this time demanding that Mr. Finlayson | withdraw his statement. '"We're willing to do what we can to help them along," said Mr. Finlayson of the timber men generally, "and it "Regardless of whether the other fel-- low keeps his side of the contract," said Mr. Sinclair. "If the other fellow," Mr. Finlayson replied, "gives cause, we would be jus-- tified in cancelling it, but we are not justified in cancelling contracts because hard times intervene." Then he painted a picture of an activity of his department under the Ferguson -- Administration which | is quite a contrast to the picture painted by Mr. Ferguson himself not so long ago. He told the House that the Backus organization had raised a question as to the extent of timber on its property, and, while they were conducting a cruise the Government was conducting another to ascertain the condition of the limits. Moreover these Backus I'mits fell in the class which the Gov-- ernment was trying "to nurse along" to better times. Willing to Help. Again, on the subject of contracts, the Minister emphasized that "the de-- partment has to recognize the contracts made by its predecessors." "'For," said Mr. Sinclair, "I worked this up myself." "I am quite prepared to accept the honorable member's statement that he worked it up," said Mr. Finlayson. "It's too bad he made such a poor job of it." Recognizes Old Contracts. support ol & | in the doldrums during the past years Yet, said he, Mr. Sinclair p::lk:d of cancelling contracts. When he went on to refer to certain timber limits, the Liberal Leader objected that they were not the ones that had been the basis of his criticism. # "With the King's Printor." said RPerguson. .' "Where is the report now?" Libzral Leader Sinclair asked. f that ths particular information sought could be given in a brief return, and that thore wore "thousands of clorks" to prepare the information. Premier For-- guson tocok the stand that when the information was so available to mem-- bers, thers was no need for their qu>s-- tons or returns. ' mnumbers of brewory warchouses ard liquor storcs. And the Governmsnt's reply weas that this information was in the Liquor Control Bsard report brought down recently in the House. Only Brief Return Needed. _; "Why tsll us to go and get the re-- | port?" said Mr. Nizon, and pointed out} that ths particular information sought; could be given in a brief return. and, The bill to regulate the moving of _ household goods sponsored by K. K. Homuth (Conservative--Labor, South Waterloo) met objection from Premier Ferguson, who maintained that it meant the setting up in City Halls of collect-- ing agencies levying people who were moving. Mr. Homuth declaring that he had several letters from business men in favor of the measure, requested that it be given second reading and go to committee, and the Premier agreed . to this. f «sgme /qua/a/-/-'e./. 2 674 {,t._»v,, m se e NR w e 2y .-4_.(VAAM\¢3 , * e ¢ _ Bill Withdrawn ment to supply information' when Oppo-- sition maembers asi: questions and not to toil the inquiring meombers to go aomcwherse and got a report and diz out the information, was the feeling e@xprecsed by Hon. Harry C. Nixon in the Ontario House vestrrday afternoon. This Progressive membeor from Brant Couniy took cresption to the way the Government dcalt with a coupic of quesiions. The Opposition had asked returns 2s to liquor sales, the numbor of Liquor Control Board officia's, the eost cf financing the board, and the I inquiring into the Hollinger disaster. It was given second reading on the under-- standing that the Minister review those «recommendations and speak generally on the bill when it comes before the committee. Premier Objects. INFORMATION DisPENSED Absence of Liquor Board Re-- port in Legislature Draws Criticism [ * oo 4 t --l ) } ) { Ru GOVERNMENT SCORED FOR NOT ANSWERING OPPOSITION OUERIES Russell Nesbitt, Conservative member _ for -- 'Toronto--Bracon-- dale, got a big hand from the Legislature yesterday when he withdrew the bill by which licensing of barber shops, beauty parlors and all places where hair is cut or dressed was sought. Withdrawal followed the state-- ment of Premier Ferguson that the bill's introduction -- had evoked more protest than any other piece of legislation before the House. t it is thr businz>ss of the Govern--

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