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Opposition members complained that nad they known this would be the pro-- sedure they would also have had on hand facts and figures to throw into 't'he debate. Premier Ferguson offered to have the debate adjourned, but sev-- eral of the Opposition went on to dis-- cuss the Hydro situation in a general way, without statistical references. 'Then the first bill of the two, "the Bural Power District Service Charge Act, 1930," was given second reading. These measures, introduced recently, provide for the bonusing of rural Hyiéro so that the sorvice charge is reduced to a maximum of $2.50, and for the set-- ting aside of money for service in the rural power districts. This power rate is effective from Jan. 1 last, Mr. Cooke explained, though the bill is not yet legislation. Though Wednesday in the Legis!a-- ture is usually "private members' day," an occasion on which Government or-- «ders are not brought up, the power bills were called, and Hon. Mr. Cooke, with a bundle of data, gave his annual Hydro addrecs. Opposition Complains. Premiecr Forguson immediately called for second reading of the second bill, "the Rural Power District Loans Act, 1930." William E. N. Sinclair, Liberal TLeader, protested that one section of the bill, referring to the Hydro Com-- mission priority claim on money used in the rural power work, was most un-- fair. "Why," said he, "should the Com-- mission ask that debts against a man be superseded by somcething that he subsequently buys?" Long and involved discussion on the rural Hydro situation, a debate mark-- ed by the interjection of porsonalitiss and cross--fire between Hon. John R. Cooke, Hydro Commissioner, ard mem-- bers of the Opposition, resulted in tha Ontario Loegislature yoesterday afternoon when second reading of two Govern-- ment power bills was proposed. Mr. Cooke replied that this point could be amended in committee. But Charles Robertson (Liberal, North Huron) and Hon. Harry C. Nixon (Progressive, Brant County) wanted to speak to the bill, and so, with the time being 5.50 p.m., the bill was held over for debate cn another day. CROSS -- AISLE -- CRITICISM Mr. Cooke's presentation of the Gov-- ernment legislation and his views on the rural power situation came in the form of a lengthy oration and then a series of remarks interjected into the speeches of the Opposition members. As in past years, he eulogized the Fer-- guson Administration and _ hurled brickbats at the Drury regime. RURAL HYDRO ACTS |:#=3 GET SECOND READING ©~>=> FOLLOWING DEBATE : Farmer Not Yet Being Treaté" ed Fairly, It Is | Claimed | Hon. John R. Cooke Praises _ Government for Its Effort our or Five Years. Speaking of the bill to bonus the rural districts that were not self--sus-- ; taining, he forecast that "the legisla-- ; tion will establish confidence so that in four or five years Ontario will be completely electrified." The former Drury Cabinet Minister resented Mr. Cooke's denunciation of that regime. At least, said he, the Drury Government "broke the ice" in prepar-- ing for grants to rural power users. And, said he, the $425,000 for power extensions in the first year of the Ferguson Administration, and _ for which the Fergusonites claimed credit was charged in the Drury debt. It was advanced as ordinary expenditures. he noted, but then the bookkeeping system was changed and the other power grants were put down in the capital account, Mr, Nixon asked what would be the expenditure under the legisiation in the next year. Mr. Cdoke renli>a that no such estimate could be made. but that, on the conditions of la:t year, the cost would have been $73.9300. The Hydro Commissioner continued to eulogize the Ferguson Administra-- tion for making "a free gift" of over $6,000,000 to rural Hydro in the last six years. Mr. Nixon, continuing the discus-- sion, referred to Hon. Mr. Cooke as "a political war horse." The Minister's re-- marks, he continued, involved some po-- litical bias. "And," he declared, "he even went so far as to impute mo-- tives to honorable members that are not deserved." Mr. Cooke continued to speak at length about the development of lezis-- lation «affecting the power situation. He declared proudly that the climax now came with the present Government giv-- ing bonuses so that the maximumi serv-- ice charge would be but $2.50 a month. He explained at length that the density of the customers governs the difference in service charges. And then, after references to the percent-- age rate of the service charges in ratio to the cost of $2,000 a mile per rural mile, he declared that, all in all, the Ferguson Government had made "re-- markable progress" in extending Hydro to the farmers. A survey of conditions in the Prov-- ince, said he, would show a sufficient number of possible Hydro users in 75 per cent. of the Province to have eight or nine on each rural line. If all these prospective customers would co--operate with the Commission and take the service, there would be no nced for the bill under discussion. Hamlets will also benefit, he with a charge of $1.35 Mr. Nixon asked what would Mr. Cooke declared: "The problem of rural Hydro is not electrical. It is a question of the tremendous investment necessary in transmission lines to take the power out to the rural districts." Mr. Cooke wanted the House to un-- derstand that he had stated that he was not painting the picture with po-- litical color. Tremendous Investment. a year another 30 per cent. would be self--sustaining. Still, in that year, he observed, power districts would extend so that there would yet be much need of the bonus system. Thirty per cent. of the districts are not affected by the bill, being self--sus-- taining, and he had forrseen that in '"Well," said Liberal Leader Sinclair, taking a hand in the discussion, "why don't you put it over as a non--political enterprise rather than on the party platform in your campaign?" Mr,. Cooke engaged in several clashes with Liberal members. William New--| man (Liberal, North Victoria) main--| taincd that the Hydro Commisslon' should undertake an educational cam--| paign to interest farmers in the use of! Hydro. Mr. Cooke retorted that the' Opposition members might well do that educational work. zrfi. j stated, In Effect From January, When Mr. Newman took up the discussion the Hydro Minister again rose for some remarks, so that the Lib-- eral meimber referred to "another speech from the honorable member." "that on my own bill last month the service charge was $2.178?" John A Sangster (Liberal, Glengarry) told the House that the people in the eastern section of the Province felt that they were not being treated right in power matiers. Though, said he, they were surrounded by power resources, that power was passing past them "to seven favorite counties" in Central On-- tario. He protested against Ontario be-- coming "an adjunct to the power barons of Quebec." & "If the honorable member read his bill carefully," Mr. Cooke replied, "he would see that there is a 10 per cent. g@iscount for cash, which would exactly make it $2.50." Mr. Newman declared that the farm-- ers object to the 20--year contract. He urged the Government to make it easier for the farmer to get into the power system. F. W. Elliott (Liberal, North Bruce) | referred to the battle between the Hydro| and the Foshay interests. After six years, said he, Hydro offered the Port Elgin--Southampton district a power rate of $61, and yet six weeks later, at the time of the controversy, the Hydro offer was reduced to a $40 rate. The explanation of this new low offer, said he, was "that there was a different hook--up." ] In reply to a questib?. Mr. Cooke stated that the $2.50 rate "is in now from Jan. 1." _"How is if, thepn," Mr. NMigzon seid. And a gale of laughter followed this answer. 5 "But," said he, "there was no change in the rivers, and no new development, so why was the hook --up not available sooner?" The Government members were silent. The Opposition applauded. As Mr. Elliott started to continue, the Speaker asked him "to speak chiefly to the bill." "The Minister went all over Hydro," Mr. Elliott protested slightly. Mr. Coock rose to say that Mr. Elliott would have ample opportunity for his remarks "on three or four or five other bills." _ Second reading was then given the measure.