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GOVERNMENT BILLS APPROVED BY HOUSE Amendment to Local Im-- provement Act Given Second Reading EXPLAINED BY McBRIEN Four Government bills were ad-- proved by the Committee of the Who:e at yesterday's session of the Legis-- lature, which lasted less than an hour. No discussion was occasioned by any of them, and this business, together with giving second reading to a City of Toronto bill, and answers to ques-- tions on the order paper by several of the Ministers, was all that was accomplished. _ The bills which were approved in the committee included the amend-- ment to the Deserted Wives and Chil-- dren's Maintenance Act, which is in-- tended to make clear what constitutes cruelty under the act. At present a wife may be Geemed deserted if she has left her home because of cruelty. The amendment defines crucity as "a reasonable apprehension of bodily in-- jury, or injury to health, without proof of actual personal violence, which renders the home an unfit place for either wife or child." Another is thne amendment to the Executions Act, which stipulates that in case of seizure of a farmer's goods for dsbt he may retain a team of horses and harness. The third was a bill amending the Long Point Park Act, which allows the Government to add some 140 acres to the park, which is situated off Port Rowan, and which now comprises some 400 acres. The last bill to receive the endorsation of the committee was that to amend the Northern Development Act. It would provide that a settler, who has taken up land formerly settled and aban-- don=d, does not have to shoulder the burden of debts the first settler owes to the Government. But it does not relieve the original land holder of his obligations. Eecond reading was given to a bili to amend the Local Imvrovement Act to clarify a clausge passed in 1931. F. G. McBrien (Conservative, Brock-- ton}, who spoke to the bill, which concerned the City of Toronto, ex-- plained that the C€ourt of Revision now had power to rectify faulty assessments in connection with locals on lanes. But it did not allow the court to e:ixsnpt this excess area where it found that an excess area had been assessed. E. F. Singer (Conservative, St. An-- drews) introduced another bill 1to amend the Assessment Act, and it was given first reading without dis-- cussion. It provides, he stated, that a man working in one municipality and living in another, may be assessed wrre he works. _ _ Has Right Hon. Arthur Meighen, \Hydro Commissioner, any connection with private companies which held bonds of the Ontario Power Service Corporation, recently taken over by the Goevernment in the Abitibi deal? | is an inquiry placed on the order paper of the Legislature yesterday by D. J. Taylor (Progressive, Grey North). \ _ His questions in this connection are |as follows: "Is Hydro Commissioner Right HMHon. Arthur Meighen Chair-- man or President of the Canadian General Investments Ltd., or has he been within the last year? SERIES OF QUERIES REFER TO MEIGHEN Progressive Asks His Con-- nection With Investments Company SUDBURY POWER TOTAL? "Did this company hold any of the bonds of the Ontario Power Service Corporation Ltd. prior to, at the time, or subsequent to, negotiations for the taking over by the Government and the Hydro--Electric Power Commission of the partially completed develop-- ment on the Abitibi? If so, what was the amount of the bonds so held? Dr. G. A. McQuibban (Liberal, Wel-- lington North) is asking what amount of power has been supplied by the HMydro during the past three years to the Sudhury mining area, and what amount has been supplied by the On-- tario Power Service Corporation; while L. J. Simpson (Liberal, Simcoo Centre) inquires as to the cost of the Fish and Game Committee, ap-- pointed in 1931, and what posi-- tion FEdward Chauvin of Noelville holds in the Civil Service. Were any CGovernment funds used in the erec-- tion of the Midland artificial ice rink, "Did this company, or any of its predecessors, Pirst, Second, Third or Fourth General Investment Trust Ltd., hold bonds of the Ontario Power Service Corporation Ltd. while the Hydro had a contract to take power from the Power Service Corporation Iitd.? If so, what was the amount so held?" was Mr. Taylor's final question. $ Other questions to be placed on the order paper included one from W. J. MacKay (Libcsral, Bruce South), who wants to know if the salaries of normal school teachers have been re-- duced during the past three years; and, if so, by what amount. J. A. Sangster (Liberal, Glengarry) asks; and, if so, to what amount? March 4. GOVERNMENT ACREES WITH DEPUTATION Same End Desired in Cur-- tailing Liquor's Effect, Says Price After hearing a deputation of the Ontario Pronibition Union of nearly 1.000 strong at Quszen's Park yesterday morning. -- Attorney--General W. H. Price told the group that the Govern-- ment was with them '"in curtailing the offect of liquor." Colon:l Price said: "There is difference of opinion among honest people as to how this may be brought about: yet the same end is desired." & The Attorney--Gonsral. who is hoad-- ing the Government in the absonce of Mr. Honry, assured the deputation that he wouid lay the proposals beforse the Premisr. Petitions signsd by more than 105.000 wors presonted. . Hon. George Challies, Hon. J. D. Monteith and Hon. W. G. Mariin were with Colonel Price as he received ths group in the main foyor of the Parliameont Buildings. :. -- --._ i astes s ffset