The Wingham Advance-Times, 1941-01-30, Page 3Thuriday, January 30,1941
6.*rr
AVTN'GHAM ADVANCE-TIMES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO 49 the number of ships the commis
sion has sold to Great Britain from its
laid-up fleet,
Dominion-Provincial
HON. T. B. McQUESTEN, K.C., ONTARIO MIN.
ISTER OF HIGHWAYS AND MUNICIPAL
AFFAIRS, (Vol, 2, pages 83 to 87):
"Mr, Prime Minister and gentlemen, before this
conference dissolves, the province of Ontario would
like to place beforo it its financial position with regard
to the effects of the Sirois report on the province’s
finances.
Perhaps I might properly preface what I have to
say to-day by referring to two points touched upon by
the Premier of Manitoba (Mr. Bracken) in the pre-
sentation of his argument before the opening session
of the conference yesterday. Hop, Mr. Bracken made
what I might call an earnest plea to the delegates of
this conference, and particularly to the Premier of
Ontario, to consider the 'attitude taken by the late
Hon. George Brown at the various conferences leading
up to confederation. In bringing Mr. Brown’s name
into the conference he has suggested that Mr. Brown
very properly forgot his own personal feelings in the
matter and joined hands with Macdonald and others
tn shaping confederation as expressed by the British
North America Act,
I consider it rather an unfortunate choice of argu
ment to ask that the Premier of Ontario emulate
Brown, I hold that in taking the attitude he has, Hon.
Mr. Hepburn has been but living up to the traditions
of Brown, and has defended and upheld all that Brown
stood for, and is safeguarding the rights and responsi
bilities vested in the separate provinces by confedera
tion. I prefer to support and adopt the material
.itructure which was created by Brown, rather than
attempt to interpret its spirit, as Mr. Bracken has pur
ported to do. If Mr. Bracken's argument were to pre-
vail, history would be degraded, our ideals shattered,
and the names of our public men cast into the ossuary
of time.
Mr. Bracken was on better ground when he advanced
the idea that provincial autonomy, without adequate
revenues for discharging the functions of government
for which provinces are responsible, is but little more
than a farce. To put the same idea in another way,
Without fiscal independence there can be no provincial
autonomy.
I am prepared to-day to review the financial history
of the proyjnce of Ontario, particularly relating to the
years since the present government has been in charge
at Toronto.
Ontario Balances Budget
Briefly, let me state that we have followed Blnce the
1st Of April, 1936, a sound financial policy, as shown
by our budgetary position. In 1936-37. 1937-38, and
1938-39, we had balanced budgets. This year we are promised by our premier who is also the provincial
treasurer, a balanced budget, a surplus and a reduction
In debt.
This wholesome and enviable budgetary position has
placed us in a position to carry out a policy of assist
ance to the 900 municipalities which form the local
government administrations of Ontario. For example,
the province has assumed the entire capital cost of
construction of our great highway system, the financial
burden of which formerly rested in part upon tho
municipalities. The province also contributes in various
ways toward highway construction expenditures by
municipalities.
In matters of public health, Ontario has made great
strides and has, since this government took charge, at
an annual cost of millions of dollars, assumed the entire
burden of the care of indigent tubercular patients.
Public health in Ontario costs the province of Ontario
• sum exceeding $900,000 per month.
Then, in exchange for the income fax, which, was
formerly collected by a few of the 900 municipalities,
we have substituted a provincial income tax, and
have assumed the entire cost of the share formerly
borne by the municipalities of old age pensions and
mothers’ allowances.
The annual cost to the government of Ontario for old
age pensions, as represented by the present fiscal year/
amounts to three and a half million dollars. This in
cludes the proyince’s share of pensions for the blind.
The annual cost to the province of mothers' allow-
ances this year will exceed the sum of five and a quarter
million dollars. All of these items—that is, old age
pensions, pensions for the blind and mothers’ allow
ances—are annually increasing in amount. I quite
agree with the estimate made by prominent actuaries
that they will continue to increase for the next fifty
years. Xt is difficult at this time, to estimate the final
limit of the cost of these three social services, which, as
you are aware,, were never dreamed of by the Fathers
of Confederation.
We also pay to the municipalities an annual subsidy
of one mill, based on the general assessment of the
municipalities, and this amounts in round figures to
the sum of three million dollars per annum.
Another function of government that is growing
annually is education, and it is estimated that for the
present fiscal year the province will spend upwards of
thirteen million dollars.
Compares Relief Costs
' One of the services that has cost enormous sums dur
ing the past decade is that of the cost of. relief, Under
the present basis of contribution the dominion pays 40 per cent, of direct relief costs, excluding medical
services. Including medical services the dominion con
tribution is 38 per cent, of the total expenditure. For
the present fiscal year, that is, the period ending Marell
31 next, relief w-ijl cost Ontario the sum of ten million
dollars. Of this the dominion’s share Will be $8,800,-
000, the provincial share $4,800,000, and the muni
cipalities’ share $1,900,000.
Estimating the cost of relief for the fiscal year which
begins April 1, 1941, calculated on the present basis of
sharing the cost of relief, and estimated from the best
available information, the relief picturo in Ontario will
be represented as follows:
Dominion share.,................... $2,555,000
Provincial share ........... 2,892.000
Municipal share ........... 1,278,000
If the Sirois basis be adopted, for the fiscal year
1941-42, the cost is estimated as:
Dominion share ............ $ 566,00
Provincial Share ........... 4,927,000
Municipal share ........... 1,232,000
Thus it will be observed that by adopting the Sirois
basis the dominion would enjoy a saving of $1,989,000,
while the province of Ontario would be called upon to
increase its expenditures by. the sum of $2,035,000,
and the burden of the municipalities would be prac
tically the same as under the present plan, the differ
ence being less than $50,000. The officers of the
treasury and Welfare departments are here, and are
supplied with nil details with respect to relief figures,
and in foot other relief figures, and we are prepared to
discuss these matters in detail if and when required,
At this juncture I desire to make a statement with
respect to the estimated saving or gain to the province
of Ontario, aS contained on page 96, Book II, of the
recommendations of the Sirois commission,
.. The estimated savings or gain to the province of
Ontario, on the 1937 base, is $5,826,000 per annum.
But u careful analysis of tho figures indicates that in
stead of a gain of $5,326,000, the actual net loss to
the province for the 1987 period would be $6,432,000.
Thtts it Will be seen that the information given On j?ago
96 of the Sirois report as io the expected improvement
in tho financial position of the province on the 1987
•base is inaccurate find hoi in accordance with the
findings of the treasury department of the province
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
of Ontario. This inaccuracy amounts to (he large figure
of $11,758,000. The reconciliation of these amounts
is available and can be explained by the technical
officers of the treasury department.
With respect to the present fiscal year, the situation
is infinitely worse, If the Sirois plan were. adopted
and made effective for the present fiscal year, which
ends qn March 31 next, the province of Ontario would
be faced with a certain net joss in revenues of the
sum of $17*000,000, This for the present fiscal year
alone."
The province will bo required to give
up annual revenues oL...........,.$40,000,000
Deduct from this, expenditure as
sumed by the dominion, and the
one mill subsidy to tho municipal
ities, which could not longer be
paid, a total sum of, 28,000,000
Leaves a loss of . $17,000,000
One of the first results of this Joss in revenue,
brought about by the giving up of the succession duty
taxes, would be the loss in revenue to the University
of Toronto of the sum of $500,000. I would refer you
to the Revised Statutes of Ontario (1987) chapter 372,
section 129J which is. the statutory authority for pay
ment from the* proceeds of succession duties to the
University of Toronto in the Bum of $500,000 per
annum.
Set Education Back 50 Years
But that is just one indication of what the loss in
revenues would mean to education in our province.
Education in Ontario would be set back fifty years.
This would apply particularly to the "little red school
house" and to the struggling separate schools, which
under present conditions require the same as public
schools—annual grants from the provincial treasury.
The splendid work done by the department of health
of Ontario in waging a successful fight to stamp out
the menace of tuberculosis, which fight is being con
ducted at an annual cost to the province of upwards of
$3,000,000, could not be carried on, unless revenues
from some other source were forthcoming.
This would involve some new type of taxation, but
inasmuch as taxes on estates, taxes on incomes, taxes
on .corporations, and taxes on mining profits, would no
longer be available to the province of Ontario, any
additional burden of taxation required to raise revenue
to continue a reasonable standard of education would
inevitably fall upon real estate—upon the farmer, the
home-owner and the business man.
I also bring to your attention the fact that muni
cipalities of the province of Ontario will suffer for the present fiscal year by the implementation of the Sirois
report, the loss in revenue exceeding $5,000,000.
Now, if you will add the net loss in revenue to be
sustained by the province of Ontario of $17,000,000
to the $5,000,000 certain loss to be sustained this
year by the municipalities of Ontario, you have the
enormous sum of $22,000,000—-net loss to the province ,
and the municipalities.
This, Mr. Chairman, is only the beginning. These
losses are bound to increase, because the functions of
government left with the province are, from their very
nature, increasing in their burdensome character, in
so far as the need for revenue is 'concerned.
Real Estate Burden Intolerable
No one conversant with the problems of public fin
ance that beset the provinces and the municipalities in Canada to-day will attempt to deny that the burden
on real estate at present has reached a point where it
is difficult for the farmer to meet his rates and taxes;
it is discouraging for anyone to attempt to build a
home; and, in fact; daily in Ontario discouraged home
owners are attempting to salvage something from their
equities, and are parting with their homes, which rep
resent in large measure their only life savings.
The real estate owner to-day, who can barely raise
the amount of his taxes, will find that for every dollar of taxes he pays to-day in Ontario he will be called upon
next year to. pay $1.20. And this under war condi
tions, where the cost of living is already mounting,
and is, generally speaking, ten per cent, higher than
it was at the outbreak of the war.
As the Prime Minister has said, "You leave us with
the expensive functions of government.”
And I hold that the figures I have submitted prove
that we will have insufficient funds to discharge these
functions of government, that health and education in
particular will suffer, and the standard of living of
our citizens who are in the class of what might be
described as the lower economic scale will be akin
to a condition of servile dependency.
Now, Mr. Prime Minister, I have finished with my
presentation of the financial effect of the report as it
appears to this province, and I am authorized on behalf
of the premier of the province of .Ontario, the Ontario
delegation, and* the people of the province, to announce
that our association with this so-called conference is
over. Seine other members may take this opportunity
to present their reply to the financial address of the
Hon. Mr. Usley, and to withdraw as we are doing.
We leave it to the rent of the members to continue their
efforts to do what we are bound to say would result
in wrecking confederation, as we understand it, and
in destroying provincial autonomy and rights. We are
returning to our business, and our final word to the
dominion is that word with Which we opened: If'tho
dominion decides to prosecute the war on a basis of
cooperation we shall be ready, as we have always been
in the past, to cooperate in every known way and to
throw the full weight of our great province into the
dominion’s war endeavour,"
RT. HON. ERNEST LAPOINTE, MINISTER
JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY* GENERAL
CANADA, (Vol. 2, page 100):
“I read the Ontario newspapers, and this morning
I read a statement in a Toronto newspaper to the effect
that this commission report was a Quebec report, prepared by and for Quebec, for the benefit of that
province. That article urged the people of Ontario to
oppose it. My friends who are here know that at the
same time in the province of Quebec this report is
considered by some as leading to the destruction of
provincial autonomy and the sacred rights of the
citizens of that province. It has been stated that the
French-Canadian. race will be enslaved if this report
is adopted and accepted."
•
rt. hon. "w. l. Mackenzie king, prime
MINISTER OF CANADA, (Vol. 2, page 112):
"May I say this next. When my colloagues and I con
sidered the calling of this conference there was between
Us a great diversity of view as to the wisdom of having
such a gathering at this time. Ih saying that I do
not think I am betraying any cabinet secret which I am sworn to respect. I for one took the view that it
was very doubtful whether it would be wise to have a
conference in war time.”
OF
OF
HON. A DEL ARD GODBOVT, PRIME MINISTER
OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, (Vol. 2, page
H7).
(The Prime Minister’s remarks were given ih French,
the following is the English translation) i
"Should th6 continuation of this conference con
stitute a menace to Canadian unity, I would suggest,
Mr. Prime Minister, that it be dissolved."
7 * —in — ii —i ii !■» ii f 'ii mw it hbkwm—i ■■ r Mb
British Drive On To Derna
The capture of the sea and air base
at Tobruk, a modern town in Cyren-
atea, a fertile section of Eastern Libya,
is another great success for British
arms. The British navy, air force and
mechanized ahd motoriaed land forc
es share In the honor of victory* Ab
ready the British forces have moved
on toward the Derna-El Makili line,
4*
'I
hard to fortify the line from El Makili
northward to the coast. Dispatches
suggest that the Italian army will de
fend Bengazi with everything it has*
Plan 40 Canadian Air Squadrons
London Canadian air authorities
and British .aviation leaders are believ
ed to be weighing the creation of a
formidable Canadian air force under
the Empire Training Scheme, in which
the R.C.A.F will provide more than
40 squadrons for active service in the
war,
ing confidence that Britain can "win
through” if the United States speeds
the help she needs, arrived here with
1’resident Roosevelt Friday after a
precedent-breaking personal meeting
in Chesapeake Bay. Lord and Lady
Halifax drove back to Washington
with the president in a downpour. The
president dropped them at the British
embassy shortly after 9.15 p.m., and
said good-night to them on the em
bassy steps, closing one of the most
dramatic scenes of international friend
ship in United States history.
Escaped Germans Captured
An East Coast Canadian Port-—City
police, acting on a woman’s tip, round
ed up Peter Schierning, a 30-year-old
German airman and closed the case of
two Nazi prisoners who escaped earl
ier as they were being removed to a
train from the ship which brought
them to Canada from Britain, His fel
low-escapee, Helmuth Brueckmann,
was also taken.
Marshall Graziani Moves Back
Cairo — Marshall Rodolfo Graziani,
commander of Italy’s army in Libya,
was reported to have abandoned his
headquarters at Cirene, 50 miles west
of Derna, apparently under heavy at
tack by the Royal Air Force.
THIS
SHOULD
CHANGE
Decide powto
epjpy the cleaner
better home heat
11 S]blue coal
ing that’s masking
thousands say: “*blpe
coal’ is the greatest
heating value q Tnoneyeim
THE COLOUR GUARANTEES THE QUALITY
Crippled Warship Won Battle
London — How the crippled Brit
ish flotilla leader Kelly fought a 91-
hour battle against sea and sky foes
and against the sea itself before reach
ing harbor has just been told. Captain
of the Kelly was Lord Louis Mount
batten, cousin of the King. The Kelly
was torpedoed last May and the Ger
mans claimed she was sunk. Now that
she is repaired and patrolling the sea
lanes again the Admiralty has disclos
ed how her gallant crew saved the
warship.
Expect Attack Soon
London — Informed military and
diplomatic circles in London seriously
expect the mightiest onslaught of his
tory, with bombing on an unimagined
scale and the use of every modern
weapon, including flame-throwers and
gas, to be launched upon the British
Isles within three months,
Vichy Has National Council
Vichy — A new national council of
nearly 200 members was created by
Premier Petain to share with him the
responsibility of directing the Govern
ment.
S» *
MacLean Lumber & Coal Co.
met
Urtwi to "The Sh«dow’,~CFRB, Tuet., 8.31 p.m., CKCO, Tues., S.W p.m., CFRC, Thurt, I.W p.m.
which is almost ideal for resistance,
as it is located on hills ahd fairly well
supplied with roads. Perhaps the line
should be called the El Gubba-EI Ma-(
kili line, as Derna is slightly to the
east of the natural defensive liner and
somewhat exposed. It is doubtful that
Derna could hold tor more than two
weeks, if the weather is favorable* The
Italians are believed to be working
ABritain Buys 12 U.S. Vessels
Washington — Sale of 12 cargo ves
sels from its laid-up fleet to British
shipping interests was announced by
the United States Maritime Commis
sion, Britain will pay $2,779,600 for
the 12 vessels the deadweight tonnage
of which totals 107,061. Britain had
bid $4,611,650 for 20 ships, but this
was rejected. This sale increased to
Emperor Selassie In Ethiopia
Cairo — Emperor Haile Selassie has
been inside Ethiopia since January 15,
it was officially disclosed. The Eth
iopian emperor, an exile for five years
since the 'Italians invaded his country,
previously was reported at Khartoum,
Anglo-Egyptian Sudon. There at an
improvised court he received Ethiop
ian chieftains who slipped across the
border to meet him.
I ■ -
Believe Bulgaria Advised to Fight
Istanbul — Some Turkish newspap
ers expressed • the opinion that the
United States might be urging Bul
garia to resist any Axis demands that
might spread the war, and suggested
that it was for this reason that Col.
William Donovan had gone to Sofia.
Oliver Named Works Minister
Toronto — Farquhar R. Oliver, 32-
year-old Independent member of the
Ontario Legislature for Grey South,
was sworn in as Minister of Public
Works for the province. The cere
mony took/ place in the lieutenant
governor’s office at Queen’s Park,sbe-
fore His Honor Albert Matthews,
Premier Hepburn and members of the
Cabinet. The oath was delivered by
F. C. Bulmer, clerk of the Executive
Council.. Mr. Oliver supplants Major
Colin Campbell, now overseas with the
Canadian Engineers, who, Premier
Hepburn stated, had written asking to
be replaced. Major Campbell will re
main as a member of the Cabinet
without portfolio.
Britain Hitting Her Stride
London — Prime Minister Churchill
triumphantly proclaimed to a packed
House of Commons that “this great
nation is getting into its war stride—
is accomplishing the transition from
days .of peace and comfort to days of
supreme, organized, indomitable exer
tion.”
Ralston Back From England
Hon, J. L. Ralston, Canada’s min
ister of defence, who returned to Can
ada after a tour of embattled Britain
and Conferences with Britain’s lead
ers, left for Ottawa, to report to Pre
mier King shortly after disembarking.
Turkey Warns Axis Powers
Istanbul — While newspapers warn
ed Germany and Italy against starting
a "Balkan adventure,” the Turkish
Cabinet met for three hours to discuss
the Situation arising from rioting in
Rumania and the presence of German
troops there.
Plan Free Freight on Feed Grain
Ottawa — The Agriculture Depart
ment announced an offer of the Do
minion Government to pay half the
cost of moving 8,000,000 bushels of
feed grain from Port Arthur or Fort
William to farmers in Ontario, Que
bec and the Maritimes, if the provinc
ial governments affected agree to pay
the balance of the freight charges and
arrange for shipments.
C.F.A. Submits Brief to Ottawa
Toronto — The Canadian Federa
tion of Agriculture after considering
the whole range of Canadian agricul
ture in convention this week, selected
19 men to carry to Prime Minister
King at Ottawa a memorandum re*
questing a national war-time program
for agriculture and a substantial in
crease in farm income. They were met
by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet
Monday.
Viscount Halifax in United States
Washington *-j- Viscount Halifax,
the new British ambassador, express*
Hon. C. D. Howe Back
Ottawa — Hon. C. D. Howe arrived
at Annapolis, Maryland, Friday, on
the great British battleship which
brought Lord Halifax,the ambassador
to the United States, arrived here on
Sunday after his thrilling experience
en route and the valuable conferences
he later had,
inson and completed a quilt to be sent
to the Dungannon Red Cross.
The St, Augustine Women’s Insti
tute will hold their February meeting
on Wed., the 5th, at the home of Mrs.
J. Craig. Subject: "Health”; Conven
or, Miss M, A, Brophey, Rail Call:
Favorite Recipes; Current Events,
Mrs. Robt. Chamney; Hostesses, Mrs.
J. Craig, Mrs, R. Leddy, Miss Donna
Armstrong and Mrs. John Thompson.
WESTFIELD
Mrs, J. L. McUowell,
The Jr. Quartet, Norman McDow
ell, Harvey McDowell, Lloyd Walden,
Douglas Campbell, with Winnifred
Campbell as accompanist, had the
pleasure of broadcasting three select
ions on the Church of the Air at CK
NX Monday morning, with Rev, H.
C. Wilson giving an inspiring address.
We are very sorry to hear of the
serious illness of Mr. Thomas Walsh
from pneumonia. We hope for a
speedy recovery.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
Mrs. W. G. Hamilton is visiting this
week with friends and relatives in
Toronto.
Mr. Alfred Walkley, of Athens,
Mich, is visiting with his daughter,
Mrs. J. A. Fox and Dr. Fox.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Saint spent
Sunday with Mrs. Saint’s parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Forbes, of Listowel.
Eileen Horsley, of the Personality
Beauty Shop, attended a hair styling
show and equipment display in Lon
don on Monday.
Reeve Raymond Redmond attended
the Federation of Agriculture Conven
tion at Toronto last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Deans, Wingham,
were guests on Sunday at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Norman McDowell.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Campbell and
Lois visited one
Mr. and Mrs. A.
Wawanosh.
Mr. and Mrs.
Barbara, Miss Jean McDowell, God
erich, visited on Sunday with Mr. and
EAST WAWANOSH
day last week with
E. Johnston of W.
Gordon Smith and
The Y.P.S. of Brick United Church
met on Friday night in the Church.
Gilbert Beecroft presided with Gladys
McBurney at the piano. The topic was
taken by Geo. McGee and comment
thereon was given by Henry Patter
son. The lesson was read by Jas. Mc
Gee. The recreational period was ar
ranged by Gwen Irwin. The next
meettang will be held on Friday, Feb.
7th.
■SALLY'S SALLIES
ZcWrtrf 1 Hu* CAu
I
I
Happiness is the feeling a woman has when her new trr::
adrajratiOn of the men ar<l the envy of the wemea.
ptoffbufed by Kin; Fritvra S-alky*, !m,i
4
wtSNrwei
uvu-iB
GET YOUR SEED
GRAIN EARLY
Advice of I^epartment Following Seed
Survey
Agricultural Representatives have a
copy of survey listing seed grain
supplies by county — compiled by
Ont. Dept. of Agriculture officials.
small seeds. This is always of
provided those requiring seed
supplies early while the grain
available and before being fed
The second annual Ontario Seed
Survey compiled by the Ontario Dept,
of Agriculture from information as
sembled by 53 Agricultural Represen
tatives, shows that in the province as
a whole, there is apparently sufficent
supplies of good quality seed of all
standard varieties to meet the demand,
except for a possible shortage in some
of the
course
secure
is still
to live stock or otherwise disposed of.
Officials point out that with a short
age of trained labour the production
of large yields on limited acreages by
good cultivation, judicio-uS application
Of fertilizers and the use of Strong,
Vigorous Flump Seed of Suitable Var
ieties, become paramount in the pro
duction of maximum crops with the
minimum of labour in 1941.
Ontario has the seed. ■ Every Agri
cultural Representative has a copy of
the seed survey which lists county by
county and district by district the
names of those having seed for sale
and the quantity. The best advice of
the Department is to see this list at
the office of your local Agricultural
Representative or nearest seed cleaneY
in order that you may locate your seed
supplies early before the best seed is
picked up and while prices are still
very reasonable*
DONNYBROOK
Twelve ladies* under the ausptefcs of
the Women’s Assdelation, met last
week at the home of Mrs. J, C. Rob-
Western Canada Special Bargain Excursions
FROM ALL STATIONS IN EASTERN CANADA
GOING DAILY FEB. 15 - MAR. 1,1941 inclusive
Return Limit - 45 Days.
TICKETS GOOD IN - ’ i '
COACHES AT FARES APPROXIMATELY l%c per mile 1
TOURIST Sleeping Cars at fares approximately l%c per mile
STANDARD Sleeping Cars at fares approximately l%c per mile
Cost of accommodation in sleeping cars additional.
i I
-$7 s’
■i ?•
BAGGAGE CHECKED. Stopovers at all points going and returning.
Similar Excursions from Western to Eastern Canada During Same;
Period.
Tickets, Sleeping Car Reservations and all information from any Agent.-
ASK FOR HANDBILL • T1&
CANADIAN NATIONAL
SAFE AFTER DARK?
J
Is Your House
• Lighted windows warn prowlers away*
Always leave a few lamps burning when you
leave your home for the evening* Remem
ber, a bright light for sixteen hours costs
only Id at Hydro rates.
them at fyttuh A/easi&ii
. ...... ................;......... ..... ....... ,............... ..I,.,...,.,...,;.......... ....................m-S9
Put 100-Wott lamps in Kitchen, Living-Room, Basement
HYDRO SHOP
Phone 156 Wingham