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

APPROVE PLAN FOR SEPARATE SCHOOL UNION A twelve-ward separate whool area. taking in all of the Toronto metro- politan area with the exception of Mimico, New Toronto and Sections 11 and 12 of Etobicoke Township, was approved yesterday by the Leg- islative Private Bills Committee in the face of opposition led hy a group of Conservative members. The bill. which amalgammes eleven separate school boards in the present setup, is to come into effect hy proclamation not later than June 30. and after a hearing has been granted by the Ontario Municipal Board to enable the suburban boards or any others to voice objections. it In)'. The hearing provision was drafted into the bill on the recommendation of Alfred J. B. Gray, chief super- visor of the Department of Munici- pal Affairs. On his recommendation also. powers of the new Toronto and Suburban Separate School Board. such as adjustments of assets and liabilities in the local boards. as be- tween its ratepayers. are subject to the approval of the Municipal Board. Mr. Gray also advised that the de. partment "had a lot to do" in bring- ing forth the principle of the bill. Will Mme Coats. . According to Arthur Kelli". sepa- rate school representative on the Toronto Board at Education. all separate school education in the metropolitan area is given in the Toronto separate schools. although there are separate school boards in ten of the suburban municipalities. whose sole duty is to look after the pupils in their sections who are attending school in Toronto. The amalgamation would reduce costs and would have the effect of provid- ing direct elective representation to all separate school supporters on the new and proposed board. he said. The bill provides for the appoint- ment of an assessment equalization commission to provide that the dol-, lar contribution to separate schools' he the same in each municipality,' and for the use ot the legular mu-" hicipai election machinery for the, election of trustees from the twelve I wards. In event of an aceiamation: in any municipality or in any ward! at a municipality. in the general elections. the separate school sup-i porters must bear the cost ot their own election. As the municipalites do not hold elections on the same dates. the bill ( provides that separate school tallies be sealed until the vote is counted in the final election. w. J. Stewart tCon.. Parkdale). in a representation "an behalf of cer- tain public school supporters." questioned particularly it the pro- posal would draw any further money from the public schools, and was advised by the committee and law authorities that the bill "lett the separate schoois' share on the present basis." . Mos? of tvutropolifan Area ls Amalgamated Into Twelve W a r d s TO EQUALIZE COSTS MARCH 2% Wants Planning Commission Formed for Onfario Centres Immediate creation of an Ontario Town and Country Planning Com- mission to meet problems arising from the rc-establishment ot com- munities which will be flooded out hy the St. Lawrence Power and Seth way dam. was proposed yesterday in the Legislature hy Col. George A. Drew. The Conservative Leader introduc- rd the proposal in resolution form as a HOUCO of motion. While Colonel) Drew raid the commission', need', arose particularly from the St. Law-l Outhouse Approves. A. Holly Acres tCon., Carletoni' said he did not oppose the bill in principle. but argued that it should he made a part ot general legisla- tion rather than a private bill affecting tne one area only. Rev. w. A. Downer Icon.. Dufferin-Simcoe) declared: "t think we have been beating about the bush. After all. it is a question of the separate school authorities wanting special con- cessions again. This is no time for the opening of old sores-let us stand united." - T. A. Murphy (Con. Woodbine) moved that the entire bill be re-, ferred to the Municipal Board. and the motion was lost. W. J. Card- house. West York Liberal. whose riding is largely affected by the bill, said his personal survey found no objection to it. The Lake Shore municipalities, it was explained, asked for leave to remain out of the section until it was determined whether or not they could effect amalgamation. The new section comprises Wards 1 to s, corresponding to the numbers of the Toronto wards. Ward 10 takes in Etobicoke with the exception of Sections 11 and03. Long Branch. Swansea and Weston: Ward ll, Forest Hill and York; and Ward 12. East York, Leaside, North York and Scarboro'. Hepburn's Ads Cost $21,381.10 The advertisement, 'These Are the Facts." in which the Ontario Government reprinted extensive excerpts from the pro- ceedings of the Dominion-Pro- vincial Conference of last Janu- ary. cost 821,381.10, according to a return tabled yesterday in the Legislature. The information was given in Icsponse to questions by Oppo- sition Leader Drew. The answer said the advertisement was au- thorized by Premier-Treasurer Hepburn and was handled through the James Fisher Ad- vertising Company. For some lime, it is known that'; a Planning Commission has beeng _under the Government's consldera-i _ tion and, about a month prior to the' (session opcning. Premier Hepburn !rcccived a Toronto Metropolitan Area deputation which asked tor the formation of a planning body. In l,event such a commission is formed, I it is understood that it will be plac- ed under the Department of Mu. Hticipal Affairs. rence development. its functions would apply in any part ot the Prov- inc-e.