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—— HIGHWAYS MINISTER MAY ORDER REMOVAL OF GASOLINE PUMPS Opposition Members Protest Amendment as Giving Autocratic Power POWER CONTRACT DENIED The Ontario Legislature furthered its routine business yesterday to th: extent of giving second reading tu eleven bills, and passing six othe: measures through the House committee stage. Discussion centred chiefly on Hon. in George S. Henry’s amendment. to the Highways Improvement Act of 1926. The Minister explained sev- eral sections of this measure, which was finally committee. In one part of the bill, he em phasized, the Govern:nent sought tw regulate certain gasoline pumps con- structed on the highways of. the Province. The section directed that the Minister of Highways could order the removal of trees, shrubs bushes, fences. signboards, gasoline pumps or other objects on lands ad jacent to highways, where the or convenience of the trave]- passed the House in b v safety ling public so required or where th: objects in quesiion caused snow t: pile up so as to injure the highway) roadbed, Opposition members protested that this seemed to vest the Minis- ter with autocratic power. But Mr. Henry explained that under the sec- tion his department sought particu- larly to eliminate ‘‘a great mani gasoline pumps” which had _ been erected prior to the adoption of regulations. Mr. Henry Explains. Highway rules required that Sas pumps be at least five feet within private property lines adjoining the highways, so as not to interfere with traffic, But, said Mr, Henry, many pumps had been installed before these regulations were enacted, and this amendment gave the Govern- ment power to have such pumps re- moved. He noted, in passing, that there was a ratio of fees for gas pumps, and that those distant from the curb of the highway were not taxed as much as were those near the eurb, One section dealt with fsolated bridges, and was to clear up “an anomalous position,” clearly defin- ing which bridges shall come under the responsibility of counties and Which shall be governed by muni- cipalities and townships. A further section empowered the Government to give the same assis- tance to Indian reserves for road- work in the reserves as to other dis- tricis, S Mortgagee Registration. Second reading was given to the act to amend the Vendors and Pur- chasers Act of 1926. In this con- nection, F. G. McBrien (Conserva- tice, Toronto Brockton) explained that the amendment was to rectify the situation existing under a sec- tion of the act governing the pay- ment for registering a mortgage given back as part of the consider- ation. This section did not conform with the custom in Ontario. The amendment provides that, when mortages are given back as part of the consideration, cost of registra- tion must be borne by the mortgagee. An amendment to the Cemetery Act was given second reading, A, P. Mewhinnev (Liberal, Bruce North). its sponsor, explaining that it was to empower; villages, as well as Cities and towns (provided for in the act). to make collections for the main- tenance of cemeteries, 34 Ss avy st ay, Fire-Protection Revenue. Hon. Mr. Finlayson, Minister © of Lands and Forests, explained, when his amendment to the Railway Fire Charge Act, 1925, was given second reading, that the Province must ge: some revenue for protecting railwa,s lands from fires. There had been difficulties encountered, said he, in locating railway lands, the depar!- ment having met, in some cases. “with no assistance from the raii- ways.” The amendment proposed that the charges, which were in sony cases in arrears, should be distrib- uted over the last few years in ratio paid by other railway companies und lumbering concerns. An amendment to the Surveys Act 1920, given second reading was, «vo Hon. Mr. Finlayson explained, a move toward the clarifying of the regis- tration of records having to do with the extension of boundaries Several Opposition questions were dealt with by the Government. In several instances it was explained that only extended searches would provide answers, and in these cases the time for such inquiries was ex- tended. teplying to Hon. W. BE. Raney, Progressive Leader, Premier Fergu- Son gave detatls of the sinking fund period of Hydro power developments that are under the provisions of the Power Commission Act. Sinking Fund Period. In regard to power developments, he said, there was legislation before the House providing a sinking fund period of 40 years to unify the vari- ous periods now existent. In reply to a question by © Gardiner (Progressive, East Kent) Premier Ferguson stated that there Was only legal opinion as to what amounts paid by the Province fo; expenditures by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission could be recov- ered by the Province. lion. Mr. Raney stated he under- stood that two and a half millions -had been advanced in respect of power developments. “Tf we succeed in recovering halt of that,” said Mr. Ferguson, “I'l! be very glad.” Ottawa River Power. Later, replying to a question by Mr. Raney, Mr. Ferguson stated that neither the Government nor the On- tario Hydro-Electric Power Commis- sion had made a contract with the National Hydro-Electric Company or any other Quebec company for the su;ply of power from a de- velopment to be made on the Ot- tawa‘ River. Provincial Treasurer Monteith ex- plained to T. K. Slack (Progressive, Dufferin) that the reason that cer- tain expenditures for radio broad- casting two years ago, advertising the Province, were not paid then was that the accounts rendered did not give sufficient information. They were hejd until the next fiscal year for explanation and payment. D. J. Taylor (Progressive, North Bay) was told Sir Robert Falconer’s salary ag President of the university was $10,000 a year. Not Government Appointces. Employees of the T. & N.O. Rail- way are appointed by the Railway Commissioners, not by the Govern- ment, and employees of the Ontario Hydvro-Electric Power Commission are appointed by the Commission, not by the Government, Mr. Gardiner was informed, R. H. Kemp (Progressive, Lin- coln) was told that the members and salary of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission were as follows: C. A. Magrath, $18000 a year; C. A. Maguire, $8,000 a year; Hon. J. R. Cooke, $8,000 a year, / ar enw 12-1h EXPERTS ARE READY TO SERVE ON OR HELP THE FORESTRY BOARD Ec . » e ; ill be respected and encouraged. No Idea of Depopulating Laurentian Territory, Says Minister of Lands SETTLERS NOT COERCED Hon. William Finlayson, Minister of Lands and Forests, says there is absolutely no ground for misappre-,; hension concerning the Government's new reforestation policy. The Government has no thought of attempting to depopulate’ the Laurentian territory. It would be absurd,Mr. Finlayson says, to think of moving out the whole population, For | there are many places where there} are sections of land on which the settlers are doing fairly well. In ad- dition to these, there are other Jo- Calities where the population is re- quired for tourist trade and for local dustries. Everything of this kind No Coercion, It is only from absolutely barren spots, where the land is not suited for anything but the growth of tim- ber, that the department hopes to be able to assist unfortunate settlers to better locations elsewhere, “No coercion or force is thought of,” said Mr. Finlayson yesterday; “but where there are a few stranded acttlers in a township it is hoped they will co-operate with the Gov- ernment in improving their condi- tion by securing a location in good agricultural districts. Then it will be possible for the department to take over the township from which they have moved for purposes.” Mr, Finlayson admits that forestation the | process will be a slow one, but he| hopes that, after a number of suc-, cessful migrations have taken place, the success of the experiment will encourage other settlers who poorly located to ance in getting the same benefits. “People who know most about the matter,” deciared Mr. Finlayson, “are well satisfied with our policy.” The lInmber industry in general, he said, had commended the scheme, and the pulp and paper industry, which, like the first-named industry, was consulted with regard to the provisions of the Forestry Bill which legalizes the project, have given their unanimous approval to it. Foresters and the Bill. Many expert foresters have offer- ed to serve on or assist in the work of the new Forestry Board which the bill will bring into effect. Mr. Finlaysen is very hopeful, he said, of getting Dean Howe of the Fac- ulty. of Forestry of the University of Toronto to serve on the board, Dean Howe: gave material assistance in the drafting of the bill, as did Sir William Mulock, another practical forester. are ' apply for assist- |