The electors of Ontario than prohibition is obviously very hard to beat. want to try Government control in lieu of prohibition, and they have expressed their preference in a manner which leaves no room for doubt." The Calgary Herald said that Premier Ferguson had correctly gauged public feeling "on the liquor issue, and the result justifies his action in making it the chief plank in his election platform.' The Vancouver Daily Province held that liquor control was not the sole issue. .. Premier Ferguson had given his Province very adequate government. His administration had been honest, he had balanced his Budget, reduced taxation, and had done something to widen agricultural markets. There was therefore an indisposition to turn him out and to place power in the hands of an untried Liberal-Progressive coalition." The Regina Morning Leader said that if the Government was able to solve the temperance problem "in more effective degree than did the Ontario Temperance Act, it may be safe for many years to come. The Halifax Chronicle said that the result would occasion little surprise. Ontario was predominantly Conservative, the Opposition was lacking in unity and leadership, and the main issue had been made a party one. There was no room for doubt as to the decisive character of the verdict. "How far reaching the result in Ontario will be in its influence upon "dry" Provinces, remains to be seen. " The His Honour, Lieutenant-Governor W. D. Ross sworn in on Jan. 12, 1927-opened the first Session of the Seventeenth Legislature of Ontario on Feb. 2, 1927. The customary formula of electing a Speaker was carried out, W. D. Black, member for Addington, and with 16 years' service in the House, being proposed by Premier Ferguson, seconded by Hon. Mr. Henry and unanimously chosen. The Speech from the Throne, among other things, paid tribute to the services of the recently retired Lieutenant-Governor, Col. Henry Cockshutt. It forcasted legislation implementing preelection promises and pledges of the Government, made eulogistic references to the retiring Governor-General, Lord Byng and to his successor, Viscount Willingdon. On the evening of Feb. 8 in closing his contribution to the debate on the Speech and answering criticisms by Messrs. Sinclair and Raney in particular, Premier Ferguson announced the composition of the Commission to administer the coming Liquor Control Act, as: D. B. Hanna, Toronto, former President and General Manager of the Canadian National Railways and, prior to that, prominent official of the Canadian Northern Railway, to be Chairman; Hon. R. J. Manion, M.P., Fort William, Postmaster General in the former Dominion Administration of Hon. Arthur Meighen, and Stewart McClenaghan, Ottawa, a former M.P. for that city. It was later stated that the salaries of the two latter would be $10,000 per year and of the Chairman, $20,000. On Mar. 9, Premier Ferguson introduced the Bill (No. 137) entitled "An Act to regulate and control the Sale of Liquor in Ontario" and which, it was stated in the preamble, might be cited as "The Liquor Control Act." It contained 146 sections. Speak ing briefly on its first reading the Premier stressed some of the salient clauses emphasizing the point that the Government relied for the success of the law on "wise and efficient administration" rather than statutory enactments. The Bill provided for: Individual permits for liquor purchase to residents of Ontario, 21 years of age and upward, expiring Oct. 31 each year. Fee to be fixed by the Commission. Individual permits for temporary residents, such as tourists and travellers, good for one month. Special permits to physicians, dentists, veterinaries and those in scientific or mechanical pursuits, also to ministers of the gospel for sacramental purposes. Druggists not permitted to dispense liquor. No liquor to be consumed in a public place. Liquor only to be consumed in the residence or temporary home of the purchaser. No liquor store in a place where the Canada Temperance Act or local option was in force. No public advertising of liquor. The Attorney-General to conduct prosecutions. Persons found selling liquor to be imprisoned without option of a fine. A Board official in every brewery warehouse. Board supreme in its powers and above interference by courts or Government. Provincial police and local constables with inspectors appointed by the Board to co-operate in the enforcement of the law. There was no discussion on the first reading of the measure which was read a second time, Mar. 21, and the third time, Mar. 29. In moving the second reading, Premier Ferguson intimated that permit-holders would be able to order liquor by mail. He discussed the Bill at length covering much of the ground traversed in the addresses during the Election campaign and in subsequent statements. Mr. Sinclair read a brief statement, the burden of which was that the people, having expressed themselves on Dec. 1st, their opinion as then registered must prevail. "As leader of the Liberal party," he said, "I must accept the will of the people, but with some misgivings as to the future. . . . Time will tell whether the Bill is in aid of temperance, as claimed." The Government, he argued, must accept full responsibility for the Bill and whatever followed. W. E. Raney, for the Progressives, attacked the measure as an Act which "beyond the shadow of a doubt will encourage and promote drunkenness in Ontario." He offered an amendment to the motion for second reading which, in effect, condemned the delegation to the new Liquor Act Commission of powers that should have been fixed by the Legislature. J. G. Lethbridge (Middlesex West) moved on Mar. 16 an amendment to the amendment to the effect that the Commission ought to be a non-partisan body with authority to employ and discharge employees without interference from the Government or members of the Legislature. Mr. Ferguson thought that as the Government was responsible for expenditures and in the last analysis for everything in connection with the Act, it should have something to say as to scope and size of the organization for administering it. Within that scope the freest possible hand would be given to the Commission. K. K. Homuth, (Waterloo S.) and F. W. Wilson (Windsor E.) advocated beer by the glass. E. Proulx, Lib., (Prescott) expressed himself as for Government control, Mr. Sinclair, Mr. E. Scott (Oxford South) and others took part in the discussion on this day. On Mar. 17, L. W. Oke, (U.F.O., Lambton East), said that as a representative of a local option area he felt that he must vote against the measure, but he emphasized the point that the people had given the Government a tremendous mandate and personally congratulated the Government on their accomplishment in formulating the policy they had been empowered to effect. T. Legault (Lib., Sturgeon Falls), in what he said was but his fifth public speech in English, endorsed the Bill, but expressed disappointment that it did not provide for the sale of beer by the glass. On Mar. 21, the Liquor Control Act received second reading by a vote of 69 to 31. The motion was supported by all the Conservatives and Messrs. Belanger (Russell), Pinard (Ottawa East), Legault (Sturgeon Falls) and Proulx (Prescott), Liberals. The other Liberals and the Progressive-U.F.O. group voted against the motion. Various amendments, and sub-amendments were defeated by votes of 71 to 30. During the day Messrs. Raney, F. G. Sandy (Prog., Victoria South), Dr. G. A. McQuibban (Wellington Northeast), C. Gardiner (Prog., Kent East), J. H. Mitchell (Lib., Simcoe Southwest), F. Oliver (Prog., Grey South), P. W. Pearson (Lib., York North), T. K. Slack (Prog., Dufferin) and C. A. Robinson (Lib., North Huron) spoke against the Government measure. Messrs. T. Legault, Rev. W. C. Martin (Cons., Brantford), A. R. Nesbitt (Cons., Bracondale, Toronto), spoke for it. On Mar. 23, W. E. Raney forced a vote on an amendment, giving the Commission sole power to appoint employees. This was defeated 54 to 23. Third reading was given the measure on Mar. 30 without opposition. E. Blake Miller (Lib., Elgin West) elicited the information that the section in the new Act similar to that of the O.T.A. relative to the sale of essences, tinctures, extracts, etc., would remain. On Apr. 8, 1927 regulations regarding permits, delivery of liquor, duties and conduct of vendors and other machinery for the system as drawn up by the Commission, officially the "Liquor Control Board of Ontario" were approved by the LieutenantGovernor-in-Council and made public. A fee of $2 was fixed for every individual permit whether for residents or transients. The permit year, it was stated, would end Oct. 31. No fee would be charged to ministers for liquor for sacramental purposes, or special permits to hospitals, educational and government institutions where liquor was required for medicinal or scientific purposes. Issue of permits began May 18, 1927 and it was announced then that the sale of liquor under Government Control would begin June 1st, and that on the preceding day, a proclamation by the Lieutenant-Governor would put into force remaining clauses of |