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

'Goat in Canada Today' Is Farmer of Orrfariis, Hepburn Says fo House 'He claimed Ontario wheat did not conflict with Western wheat. so there could not be any question ot an issue of the East against the West. He said that of an 18,000,000. bushel crop, only 6,000,000 bushels were consumed at home. In recent years markets had been lost in Eng- land. the British West Indies and 'In Newfoundland. and he attributed the loss directly to the heavy freight rates. Naming the Ontario farmer the "goat in Canada today" as he re- cited the heavy tax lmposts and "dis- criminatory burdens" placed upon him by Ottawa. Premier Hepburn was in a belligerent mood yesterday before the Legislature as he charged the Conservative Oppo- sition With having accused the gov- ernment with tomenting disunity when its spokesmen complained of the treatment. For an instant there appeared he tore the House every likelihood that the debate over the question of the preferential wheat freight rates ac- corded to Western formers. as com- pared With those paid by Ontario's, would flare into a feud between the two Leaders. "Col. George A. Drew, early in the discussion of a resolution, urging that Ontario growers be granted the some freight rates for wheat and wheat products and other grains and their products as were Western farmers. declared wholehearted sup- port tor the resolution. Premigtrhelpburn asserted that he Pam's; titrgtburn asserted that he a c anze coming over the Oppo- sition Leader, and added: "I want to tell him that it ever he wants to become Premier of this Province he must stand up tor the interests of the people at this Province." His Vince flushed with anger. Colonel Drew half rose from his seat, subsided and then he snapped In reply: "I always have." Says Mills Close. In his resolution, he stated. in part: "Wheat growers of Ontario have practically lost access to the export market for wheat owing to the preferential rates accorded to western Canada and United States wheat shipped ex-lake in carload lots. " compared with the carioad rates on Ontario wheat. namely. approximately 10.34 cents The resolution was sponsored by F._Bs,..,.Oliy3r IU.F.0., Grey South). per an. and 7.08 cents per cwt., on Western wheat. as compared with 20 cents per ch. on Ontario wheat." It said. because of the dis- criminatory rates many flour mills In Ontario have been forced to dis- continue operations. '0iseriminatory Burdens' Are Placed Upon Eastern Grower by OHawa, States Premier, Supporting Resolution Asking for Same Freight Rates as Those Paid by Prairies on Agricultural Products DREW DENIES CHARGE OF UNFAIR CRITICISM The motion was supported by Http, B M._Dewan. Minister of Agriculture. who read data which untied that Australian grains T. L. Kennedy (Con.. Peel), for- mer Minister of Agriculture, argued that feeding wheat to hogs was economically sound and he advo- cated that the best wayofgetting the wheat out ofOntario wasi..ba- con. He backed the resolution and charged that Manitoh barley was supplanting Ontario barley in the Montreal brewery market because of the difference in rates. Premier Hepburn said he was disappointed in Mr. Kennedy's at- titude. "He advocates the Ontario farmers carry the swill pail to hogs. Why doesn't he ask the Western farmer to do the same?" "Surely our farmers are not going to be the victims of all these de- vices," he said. "Thu have bonused Western wheat and on top of that have placed these discriminatory freight rates." were carried " a lower rate from the seaboard into Ontario than On- tario grains were carried the same distance to the seaboard. Seen Ontario Penalhed. "But he won't," went on tle Premier. " said I was in favor of this mo- tion," added Mr. Kennedy. "But you qualified it." "No I didn't." claimed Mr. Ken- nedy. "I would, I would," broke in the Peel member. "It is the principle of things which I am complaining about most, because the Ontario farmer is penalized by helping to subsidize the Western wheat farmer." "I agree with that," broke in Mr. Kennedy. The premier pointed out there would be changes in the corpora- tions tax. Some held, he said, that the corporations paid the tax. "But they don't," he added. "They pass it on in their products. It is passed on largely to the farmer and he isn't able to pass it on unless it is to the hired man, and goodness knows he isn't paid too much." Thinks Premier Mistaken. Ottawa estimated, he continued, that they would lose between $40,000,000 and 850,000,000 on the guaranteed wheat price plan of last year. He estimated it would be nearer $70,000,000. "And," he added, "Ontario is paying one-third of that and the Ontario farmer will have to pay the bulk of that. And not content with losing that, they go ahead the other day and announce another wheat bonusing plan. The Ontario farmer is the goat in the country and when we complain about it. my honorable friend charges us with lamenting dis. unity." - _ - -- - Colonel Drew claimed the Pre- mier's speech must be one he had intended to make " another time. It was not relevant to the debate, he claimed. inasmuch as the Oppo- MARCH 30 The Premier, with heat, charged that Ontario's delegates had repeat- edly gone to Ottawa and had come back with empty hands. But on the other hand, he said, there was the wheat bonus for Western farmers, the preferential freight rates, the coal subsidies for Nova Scotia, all matters, which he said, came back onto the Ontario public in the way of increased taxation and charges on products. Colonel Kennedy, in protest, said he would not let the Premier try to put words in his mouth, as he emphasized that he had backed the resolution and urged that for clari- fication purposes it included all On.. tario grains. "The Ontario farmers have never got a fair deal from the Dominion "I have said I was heartily in favor ot the motion. Others have said they were in favor. It the pre. mier wishes to go ahead and start discussing something not associated with the subject, it is all right," said Colonel Drew. iirtiisn had declar'ed itself 1 accord with the resolution. Government," he said. "t could go on, just like the Prime Minister." Last word in the debate was given by William Duckworth (Cons, Toronto-Dovercourt), who declared that while in London in 1937, he made a two-days' tour of butcher and bakery shops and did not find one bakery that used Canadian flour and only one butcher shop which stocked Canadian butter. "There is something wrong," de- clared the member as the House applauded. Directly the resolution was passed. by unanimous vote, Hon. Harry Nixon, provincial secretary, orderedI that it be wired to the Transport Board, which, he said, was sitting; in conference on freight rates.