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Another Liberal expressed the view that the Liberal Party would become weaker and its political opponents stronger if the life of the Legislature ran on for another year. Liberals also felt that the temporary nature of the present Qleadership was a factor which made | an appeal to the people all the more important, apart altogether from the fact that the Legislature al-- |ready has outlived its mandate by ia year. There is a feeling among some Liberals that an extension bill is not the wisest course to follow, and one Liberal frankly declared; "I am afraid some of the members were thinking of shaky seats as well as the possibility of an offensive when they voted for extension." The attitude of the Progressive Conservatives in the House was said to be one of opposition to any attempt to extend the life of the Legislature at this time. A caucus of the Progressive Conservatives was held yesterday and it is re-- ported the decision was reached to oppose an extension measure. It is believed one of the reasons the: Opposition objects to an ex-- tension bill is that such action is not considered necessary at this stage, and that if war conditions warrant calling a halt to an clec-- tion this year it would be an easy matter to call a one--day session of the Legislature and pass an exten-- sion bill. Failure of the Government to give the required two days' notice of intention to introduce the bill extending the life of the Legisla-- ture, resulted in first reading not being given in the Legislature yes-- terday, When Premier Conant in-- troduced the bill, Opposition Leader George Drew rose and said he was not prepared to give consent to the introduction. As the unanimous consent of the House is necessary in cases where the two days' notice has not been given, the Premier did not proceed. The bill likély will come before the House todav. DREW BLOCKS _ DREW REQUESTS INTRODUCTION _ CLARIFICATION OF EXTENS'ON Position of Minister First Reading of Bill Delayed Until Today-- Opposition Against It The matter ended and consider-- ation of estimates began when Col. Drew said he would give Mr. Mc-- Questen a written statement on the matters to allow the Minister time to study the question further. He knew of complaints being made in Edmonton of conditions pertaining on the highway whore the Smith firm was engaged. They raised questions about the company actinz as a supply company besides acting in a managerial capacity, Col. | Drew said. The question was based on the anomaly of a man who still was Deputy Minister having connection with a firm which was working on the highway as a private corporation. Mr. MceQuesten explained that Mr. Smith had been paid only for the time he spent performing his Deputy Minister's duties and he had a re-- port on the matter from the Civil Service Commisisoner, the details of which he did not have at hand. How-- ever, the matter was at 'loose ends.' because Mr. Smith had been ill for some time. He had had many months of sick leave owing him and this time was not yet up. The position and status of R. M. Smith, Deputy Minister of the On-- tario Highways Department, in re-- lation to his Government duties and his connection with the R. Melville Smith & Company Limited engaged on the Alaska Highway project came before the Legislature last night. As consideration of Higshways De-- partment estimates cam»e before the House in Committee of Supply to-- night. Lt.--Col. George A. Drew, Op-- position Leader, asked Highways Minister McQuesten if he could clar-- ify the situation. He would like to know under what arrangements Mr. Smith went to Alaska. Position of Minister B e fore _ Legislature APRIL Hon. T. B. McQue of Municipal Affairs committee should be ed as h place for amendments and agreed Deputy Minis encouraged to appea his nlesa that itha a" _ R_TSZ --yFPur)y nLInIst@ers should be encouraged to appear. He added his plea that the Assessment Act be brought up to date. G. 8. Henry (Prog. Cons.. York East) objected to private bills be. ing introduced through the Minis-- ter _ of Municipal Affairs or his deputy instead of being explained by private members, and to the limitation on the time for their submission, all resulting in a multi-- plicity of amendments. The situa-- tion had existed for years but had reached a climax, said Mr. Hanru The act as it stands needed justment and clarification, Mr. caulay thought, and said time money were wasted in complic legal discussions on municipal sessments which sometimes ha. be settled by the turn of a «c "And even dice" commented Pj ier Conant. /' And even with st: after $30,000 had been spent in gation in one case, Mr. Maca: added. The "crying need" for revision of the Assessment Act "from top to bottom" in view of the steadilv changing situation as regards real estate, was stressed in Committee of the Whole in the Legislature yes-- terday afternoon by Leopold Ma-- caulay Prog. Cons., South York). His strong advocacy of a change came during discussion of the om-- nibus bull containing amendments to the Municipal Act. Mr. Ma-- caulay's contention found support with C. M. MacKie (Lib., Middjesex South) who advocated a special sub-- committee to study it. DECLARES NEED FOR OVERHAUL W ants Top--to--Bottom Assessment Revision 4 lor years but had ax, said Mr. Henry, McQuesten, Minister asted in complicated is on municipal as-- h sometimes had to the turn of a card. " _ commented Prem-- S, thought the broadly treat-- discussion of Mr. Macaulay with straws spent in liti-- acaulav ad-- Ma-- and