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LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED FOR 3 WEEKS The Ontario Legislature adjourned for a probable three weeks' recess yesterday afternoon. with the as- surance from Premier Hepburn that the Government has no intention of "playing any trick" on the Conserva- tive Opposition during this period. The Premier declared that the House would convene again early in March. and he stressed that tho question ot a Provincial election had not been considered. Later he told the press: "Rumor has it that the adjournment of the House is to enable the Government to call a snap election. That is absolutely in- correct." The first sour note in the abbre- viated session was sounded by Eric W. Cross, Liberal member for llaldi- mand-Nortolk. and former Minister of Welfare and Municipal Affairs. who protested adjournment without the members being consulted. Mr. Cross and the Premier were involved in several warm exchanges during the sitting. In the dying stages of the proceedings the former Welfare Minister again clashed with the Pre. mier. and Speaker Clark warned him that his remarks were "almost a wilful violation oi the rules ot the House." The Premier introduced a motion to pay the salaries of civil servants up to March 31. 1942. He explained that the motion originally contained pnovtsion for "other expenditures." but this had been deleted as he Mat confident the House would recon- vene early in March. Provision was also made for the payment of salary advances to civil servants who, m the event ot illness. asked for a month's salary in advance. In moving adjournment of the 1..ioyyt.fyntil a day to be named by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council," the Premier drclarrd that ll was solely for the purpow of straighten- ing out the financial picture with Ottawa. "I find myself iurtutairltt of sitting down with the 'l'rvarury officials and planning a Budget," and the Premier. "1 assure the f0ppntsitton that I have no Intention of playing any tricks on them. This adjourn- ment is for no other purpose than that which I outlined yesterday." Mr. Cross said the Premier had answered the question in his mind as to when the House would likely reassemble. There were some im- portant bills on the order paper. and he understood that the Minister of Municipal Affairs intended to bring An amendments to the Assessment Act which could very well take two [or three weeks ot discussion. "My first objection was to ad- journment of the House," and Mr. Cross. "Since then the Attorney- General has outlined the tidticullirs confronting Ontario in CttrtttPCttttrt with the corporation and income tax agreement. 1 feel that these are largely at a terhnical nature and could he straightened out without too much trouble." Hepburn D e n i e s 'Snap Election' ls f o B e S p r u n g CROSS CRITICAL ; Claims Privilcgr. l "As a matter of persntml privi- ilrgo I should hr allnwed to rise hrs 'iinre the orders of the day," replic'd .Mr. Cross. "Yesterday we had an :mnazing suggestion on the part, of ittw Leader of the Opposition and tan amazing mnfessinn or weakness son the part of the Government in ,an-ppting it. Surely I have a right I to mmmont on it." _ Mr. Spetthor said ho wishnd to ex» 'ttsttri (New opportunity tn tho nwm- bers of the House and had no de. sire tn curb any member. ') "I only ask that rules of tho 'Hnllsc' ho ohsorved, Mr. Speaker," said Premier Hepburn. Mr. Cross argued that, while there was no motion to adjourn imme- diately before the House, the motion to pay rivil service salaries was joined with the other. llrgu Ottawa Trip. "This motion would hr mum-ms- Mir) if this Houso carrtrd on hust- noss." said Mr. Cross. "I urge the Attorney-General and tho Prime Minister a: wit to go In Ottawa in a spirit of conciliation and co- operation. lf they do so they can not. this tutrr"'rttr'ttt straigthened out in a short limo. otherwise months may Flapw hrforo an agt't'o- mont is roamed. The utmost. des. patc-h should provail." The Speaker. who had previously checked the Liberal member tor be- ing out ot order, warned him at this stage that he was committing "al- most, a wilful violation of the rules of the House." This drew a "Hear, hear," from Premier Hepburn. Rising before tho orders of the day. Mr. Cross suid ho wished to know it tho Government intoudod to introduce a motion for adjourn. mom of the Home. lie dot-larod that tlw Promim' had not informed tho lions" of his intention to move sur" a motion, but lint! informed tho rttF'witp"t' roporters following Tuosdar's smsion. "I wish to state most. omphati- rally that I am Opptiaf'd to that, rout-so," said Mr. Cross. "I do "Tho hnnnmhle nwmbnr is out of Omar," intorruptrd the Spoakrr. "A motion to adjourn is not de. hainhln." SO "Thrn I ml! mnve that the Home hes adjnunwd in cotviitiet. a matter of importance," declared Mr. Cross. One Momhor's Opposition. "In view of the opposition of one member. the motion to adjourn can- not be put," said the Speaker. "Fur- thermore. no notice of motion has been given." l Mr. Class declared that the Pre- mier. Tuesday m the House, had 1l.1?ieil, that the word of the Fed- eral Government could not be taken !and that in matters of welfare, had ibertt broken again and again. ' "I wish to say that as long as I :was Minister of Welfare, the word (f, the Dominion Government was no: broken." he said. min and tho Learior of the Opposi- tion ma} haw. surely the members of the House aro omitted to express their opinion. and this is tho only opportunity 1 how to "ttpress my viows," pmtostcd Mr. Cross. "it I might rise lo a point of personal privilege I'll do that. "In tho murso of the Prime Minis- tor's remarks. 1 had hope that he would retrain in this Houso from tho oxtonded criticism he has made {mm time to time of the Federal Government." Remark. Not Privileged. Mr. Hepburn interrupted with a demand [or "order" and the Speaker ruled the member's "marks did not tall within the scope oi personal prwiletro. "Whatever nrrangonwnts the Pre- FEBRU ARK CY l HiTiiiganiaTiFruitd out of order, but Mr. Cross, persisting, declared 'that the word of a Federal Minister iot the Crown had been challenged "'and I repeat that word was not broken while I was at the head of the department." , Mr. Hepburn Replies. "I fool obliged In rise an a point of przvilogr," said Premier Hepburn as Mr. Cross resumed his seat. "I did make that statement and I will give mme farts. I sat in with Mr. King and with Mr. Croil, the then Ministpr of Wolfah: . . ." At this point the Speaker made A mmmmu which was 1101 audihlo in the moss gallery, and Mr. Hep- burn doclared: "My word has hem challenged. I think I am entitled tn weak in reply." Continuing. the Premier said. "Two points have been raised by my disgruntled friend. Let me say now that there was' no understanding he- twnen the Leader of the Opposition and myself regarding adjournment of the "0th. It is a very nasty and unwarranted inference, and he knows it." "rttfortttnate Tenure." WES glVf'll. Finally we WCCf? (:quva into it.'" Opposition Loader Drew thou rose on a question of porsnnal pririlrsr to doclaro, "I strongly resent tho utterly unfounded insinuatinn that thorn was any understanding that divtatrd that course." Mo was rrsiprring to Mr. Crms' Mtgzostinn that then: MW', an ar- rangement hthoett the Prime Mm- tswr and Colonel Drew on the mat- tpr at the adjournment. Colonel Drew cited that lust ymr he had pointed out. the same thing. that the Legislature could not deal "While the ngislaturr was still in session. the Dominion Government. without consulting us. reduced its, monthly payments for relief by $200,000," said the Premier. "The late Mr. Rogers asked fnr a cumul- tatirm with Ontario and we sent ropresentatives tn Ottawa. Whvn they arrived they were told there would he a further reduction in the relief grant. and there was nothing for them to discuss. "Claimed Into It." The Premier at this point i'etorrad in Mr. Cross's administration of the Wolfaro and Municipal Affairs port- folio as "his short and unfortunate tenure of offive." Tho Premier, in support of his charge that. the Do- minion Government had broken faith with Ontario, said that the Do- minion had agreed on a 40-40-20 d.vr. sion of relief costs, the Dominion and the Province each to pay 40 por rent, and the municipalities 20 pr:- cent. "We refused lo sign 1he new agreement on the ground that the Dominion Government had not lived up to its word. We were told that unless we signed the agreement there would be no money forthcom- ing. and tor three months nothing effectively with legislation unless it knew exactly the basis on which it stood. "I am glad to see," he added, "that the Premior this year has acted on my suggestion." given. Finally we were clubbed ~pmw-r at this pom! Ietvrrml ross's administration of the and Municipal Affairs port- "his short and unfortunate