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CONANT REASON * Accepts Responsibility as Family's Names Come Up at Hearing Threats on the life of himself and +« his family and threats to blow up his home were revealed before the Legislature public accounts commit-- tee yesterday by Premicr Gordon Conant, who appeared to defend hi use of Provincial Police cars 360 times in the fiscal year ending March 31, 1942. Mr. Conant also took full respon-- sibility for use of police cars by Mrs. Conant and is son Roger, whose names had appeared on polic« garage records and declared them "entirely blameless." He thought that "perhaps I am the victim of ° my own system" of checking use of cars. # Mr. Conant said that, at the sug-- restion of Commissioner W. H Stringer of the Provincial Police, he had had a police guard after threats § on the life of himself and his family had been received. That explained + he said, his use of police drivers or uniformd guards. On most occa-- * sions when he was credited with use of cars, he said, they wore used for departmental business on ordei of his secretary. In 90 per cent of the cases he never saw the car o 3 rode in it, he told the committee. Many trips, too, had been taken in e connection with A.R.P. work and the volunteer civil guard. f * For Fishing Trip. Mr. Conant explained the three-- week use of a Provincial Police sta-- tion wagon by saying that it was used in August partly for a fishing trip to Algonquin Park at a time when things were quiet and with the understanding that the cat could be returned at short notice If needed. He felt, he said, that some lati-- on Drove Father. tude should be allowed Ministers Roger Conant, his son, the Pre-- in use of cars because of expense mier said, had been charged up in\'ol\'ed. He had always paid for with cars in which he acted as his his own gasoline and oil and had father's driver and was in no way not used credit cards to get them | responsible, On his short vacation and in his use of police cars he trip when he used a police station felt there had been no loss to the wagon Mr. Conant said he paid all Province. = | expenses. That Mrs. Conant's name had Police Commissioner _ _W,. H. come into the matter he said he. Stringer substantiated Mr, Conant's found very regrettable as she had statement about use of police been quite innocent and had driven' guards and drivers as being neces-- him on public engagements when sary at the time. | it was necessary to save his With Police Inspector E. Hales in | strength. It was unfortunate that charge of the police garage, Col. cars had been charged to her in-- Drew reviewed use of cars by mem--| stead of to him as they should have bers of the Attorney--General's De been. Her trip to Niagara Falls partment. One had been used to with several other women had been transport C. L. Snyder, K.C., Deputy | in the interest of the Canadian Minister after he had broken his | Women's Volunteer Services and leg. Gasoline used in the cars had a police car had been used because been supplied at public expense,; o the Conant family car was tied up he admitted when they were used at the time. for messages, etc. |