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On the objection of Leopold Macaulay, Con., York South, a pro-- posed amendment to the Devolution of Estates Act was held in first-- reading stage pending receipt of fur-- ther reaction to its proposals. Under the present act, when a man dies without a will, the widow is allowed the first $1,000 and the balance is divided equally between the widow and the next of kin. The amend-- ment proposes to give the widow two--thirds of the balance. Attorney--General Conant advised that in the fiscal year ending March dl, 1939 fifty--one county court judges had expenses totalling $28,-- 049.893--that the maximum individ-- vual expense account was $1,895.66 and the minimum $15.20. The amend-- ment will effect a drastic saving in expenses, the House was told, by limiting the interchange of judges. An amendment to the Registry Act arises out of war conditions when the husband is on active serv-- Jce, said Mr. Conant. Where a man makes a conveyance and his wife joins to bar her dower, he is required to take an affidavit as to the marriage. The amendment per-- mits the wife to take the affidavit. In compliance with the inquiry eommittee's -- recommendations -- on the administration of justice, the House gave second reading to an amendment to the County Judges Act. The effect of the amendment Is to limit the interchange of judges in a county court district 10 eounty courts, courts of general skessions of peace, and county court judges' criminal courts. While it is believed unlikely that election may be mentioned directly, It is held certain that both Leaders In their addresses will lay down the foundation for party policies when an election is called. Colonel Drew, in recent speeches, has indi-- cated his belief that the cause of national unity was not strengthen-- ed by the attitude of the Ontario delegation at the Ottawa confer-- ence last month, irrespective of the merits or otherwise of the Royal Commission report on the investi-- gation into Dominion--Provincial re-- jlations. Premier HMepburn, his colleagues announced, remained home with a cold, and, at the same time, polished up his> address for the Throne Speech debate. Forecasts suggest that he will explain the stand taken by him at the Dominiom--Provincial Conference, outline the Govern-- ment's continued support of the war effort as expressed actively through Labor, Health, Education, Attorney--General's and Highways departments, and lay particular stress upon tubercular, milk pas-- teurization and venereal disease phases of the health program under Hon. Harold J. Kirby. Initial legislation in the adminis-- tration of justice reform program sponsored by Attorney--General Co-- nant was advanced yesterday by the Legislature through second reading stages in a session as calm as today's "Leaders' Day" meecting may be stormy. BILL ADVANCED _ CLOSED PARLEY INLEGISLATURE |-- ... ces kss COURT REFORM See Saving in Limiting Interchange of Judges; Leaders to Speak Today PREPARE POLICIES The suggestion of a secret session olf the Provincial Legislature to consider the various details of the St. Lawrence waterways scheme was made yesterday by Col. George Drew, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislature. HMe referred to a news item to the effect that it was possible that the Ontario Legisla-- ture would be called upon to ratify certain -- agreements in connection with the scheme, during the pres-- ent session, and commented that it would be in the best interests of the country that the Opposition be provided with all possible informa-- tion regarding the scheme. He was assured by Hon. Harry Nixon, acting leader in the absence of Premier Hepburn, that the nego-- tiations -- have made satisfactory progress and that a draft will soon be tabled. Mr. Nixon promised to give the Opposition all available in-- formation. "1 car assure the Government that they will find us willing to co-- operate in every way," he said, "but I think that if there is any reason for the early acceptance of the pro-- posal it would be wise to put all pos-- sible information into the hands of the Opposition. There may be some points that do not appear in the documents, owing to war and na-- tional reasons, and it would be bet-- ter if we had the information and so were not foreed to ask questions which might bring out information which might be better to remain private. A secret session might be advisable." DREW SUGGESTS WaATERWAYS -- PLAN Urges Closed Session on St. Lawrence Scheme FEBRVUARY 25 Move for Abolition Of Court Criers The cost of court criers in various courts of Ontario is abput $30,000 a year, Hon. Gordon Conant said yesterday in the Legislature in moving the second reading of a bill to abolish the position. The Attor-- ney--General stated that his esti-- mute was based on the figures of the courts in Toronto, which were $7,500 last year. The bill was one oi the recommendations brought forward by the special committee of the Legislature to inquire into possible reforms in the administra-- tive of justice in the Province. Hon. Leopold Macaulay indicated the Opposition would not oppose the bill by congratulating the commit-- te> for its work, but he intimated that, in his opinion, the commit-- tee had appeared somewhat timid in its recommendations.