The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

\ had an election in 1929, and it was considered sound practice in an elec-- tion campaign to announce the poli-- 'cies to the people, and upon return to ' implement those promises. "Elections cost money and it was the attitude of Mr. Ferguson to avoid this tremendous expenditure. In' the opinion of the House four years was not long enough. Is there any good reason why the country should be plunged into the cost of an election?" "While it may be said that by some the legislation was passed first and subsequent elections intervened, the question is whether or not the public was informed that the legislation would be passed," argued Mr. McCrea. "The evidence is ample. Mr. Fer-- guson, in 1929, announced on behalf of the Government that, in his opinion, the term should be five years. He implemented that promise the first session. "The legislation went through the House without opposition because all parties believed it to be carrying out the will of the people. Today it is suggested that it should not apply to this Legislature. To my mind it is apparent that that is an after-- thought." Mr. Hepburn and the member for Brant (Mr. Nixon) and others were making overtures to the C.C.F., said the Government spokesman. "The great national organizer, Mr. Ma.s-1 sey, _ has been flirting with the CC.P.," he declared, asserting that the bill before the House was an ef-- fort to gratify these parties, and the result of it would be the expenditure of a large amount of money." that has come down through genera-- tions and stands for the greatest of all British institutions to refer to this aggregation on the Treasury benches as a Government at all. _ _ "We might very well shorten that title to the 'Hen' Government, and the metaphor would be quite appro-- priate, though I suggest it with apolo-- gies to tha': important, useful and noble bird. But this 'Hen' Govern-- ment, having well feathered its nest upon the Treasury benches, is now sitting tight in a manner which would put to shame the instincts of any old Plymouth Rock," said Mr. 'Nixon. "It is known that through : the campaign of 1929 the Government had given consideration to extending the life of the Legislature. All Prov-- inces except Ontario and Prince Ed-- ward Island had five--year terms. Action of Mr, Ferguson. "Well, there may be a time when we can make that comparison," re-- plied Mr. Nixon. "Last year the Premier referred to my statement that he should go to the country and re-- ceive endorsation as insincere. _And said that while I talked election I was more or less of a hypocrite, not really wanting one. So the Premier now has the opportunity to show me up if he still thinks so, and accept this bill, which would mean that this is the last session of this Legislature," concluded Mr. Nixon,. Mr. McCrea Replies. Mr. McCrea, in replying, stated: "The member from Brant makes it quite clear that, if he was remiss in his duty in 1930, he intends today to force a vote. One would also think, tt hear him, that he had been prompt-- ed from outside to stage a political piece of strategy, to affect, if possible, the electors of the Province. "The member from Brant raises the point that the bill which passed should not give this Legislature the {ic_l'lt to cpngnue_tor five years. We | that the Legislature had the power to extend the life to five years. There was no question by the member from Brant as to the power, and there was no question on this side as to the Legislature's power. "What about 'Nix'?" asked Colonel "We were all in agreement in 1930 a far _ Mr. McCrea--I think the Province has proved that the going is always good as far as the Conservatives are concerned. Mr. Nixon--Try it next summer. Mr. McCrea--Think of the expense. | _ Mr. Nixon--Then why not make it | eight years? | Mr. McCrea did not believe this was a fair suggestion. Tilts With Opposition. T. P. Murray (Liberal, Renfrew South)--There were three--year terms before. What was the object of those elections? Was it because the Lib-- erals were caught unprepared? _ Mr. McCrea--The Governor--Gen-- eral could exercise his prerogative and in these cases did. But it was felt that elections were held too often. Mr. Nixon--Wasn't it the an-- nounced policy of the Conservatives to go when the going was good for the Conservative Party? y Mr. McCrea said that, assuming it cost each tandidate so much, with two candidates in ceach constituency, the cost of an election would be $400,000 to the candidates alone. | _ Mr. Nixon--You are assuming too much. There are to be only ninety scats. Estimate of Costs. Mr. McCrea--It is only an assump-- tion. more would be spent for advertising and between $600,000 and $700,000 would be spent by the Province on the clection proper. "It would plunge the people into an expenditure of at least $1,500,000, or perhaps $2,000,000, parties, candidates and the Prov-- ince." There was no call for such an ex-- penditure, he stated. "I think there are a considerable number on the other side of the House who hope that we will go the full five--year term. "Mr. Ferguson announced the pol-- icy during the campaign of 1929," said Mr. McCrea, referring to speeches made by his former Leader at Nor-- wood and "several other places," which he did not mention. The view of the House in 1930 was that there should be five--year terms, and that was still its view, he declared. _ "so far as the followers of the present Premier are concerned in this House, the legislation placed on the statutes of the Province of On-- tario by Mr. Ferguson will remain there," he concluded. Me then cstimated that $600,000 March 30 .