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"We have, Wever, had some more rrobomtion lately I Premier only," Mr. Sinclair comued. "He throws some light on the matter; he Mn: 'The Government has full and 7mamplete reports on the Madawaska 0.000 Aird payment. on the D. P. & . C. purchase. and the $125,000 pay- ent to Aird.' As a result of this in- gbrmation the Government. grants a Commission on the first two. but IT- liysts one on the $125,000 payment to Wird. The Premier says: "This matter nbver had anything to do with Hydro.' May says it was a contribution to Ontario Conservatives. Griffith says the same. But the Premier saw it has nothing to do with Hydro, and so the Aird evidence stands entirely dis- rredited and the Premier corroborates Sweeney and Griffith. The evidence of Sweeney and Griffith was accept- ed in regard wall other; cqnpributdons and can now be accepted in regard to this. This is the only conclusion any one can come to. Without, a Commission to investigate it, the con- clusion that it is a political contribu- tion will become fixed." No Cash Handouts "for Fun." "Sweezey was not, handing out money for fun," he went on. "He paid $864,000, of which $739,000 was contributions for political purposes. It so, why was not the $125,000 in the same class, in view of the statement. of Premier Henry that, it has nothing to do with Hydro? Aird could not. get this money unless he represented some one; Sweezey is not such a fool as to give the moncy away just because John Aird Jr. walked by. The Pre- mier must know all about this; he says he was investigated." "0.0 ctr. C men! Tttrm Mr. Sinclair then referred to Page 780 of the Beauharnois inquiry evi- dence, in which Mr. Hogg's name is mentioned, and to Page 1.032. where the payment of the $125,000 is index- ed as being "to the Ontario Conserva- tive Party, through John Aird Jr.". .. Mr. Nixon-Did he keep any of it tor himself? About $400? Mr. Sinclair-l don't know. Mr. Htmry---He was no piker, like the President of the Liberal Party. Read the evidence and you'll find out . "The 1920 roport of the Hydro- Electric Power Ccmmission," 'Mr. Sin- clair said, "states three reasons why this policy is followed: (1) The de- lay in the St. Lawrence development: (2) inability to get more water " Niagara; (3) Georgian Bay Canal Company charter prevented develop- ment of Ottawa." TG.. Sinclair - Are you sorry he didn't get more? -- - . ... "a Discusing the purchases of Wywer, extensively carried on by Hydro since 1026, Mr. Sinclair commented: "Elec- tion years seem to be favorite years tor buying power." - -riiiG;'(iry%F." Sinclair said, "it anything should be investigated by a Commission. this transaction should, for the good of all concerned." Election Year Purchases. Mr. Sinclair asked whether the St. Lawrence delay was attributable to Federal obstacles only. He asked whether Ontario had been as alive as Quebec is on the subject. He asked whether Hydro had pressed for recog- nition of its rights on the St. Law- rence. There had been no publicity about it to create an Ontario policy. Ontario Hydro. he said. by adopting an Ontario policy. could have forced the issue at Ottawa. The Niagara treaty referred to was rejected only in January, 1931, by the United States Senate, and the Georgian Bay Canal charter was cancelled in 1927. "The Commission's report says: 'confronted with such circumstances and restrictions. the Commission in 1926 embarked on a purchase plan.'" Mr. Sinclair then outlined the dit- ferent purchases. amounting to 891,- 000 horsepower. and called particular attention to the peak purchase in 1926 of 260,000 horsepower, and in 1929 ot 346,000 horsttpower, both ot which were election years. Survey of Purchases. He said the rejection of the Ni- agara water treaty in 1931 could not be adduced as an argument for the purchase of 766.000 hp. before that date, and hardly as a reason for the purchase of 125,000 h.p. one month after the rejection of the treaty. He further said that the Georgian Bay "There is no use of the Govern- ment's appointing any Commission which does not go so far as I have indicated here," he ccneludcd. "It would put complainants on trial. If they' failed, it would establish Hydro ibeyond suspicion. Failure to gran: isuch a Commission will shake all faith in Hydro. Better to have no Com- mission at all than one falling short of these requirements." Stating that the Government would likely delay. he added: "But there will be a Com- mission. if they delay, if they refuse. ---and that will be after the next Pro- vincial election." "Its function," he declared. "will b? purely Judicial-and that .should be the only function of any true Royal Commission. No other form of Com- mission will do, no other form ct Com- mission will satisfy the people of Ontario or will do justice to the situ- atiom "There should be counsel for Hydro appointed by Hydro," he continued, "and there should be counsel for com- plainants. The facts they claim to have marshallcd should be laid be- tore this tribunal of three Judges in the clearest way possible." of all parties. counsel or witnesses, and make it purely judicial. sociate himself with Mr. Sinclair in support of the Liberal amendment, and was met by Premier Henry's com- ment: "Getting a bit clo.ser than you were yesterday afternoon." On continuing the debate. Mr. Nixon remarked that he was pleased ta ai- Mr. Nixon Speaks. fails. he said, as an argument tor the purchase of power. Further. Mr. Sinclair said that 475,000 h.p. had been purchased since the stock mar- ket crash in 1929, when it was plain that the country would have to co slow some considerable time. Yet, in the face of this. these tremendous purchases of power were made. and it was the purchase at these times, and in such large quantities. that consti- tuted cause tor an inquiry regarding the whole system of purchase of power by the Hydro-Electric Power Com- mission. "Yes," smiled Mr. Nixon, "and I want to say how pleased I am that the opportunity offers." Canal charter could not be used as an argument for purchase after 1927. Yet after 1927 the Commission had purchased 571.000 h.p. That also "In regard to the Hydro inquiry." the Progressive Leader went on. "let me say most emphatically that, if the Government cannot see-its way claw to refer all the demands in the amond- ment to the Commission, the scope of the Commission should at least be widened sumeiently to include the payment of $125,000 to John Aird Jr., engineer, of Toronto, by the Beau- harnois Company tor services render- ed, as he swore, in securing for them a contract from the Ontario Hydro Commission. The Premier in his statement to the press said: m, is simply a. matter of Aird having put one over on Sweeper and having se- cured 'the $125,000 payment for do- ing nothing about getting a contract; and. further, the alleged payment of $125,000 to Mr. Aird had nothing ta do with the Hydro Commission.' This is or Hydro inquiry, and nothing else/ "Tho Commissioners should be ob- liged to give absolutely valid reasons for purchase. and that purchase should be made at the cheapest rates obtainable." Mr Sinclair declared. He went on to prod the Chairman of the Commission. in sarcastic tones. for his "schematic plan" to develop 500,000 hp. in Northern Ontario. Mr. Sinclair commented that. nothing had since been heard of this project. Demands Three Judges. "I say. both in regard to the John Aird Jr. payment and to the purchase of these blocks of property, that we require a Royal Commission to in- vestigate." he said. "By this I mean a spccizzl committee of three Judges --I would be satisfied with any now on the Bcmeh--and also counsel. ap- pointed by Hydro, touproduce wit- nos.~cs and records. with the right to cross-examine Hydro witnesses, and to be paid by Hydro or by the Gov- rmmom if the complaints are at all founded." He added that this would render the Commission independent tor'the anéged part of it. I think Feb. 17. I Mr. Nixon produced a press clip- (ping crediting the Premiw with a life',"',",',,'), to the effect than "Aird put it all over Sweezey." Surely, said Mr. ileon. the Premier did net apprcri- ate, in his statement. the aspect, In lwhich he had tut his own Commi- isicn in their relations with Aird m gan "intermediary." perform to see that this Legislature and the people of Ontario are satisfied as to the actual situation. "If the Premier does not care to mrmis this Commission to investigate Mr. ssveczey's smry ct political contri- bution. that is quite another matter. If the Grits at Ottawa can't clear that up, they can s:ay in the Valley of Humiliation. Some one else will take , their place and save the country from ithe disastrous and ruinous Tory Poli- gcies under which we are now suffering. ': So I say again. Mr. Speaker, that this (phase of the Beauharnois contract should very properly be included in the inquiryhand the Commission. as given to Hon. Justice Middleton. should be amended, and its scope enlarged to that effect. The Premier .wculd be well advised to make a com- lplcte clean-up cf these astounding Vccntracts and purchases. No matter (what comes out of the inquiry. I do not SC? that it reflects against his 'Administration. except in so far as he this name, may safely assume that the payment was made. Both Mr. Sweezey and Mt. Grimm of the Beau- harnois Coinpany'swore they gave the bonds, and Mr. Aird swore hte/tv.. ccived them. The Premirr cannot pass this oft with a casual munn of the hand and say Aird put. it all owr Sweezey. Aird swore that ho pri- formed very d2finite services: in far; that he got the contract and that his: commission was fifty emits per horse- power, or $125,000 in all." Prrss Clipping Quoted. arc before the Commission. under cam, why shouldn't; this matter be cleared up. The Premier seems to be satisfied in his mind, but the public is not satisfied. He has a duty to perform to sec that this Legislature "He never spoke to Hydro about it." interjected Premier Henry. "Hydro may not have kmwn anon; it," retortcd Mr. Nixon, "but thyy already knew Aird." "If Alrd," said Mr. Nizmn. "put it all (we: the Wsttzey-Ps:otllvorr,. outfit to the tune cf $125.000, "In: must he have done to my honorable friend, who. unfortunately, is net in the House. the innocent, and un- suspecting farmer (Hon. J. R. Cooke. Hydro Chairman) from the hard scrabble of North Hastings, when the tune was caiy $50.000? It And gave satisfactory service for value l'nccivrrl in the one case, why shculdn't we assume that he did so in the other. and the two are so closely co-crdi- natad that I do not see how the Con;- mlssioner should exclude the cne in dealing with the cther." Extracts From Evidence. After reading extracts from pri- dence taken by the Dcminion Parlia- mentary committee on Beaulrarn1i: Mr. Nixon said: "rt Aird sworn falsely in these ma!- ters. as we must infer from the Prc- micr's statcmmt. then it wsuld svcm to mc that the Attorrwy-General hm a very definite duty to perform, i, - cause. if perjury were committed. i' was committed in Ontario. When Ahd and Magrath and the present Hydro Commt%ioner and the Hydro ofticiais "Parading in Silk Pants." "I regret that all this grief should have descended upon the bare and benevolent. head of my honorable friend. for whom we all have the greatest respect and esteem. The man who should be sweating.over this is our friend who is parading in sill: pants before the King, many thou- sands of miles away. ' "As Cn. these other amazing con- tracts and purchases. two of them. Mpdaoroska and the Dominion Miner and Transmission. purchased for $22,000,000. lime been referred to the Commissioner. and I presume are sub Judiee as far as discussion in this House goes at the present time. It I am correct in this, I will certainly not attempt to discuss them. I do not know just how close an inter- pretation you. fnte.n.d. to apoly to the pm our friend pants Defer: sands of mil rule govern virning this mrattier. Mr. 5/3117 0 ', quite Ottaw spay Some 1 an an. an