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The Premier's emphatic statement cam>s in the course of dsbate over a $5,000 voie in the main estimates for "sundry investigations," and was pre-- cipitated, indirectly, by an interroga-- tion by Hon. Harry C. Nixon. The | statement was challenged by Liberal | Leader Sinclair as "an odd position to | take in view of the fact that the press | and the public of the Province wers clamoring for more light on Hydro I| transactions and in vieuw af tna Lant Mr. Sinclair joined with Mr. Nixon in reiterating a demand for a wider inquiry--particularly into the $125,-- 000 Beauharnois--Aird payment -- and said that the general public should know what Mr. Honry knows when he says he knows all's well with Hydro. The Prime Minister took exception to Mr. Nixon's criticism of W, N. Tilley, K.C., Commission counsel, claiming that when the Hydro verdict is down the efforis of those who have been intorested in stirring up the Province against Hydro will be shown up as mere "hullabaloo," and asserted emphatically that everything in con-- nection with the great power enter-- prise was "cpen and aboveboard." Full Inquiry Demanded. "I do again, on the last day of the Legislature, urge upon the Promier that, as far as the Madawaska is con-- cerned, the Royal Commission has full power to investizgate that deal and the payment to John Aird Jr. in that connecticn," Mr. Nixon said, go-- ing on to urge an equal investigation of the Beauharnois deal, "by which, in seme mysterious way, a payment of $125,000 to John Aird Jr. was made." '"Now that we are informed today that HMHon. G. Howard Ferguson is on the ssas, on the way over, he is the one man who can tell us more than any one." Mr. Nixon went on, sug-- gesting that Mr. Ferguson should also give evidence in connection with the $125,000 payment. . | -- _ The speaker emphasized the need that "these mysterious handouts to John Aird Jr. should be investigated and cleared up to the satisfaction of the people of Ontario, so that all these details are laid bare. "When money is being handed out, John Aird Jr. has not been very far away, in the past experience of this Government," Mr. Nixon suggested. 'QUESTION FERGUSON, | NIXON'S SUGGESTION transactions, and in view of the fact that the Government nsed not wait for the Commission to advise that any extension of inquiry scope is required." From Premier George 8. Henry the Ontario Legisla-- ture late last night had the definite declaration that, in the event of the Middleton Royal Commission advising him that the evidence showed there should be a wider in-- quiry, he would act upon the information, -- and _ provide promptly for such an in-- vestigation. Chalienged by Mr. Sinclair. Investigation to Be Widened Should Royal Commis-- sion Deem Course Necessary, House Is Told -- Turn Searchlight on Payments to Aird, Sinclair Demands --Late Stages of Debate Featured by Fiery Reply by Dr. G. A. McQuibban to Premier's Reflection on Correctness of His Statements "I want to protest again against the Extension of Probe Pledged by Henry If "Need" Is Shown view of the fact in my mouth words that I never said and never thought of. The sug-- gostion is made that in a recess I tock in Decsomber I handed over problems to my colleagues that they might say whcither they were safe to investigate. I want to say to this House and to the Province that every-- thing is safe to investigate. "Everything is cpen and above-- board. I hope that those who have been intsrested in stirring up this Province against Hydro will realize that they have created a hullabalos for nothing. The work of the Com-- mission will allay any anxiety thai may exist in this Province." "If everything is safe to investi-- gate in Hydro as the Premier says it is," commenced Mr. Sinclair, "why has he authorized only a very limited inquiry into part of the situation on which the general public is demand-- ing an inquiry? I say that the flood-- gates should be cpened on HMydro. Let the pecple see what the Premier says he knows is all right. If every-- thing is safe, it would have been a simple thing to scal th> mouths of the Opposition on this question and to have allayed ths mounting sus-- picions in the public mind." tactics of the Government in the matter of this Commission," the Pro-- gressive Leader said. "Just on the eve of the Legislature we have the Commission appointed, so that many important matters which honorable members wished to discuss wore ren-- derad sub judice." Premier in Reply. '"Mr. Nixon raises the Madawaska purchase question, forgetting that it was nearly three years ago that the Madawaska purchase was made," said the Premier, opening his reply. '"No question in this House was raised in 1930 or 1931 in regard to the purchase in any shape or form. If it had not been for the evidence before the House of Commons Committee last summer, and John Aird's name coming into the picture, there would not be any ques-- tion today. "I am not going to discuss the Madawaska matter, because that is before the Commission. I think the public will be thoroughly satisfied that the Commission has brought out all the facts necessary to the inquiry when it has finished its work. "I think it is beneath a member of this House to suggest that W. N. Tilley did not give adequate services for the money he received," continued Mr. Henry. "I do not know what my hon-- orable friend might do if there were large constitutional questions before him, but I am inclined to think, if he were sitting in the seat of the Govern-- ment, he would find the best counsel he could. Great Demands on Time. "Mr. Tilley's time is fully occupied. There are great demands on his time. The Government for several years has thought that, in our large outstand-- ing questions, we would desire to have him take care of our interests. I am quite sure that his work before this Commission in bringing out the facts will satisfy the people thor-- oughly. I have no reason to change the decision we made just before the session opened, as to having the mat-- ter investigated by a Commission rather than by a committee of this House. "The Opposition has sought to Mar 25. pus "It's funny," said Mr. Sinclair, "that he should be watching the question of Fedsral--Ontario rights, when all the waters concerned with Beaubar-- nois were in the Province of Qusbec." These were all significant facts, he argued--facts which tanded to create suspicion in the public mind, and fur-- ther the demands for an investigation into Beauharnois Mr. Aird may have been paid directly by Hydro in the Madawaska, but both that payment and the other of $125.000 were linked with the Beauharnois matter, and provided excellent reasons why the present limited scope of the Middle-- ton Commission should be extended. "Let Light Shine," Says Speaker. _ "sSurely," said Mr. Sinclair, "the Government need not wait until the Commission asks for more authority, particularly when everybody else is demanding it." Pointing out that during the first stage of the Legis-- lature session he, with co--operation of the Progressive Opposition, had pro-- vided the Hydro amendment, which had engaged the House's attention virtually for two whole weeks, Mr. Sinclair stated that the press and the public also were demanding a clean-- up, and surely it was an odd position Evidence adduced before the Public Accounits Committee of the Legisla-- ture last week, said Mr. Sinclair, was to the effect that Mr. Hogsg of Ottawa had been retained by th: Ontario Gov-- ernment to watch any water--power-- right dGdevelopments in connecticon with the Beauharnois inquiry, but in-- formation given the Bsauharnois at the time that committee was meeting was that Mr. Hogg's presence there was from the point of contact of the Hydro contract with Beauharnois. | "Oh, wait a minute," said Mr. Sin-- clair. "IT'll get you round to the point where IT'll have ysu in sighs of Hydro." Waiers in Quebec Province. Mr. Henry said that, while the Hydro had made a dirsct paymont to Mr. Aird in the Madawaska cas>, ther> was no evidence whatever that it was connected with the Beauharnois trans-- action. "Furth:rmcore, if Mr. Aird hadn't been paid $125,000 by Bauharnois the psople probably would not be clam-- oring for lighni on this transaction. It was fortunate," said Mr. Sinclair, "that Mr. Aird had given evidence, for it is because of his evidenc> --that an investigation is requested, and b:causs of it we are moving that the who!> thing be cpen>d up wide." Mr. Sinclair ccntended that the people of the Province would not be satisfied with the Premior's assur-- ance that "everything is safe," and would continue their demands for a fuller inquiry. "If no Commission Turning to Premier Henry's remarks to the effect that, had not ths Hydro payment to John Aird in csnnection with the MaCawaska purchase been brought to light there would have b:en no agitation for an inquiry, Mr. Sin-- clair said it was just another case of a big "If" entcring into the situation. was necessary," he wont on, "why, then, did the Government appoint ons? If no Commission is necossary the Government is msrely wasting mconey, and from the manner in which the Prima Minister talks thes2 days, money cannot be wa--ted. I say cancol the Commission. if it is not ncsded, and lat the Prime Minister take the entire rasponsibility for him-- self." '"The FPremier says there is no noed for a Commission--" began Mr. Sin-- clair, but was intsrrupted by the Premier. "I noever said that," the Premier challenged. "I said that as far as the Government was con-- corned there wos n» nsed for an in-- vestigation. Don't go splitting hairs." "I've got a f:w mors hairs to solit" returned the Libsral Leador, amid laughter, "than my honsrable frisnd has," Terms Argument Futile, If no Commission was believed to be noeded by the Government, continued Mr. Sinclair, thsn the> demands of th» public must have broughs it abzcut. "And I know why a Commission was needed, if the CGovernmeont doesn't," said he,. "And so do the psople know." Mr. Henry protested that Mr.' Sinclair was making only a fu'llle argume>nt. s