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ing mighty high for this policy at the present time." P , _ He flatly stated that the people of Northern Ontario would not accept the small amount available for road , maintenance. They did not object to 'no moneys beihg provided for new roads, but there had to be sufficient for repairs, or the capital investment in these roads would be lost. And the amount available for maintenance was practically spent already, he said. The reason why many municipalities were now bankrupt, or almost at that stage, was because the clected repre-- sentatives had been practically shorn of their power. Boards of Education and Commissions, etc., controlled a HMHe condemned the Campbell report, saying that there were many things in it which did the municipalities more 'hlrmt than any good they got out of large portion of the expenditure, he said. and to right the situation full control of all financing should be given back to the elected representa-- tives, maintained Mr. Lyons. Unless one or more of the senior members of the Cabinet resign their posts and go into private life before next election, those who, it is said in party circles, may suffer under the Premier's edict for a smaller Cabinet are Hon W. G. Martin, Minister of Public Weifare, and Hon. G. H. Chal-- lies. Provincial Secretary and Min-- ister of Game and Fisheries, There is a possibility, of course, that a com-- plete reconstruction of the Cabinet will take place, especially if Mr. Henry loses some of his more able allies by their going out of politics. & ~"This is a definite measure of economy," said Premier Henry in mov-- ing the second reading of the bill-- "not only in the money it will save The Progressive Lcoader sought to get an undertaking from the Govern-- ment that the House membership be reduced still further to coincide with Ontario's representation at Ottawa, but the Premicr declared that ten years hence the Federal representa-- tion might have to be still further reduced,. and the Ontario Logislature would then have too few seats. He said it was the sovereign right of the Province to fix the numbers of its own Legislature. Measure Timely, Says Sinclair. Liberal House Leader Sinclair be-- lieved the business of the Province could well be carried on by ninety members, and while the reduction would not mean a great deal in pro-- portionate economy, it was a timely measure. Mr. Sinclair declared that the actual cost of carrying on the Legislature during sessions was only .65 of 1 per cent. of the total cost of Provincial operations. s son, Ireland, Mahony, McMillan, Mc-- Quibban, Murphy (Beaches};, New-- man, Robertson and Taylor. The group will likely convene today for organization purposes, and Hon. William Finlayson is the probable Chairman. A demand from Progressive Leader Nixon that the Premier announce when the reduction in the Cabinet would take place was answered by Mr. Henry, casually: "This will take place in due course." Lator, during his remarks, Mr. Nixon forecast that the Cabinet cut would not come until the eve of an election, "when they will be all thrown out." At a late hour last night Premier Henry moved that the special com-- mittee to consider redistribution con-- sist of seventeen members, of which ten are Conservatives, four Liberals, two Progressives and one Labor. Those chosen are as follows: Premier Henry, Hon. William Finlayson, Hon. Leopold Macaulay, Hon. Harry Nixon, Messrs. Baxter, Cote, Davis. Hogarth, Hutchin-- HENRY ANNOUNGES GABINET REDUCTION IN RATIO TO HOUSE Definitely placing himself on rec-- ord as prepared to reduce the mom-- bership of his Cabinet in proportion to the reduction of the seats in the House, Premier George S. Henry moved second reading of the redis-- tribution bill in the Ontario Legis-- lature yesterday. The bill will now go to a special committee, Mr. Henry said, adding: "The only instructions that will go from the Government will be that the committee seek to cut the representation in this House by 20 per cent." TAUNTS BY MR. NIXON Personnel of Committee to Cut Ridings Announced by Premier March 31. through cost of indemnities, but for the general good in carrying on the business of the House. Fewer mem-- bers would tend to make it possible for the Legislature to take less time, and the cost of other services in con-- nection with the sessions would be reduced." Supported by Province. "I feel," he continued, "that, de-- spite rumors and stories to the con-- trary, I have the entire Province be-- hind me in bringing down this bill and that the people are looking to me to give leadership at the present time. The only instructions that will go from the government to the com-- mittee which will work out the details of the bill will be that they seek to cut the representation in this House by 20 per cent." He said that in 1925 and 1926 it had been the policy that no riding should have less than 15,000 population, but in the present bill the quota would be 25,000 for the rural ridings and ©50,000 or more" in the cities. The Premier thought that rural and urban ridings could be made into groups of ten by population and then a 20 per cent. reduction made by the com-- mittee. At the conclusion of Mr. Henry's brief reply to Mr. Nixon, F. W. Elliott (Bruce, North), Liberal financial critic, asked: "Why not cut off those twenty--three members who are hardly ever here, and save all this trouble?". Premier Henry (smilingly)--I don't know who they are. Mr. Elliott--Well. T could tell you. 'The Premier then announced his proposed reduction in the Cabinet. "The Cabinct will be cut down in proportion as a matter of economy. It means more sacrifice on the part of the remaining members, as eleven are working pretty stea€ily now, and we will have a great dgeal more work t do after the reduction. This mak»s it more difiicult to accede to the re-- qauest o the member from Brant (Mr. Nixon} that a full--time Minister of Education be appointed. I think pos-- sibly this will postpone such action." "Solemn Day" for Tories. Liberal House Leader Sinclair de-- clared that the brevity of applause from the Conservative members at the Premier's announcement showed that they were not whole--heartedly in favor of redistribution. *"However, this is a solemn day for them, and I can sympathize with members on the Gov-- ernment side of the House." "I am glad to see," Mr. Nixon went on, "that a Cabinet reduction which has been urged by me, is going to take place. I have asked the Premier, in all seriousness, when the reduction will be made, but he has chosen to take my inquiry lightly. I will say this then: that there will be no re-- duction in the Cabinet until the eve of an election, when they will be all thrown out." 6 "Seriously," went on Mr. Sinclair, "I think it is a move in the right direc-- tion, and I am sure the Legislature will be able to carry on the business of the Province whether some come back or not. Ninety men elected to the next Legislature will be able to transact the business of the Province. Let us do the work fairly and well, so that redistribution will be a credit to this Legislature and the Government." Hon. Harry C. Nixon, Progressive Leader, said he chose to refrain from speaking fully on the bill until it had becn brought back by the committee. "I sat in the committese on redis-- tribution in 1925 and 1926, and, judg-- ing by the action at that tims, I feel sure that everything is already pretty well cut and dried. The Government may as well bring out its bag of tricks right here and let us dispose of the whole thing." Mr. Nixon's Prediction.