Ontario Community Newspapers

Ontario Scrapbook Hansard, 6 Apr 1933, p. 2

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The report further points out that in the attempt to estimate the imme-- diate commercial possibilities of the Onakawana lignits deposit, the Re-- search Foundation has been compelled to restrict its attention to present economic conditions. Certain changes may take place in the future, it is stated, but in some cases, at least, those are dependent on political con-- sideration, e.g., the Federal subsidy on Nova Scotia coal used industrially in Ontario may, in the near future, be discontinued. "A moderate commercial develop-- ment of the deposit would bring ad-- ditional freight to the T. & N.O. Rail-- way, and, provided certain technical difficultics are overcome, the railway would secure cheaper fuel. A small ceramic industry could be developed at the deposit using clays in the over-- burden and lignite products. The plant could proeduce and supply to the North country structural clay pra«iucts, especially the drain tile, which is badly needed at reasonable prices by the farming community." $00,000 MORE ASKED FOR THOROUGH TESTS OF ONTARIO LIGNITE Technical and economic -- factors which have a direct bearing on any immediate commercial development are set forth, while it is pointed out that at the present time Northern Ontario is supplied with coal from points outside the Province. "Fuel famines have occurred in the past," it is stated, "and a situation might de-- velop again in which the Onakavwana deposit would be an extremely valu-- able economic asset. Its value as a contingency reserve will be increased if the commercial tests recommended in this report are successfully car-- ried out. Small Ceramic Industry. This reccmmendation is based on the results of an investigation made by the Ontario Research Foundation. The report covering the investigation which was requested by Hon. Charles McCrea, Minister of Mines, three vears ago, was tabled in the Ontario Legislature yesterday. Value for Emergenc3. While the Ontario Research Foun-- dation cannot recommend any imme-- diate commercial development of Northern Ontario lignite deposits, it feels justified in recommending a further expenditure of $60,000 to mine and-- process sufficient lignit: to test adequately the burning of lignite products in locomotives, and in industrial and domestic furnaces. Containing, among other things. exhaustive information concerning processing, utilization and mining of the lignite, the report states that the results from tests in conjunction with the material embodied in the report would permit a fina) conclusion as to the possibilities or not of commercial development in the near future, and "will, in any case, establish the value of this deposit to the Province of On-- tario as a contingency fuel reserve." Report From Research Foundation Covers Three Years FINAL CONCLUSION SOON sive, North Oxford), and Hon. Charles McCrea, in replying, referred to the report he had received. It would cost $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 to establish a plant to mine it, but a pilot plant might be set up for experimentation at a cost of $60,000. Further findings of the foundation are that good second--hand equipment can be purchased in Canada at the present time for strip--mining opera-- tions at the deposit, and no unusual mining problems of a technical char-- acter can be foreseen. Three inde-- gendent. authorities, it is pointed out, ave agreed in substance as to the methods and costs of mining raw lig-- nitse. "The mining costs contained in this report are on the recommen-- dations of Dr. T. H. Hogg, and he estimates the cost of raw lignite to b* It is emphasized that flue--gas dried lignite cannot be used as a loco-- motive fuel or in domestic furnaces. In furnaces burning pulverized fuel, this material might be burned with no loss in efficiency and at a consid-- erable saving in cost to the consumer. The paper mills and the smelter operated by the Noranda Mines offer a potential market, it is claimed. "Near Blacksmith Rapids on the River Abitibi, sixty miles south of Moosonee, a large body of lignite exists. It lies at an average depth of sixty--five feet below the surface, and is covered with boulder clay and sand. Th deposit occurs in two ssams, and covers an area of approximatoly six squaire miles. The lignite in its raw state contains 50 per cont. of water, and in this condition is of no eco-- nomic importance at the present time." 300,000 Tons at 88 Cents. An lfrrx'd':iirv:""vvv-l-':ri' r.'ésr';ec'im;c;"l';.gnite was made by D. M. Ross (Progres-- Several processes have been tosted on a plant scale with a view to obtain-- ing lignite products which could be transported and used by railways, in-- dustrial consumers and householders. "The exchange payable on imports of American coal may increase in the next few months and produce a price condition more favorable to lignite products," proceeds the report. "These possibilities lie outside the sphere of our inquiry. * 5 Possible Exchange Effeci. 88 cents a ton on the basis of mining 300,000 tons a year," it is stated. Attention is drawn to the fact that, '"there are o serious technical prob-- lems associated with the use of Fleiss-- ner lignite in industry, but unless the price to the consumer can be reduced by (a) an increase in total production, (b) lower freight rates or (c) econo-- mies in production costs, FPleissner lignite cannot compets in the indus-- trial markes. Greater success can be expected in ts domestic field if suc-- cossful trials in standard equipmnt are conducted." Two of these processes, the Fleiss-- ner process and the flue--gas drying, have been investigated to the point of estimating the cost of the products to consumers in various centres of Northern Ontario. Fleissner lignite, it is clainfed, can be delivered to the T. & N.O. Railway at Onakawana for $3.30 a ton, and at this price could compte with imported American coal. Certain technical uncertainties exist, however, with respect to its use in lo-- comotives. Arml 6 NIXON BILL KILLED BY 62--10--21 VOTE do." I claim, more than adequate re-- muneration. "I seriously submit that we have come to the time in the experience of this Province when, if such have not enough foresight to make provis-- ion for their old age, they should come on to the Old Age Pensions Act when the time arrives, just as other people, who have served their country possibly better than these have, must Sought to Repeal Clauses He Claims Were Slip-- ped Through The purpose of the Gdefeated bill was to repeal those clauses in the act which, Mr. Nixon claimed. had been slipped through the House in the dying hours of the 1932 session to enable the Workmen's Compensation Board to set up an Employees' Superannuation Fund out of moneys accumulated through assessment of firms and their employees for claims of injured work-- men, or the families whom they left behind after death. Says Practice Not Uncommon. "This Accident Fund is one you might almost term sacred. It is set up for the care of injured workmen, and for provision for their dependents, their wives and children should they be injured in industry. Unless I am filc':'atly mistaken in the attitude of orable members of this House, they will not sanction such a raid upon it. Members of this board, and their of-- ficials, have enjoyed security in their jobs through these difficult times, ab-- solutely ideal working conditions, and, PRICE MAKES DEFENSE Progressive Leader Nixon's bill, aim-- ed, he said, "to halt the raiding of funds for injured workmen, under th* Workmen's Compensation Act," went down to defeat on a straight party vote of 62 to 21 in the Ontario Legis-- lature yesterday. o After making his charges that the legislation of last year had been slip-- ped through in a "sloppy way," Mr. Nixon said: "I state that it is my opinion that the Workmen's Compen-- sation Board deliberately intended to slip this objectional clause through the House, without knowledge of the members." He continued: "This law, which is now on the Statute Books, would take money from the Accident FPund to set up superannuation provision for overpaid members of the board, and their of-- ficials, If there is any one in this Province today who is in a preferred gosition, it most certainly is such as ave these positions in the public service. And when industry is in the most difficult straits it has ever expserienced in Canada, to suggest that assessment should be made against them to provide monsy for such a purpose, at this time, is almost beyond belief. Fund "Almost Sacred." Attorney--General Price defended the clauses, which became part of the act last year, on the ground that em-- ployees of the board had a perfect right to a superannuation fund, but made no attempt to defend the policy of taking accident--fund money to build up the superannuation plan. He warm-- ly replied to Mr. Nixon's charge that the amendments were slipped through in a rush last year, declaring that the practice was not uncommon. "I am prepared to stand by anything I put through this House," he observed, with emphasis. ;. f R IN ONTARIO HOUSE

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