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IH-"'"""""'""-"'"-""" , '"'""+-lerl" R, f March 2.1. I l Mr. Hepburn, and the members . i too, have freely declared their criti- cism ot the ruling, in the belief that to the public it has given the im- BEFORE HOUSE ' pression that the members are paid an indeminity solely for attending ' the session. Defends Members. "It is wrong," said the Premier NEXT IHURSDAY last night. "The members are al- ways working on their jobs. I know --.--------- of some of the Northern members . . who will spend half their indem- Treasury Officials Won'+ nities in travel alone, during "if; . vear. While thev do ct their rat Predict How Tax Move Ia". there are 'puIInfan charges,, Will Affect Its Structure meals and hotels and the generalI cost of running around their last) ' ----.-----_ constituencies which are not served" Premier Hepburn. next Thursday, with transportation like some of the, will present his third wartime Bud- southern ridings. On top ot that,, . '._. . the members are at the heck and get to the Ontario Legislature and call of their constituents all the year 5 the first lo fall under the influence around and are faced constantlyl of the newly authorized transfer of with c0sts of their office." I taxing authority in corporations If such an amendment is passed. and personal income taxes to the said the Premier. the members will . Federal Government. meet for that time which is required Just how the new status of 'l'rpa. to transact the business of the sury financing will affect the struc- House. whether it be for thirty days titre of the new Budget, as corn- or ninety days. While some mcm- - pared with the old form. Treasury bers favor the payment of the ltV officials last night were unable to demnity quarterly or half-yearly. predict. One thing remained clear. the Premier intimated he believed however. that in place of estimated it should remain an annual payment. revenues in the branches affected by the transfer agreement, the Province will start off in the fiscal year of 1042-43 with the as- surance of a flat Sl8,06,'l,030.54 ' -the amount guaranteed by the Dominion in compensation for the surrender of the taxes and for whatever loss which may accrue from lowered gasoline tax and motor \ehicle permit revenues. The Premier raid he would not attend today's session. "Friday. and this week-end, I will spend prepar- ing tho Budget in readiness for presentation on Thursday," he said. Pre-Easter Agenda. The pic-Easter agenda calls for House action on private bills on ' Monday and debate on the Throne Speech on Tuesday and Wednesday. "Of course." said the Premier, "if the Throne Speech debate is not cleared by Wednesday. the presen- tation of the Budget will be defer- . red." The House will recess Thursday night for the Easter week-end and will reconvene on Tuesday. to stand in session until the slate lS cleared. _ At the present moment. despite the anxiety of farmer member, to get back to the land, it is predicted that the session will run the full thirty days' course. ending on or about the last day of April. Premier Hepburn said: "I may," when asked it he would introduce an amendment to that section of the Legislative Assembly Act which _ requires members to sit more than . thirty days to receive their full $2,000 sessional indemnity. The clause was conceived origi- . nally in the belief that it would spur members into making the re- quired attendance on the duties of the House. Each member is permit- ted six days' absence for necessary business free from the penalty of $15 for each day that he fails to attend. unless he is given leave of absence or is absent through ill. ness. Unless the House sits more than thirty days, each member is al- lowed an indemnity of but $20 per day.