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HEAR HEPBURN TO HOLD ALOOF FROM CAMPAIGN Premier Hepburn, urbane and ap-- parently unmoved by the role cast for him by Prime Minister Mac-- kenzie King as the cause, in large part, of the Federal Government's decision to call an election, said yes-- terday that he would not comment on the election and relating issues until after the week--end. The Legislature galleries were! crowded when the House opened, in | anticipation of a declaration from the Premier. Members and visitorst alike were noticeably on edge dur--| ing the critical period preceding the | Orders of the Day. Later, after the | House rose, the Premier reiterated an earlier declaration that there was "no comment at present." _ Behind this decision, it is be-- lieved, is the intention to consult kis Cabinet colleagues on a course of action and then to deliver a con-- sidered statement before the HMHouse on Monday. At the same time, while it is conceded that the majority of the private members on the Lib-- eral side will support Federal Lib-- eral candidates in their own rid-- ings, and that a few may even run for House of Commons seats, it is reported that Mr. Hepburn is likely to hold aloof from the campaign if it develops into a straight party fight. In this connection, it is claim-- ed, the Premier would give seri-- ous consideration to lending active support to a movement tending to National Government. May Change Recess Plans. Mr. King's election decision, said. the Premier, may change his Gov-- ernment's plans to call a recess of the Legislature. The recess date was set tentatively for next Wed-- nesday and was intended originally to give the Fedcral Government an opportunity of bringing down its taxing program so that the Ontario budget might be drafted to conform to measures such as the Income Tax Act. On the other hand, if the Fed-- eral taxing program had cut too deeply into Ontario revenues, the recess would have left the Ontario Government in a position to adjust its own taxing measures to offset the drain. 2 e ...l.,';_n,'i;l,' Hepburn said it would be impossible to await the formation Report He Might Give Support to Movement for National Ministry STATEMENT W AITS of a new Dominion Government and its budgetary program, and, as for the Ontario budget, he suggested: "We will have to get along the best we can." Comment from Liberal Legisla-- ture members, already shaken by the Hepburn--sponsored motion of censure against the King Admin-- istration's conduct of the war ef-- fort, ranged on the election ques-- tion from "The fat is surely in the fire now" to the pious hope, "It may clear the air here." Members who were pressed for comment. even some who voted for the censure resolution, were confi-- dent that the majority would sup-- port King candidates. It was point-- ed out that Mr. Hepburn, in caucus last year, had advised them that they were free to join actively in a Federal campaign if they wished, and they also pointed to the Pre-- mier's declaration in the House the day the resolution was presented-- that they were "free to speak and act" as they saw fit. "Last year, in caucus, he said he would never interfere if we saw fit to support King candidates, and we expect him to stick to his word," said one member. 'Two members only have been nominated to contest Federal rid-- ings, Colonel T. A. Kidd, Conserva-- tive Whip, who will oppose Defense Minister Rogers at Kingston, and A. W. Rochuck, K.C., Provincial member for Toronto--Bellwoods, who has been nominated in Trinity riding. W. J. Gardhouse, York West, has been mentioned prominently as a probable candidate to succeed the sitting member, Colonel J. E. L Streight, who has been in ill health. January 27 Streight, who has been in ill health. "I don't know whether or not I will be acceptable now," he smiled, "since I supported the Hepburn res-- olution." Mr. Gardhouse admitted that a deputation of West York Liberals had urged him, as recently as yes-- terday morning, to accept the nomi-- nation. W. L. Miller, Algoma--Mani-- toulin, is also mentioned, but he suggested reports of a possible can-- didature werse premature. G. H. Bethune, Wentworth, said he had been approached, but had no inten-- tion at the moment of accepting. W. A Dickson, Perth, on the basis of a possible elevation to the Senate of the sitting member, F. G. Sander-- son, is reported to be a potential candidate, but he, also, claimed the reports premature. Among others suggested as candidates were A. J. Haines, Lincoln, and Wiltiam Guth-- rie, Lambton West. KEY LEFT IN CAR MAY BRING FINE Dr. A. S. Duncan, Liberal member for London, backed by Hon. H. C. Nixon, Provincial Secretary, yes-- terday in the Legislature placed a strong plea for a measure, designed to curb car thefts by prohibiting drivers from either parking motor vehicles with their motors running or leaving keys in the ignition switches. While it was conceded that the proposed legislation, drafted as an amendment to the Municipal Act, would require revision, it was ad-- vanced through second reading for committee consideration. It sug-- gested penalties from $1 to $10. Dr. Duncan said the bill was of-- fered as a means of removing temptation from boys who steal cars "not necessarily with criminal intent but as a prank. We want to make it so that boys who see a key in a car will not get the idea of going for a joy ride." Mr. Nixon said the car theft situation was "very serious" in the cities and he reported his parole officer as saying that eighty--three out of the eighty--seven last cases brought up for parole "admitted they were tempted to steal cars from seeing them unlocked and the keys in the ignition." He agreed with Allan Lamport (Lib.. St. David--Toronto) that the biil should not apply to trucks. The House gave second reading to the Highway Traffic Act amend-- ments on consideration that the clause, which would extend the over--all length of busses from 33 to 35 feet is debated in committee. Leopold 'Macaulay, one--time Min-- ister of Highways, objected to any lessening of the law, claiming "if any change is made it should be to reduce the length of these highway trains." Mr. Lamport introduced an amendment to the Assessment Act which would have the effect of re-- lieving rooming houses of assess-- ment as business propositions.