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Celeeeeomae t io 0 / March i. Stamping as bad the practice of o P o some municipalities in offering fixed redICt assessments to industries seeking to Cha"'es locate in them, the convention un-- animously adopted a resolution ask-- | ing the Government to rule such CU'S or Rebates assessments illegal. H. E. Kilman, | Fenwick, sponsoring the resolution, | declared in most cases "the com-- ' panies have already made up their Or ro SerS |minds to locate in the municipality, " y lbut get fixedTahssessn;\'ent through ks a intimidation. ey threaten they} | Prediction that Ontario rural| will not locate there if they do notW \municipalities, with perhaps 10 Ofl 'get St." '1 [12 exceptions, will enjoy either re--| jWouId Avert Litigation | \ductions in Hydro rates or rebates| | Another resolution, endorsed by 'soon was made yesterday by Georgpi [16 counties, asked the Department Challies, Ontario Hydro commis--! 'of Municipal Affairs to: introduce * & | legislation -- providing all claims A Ssignef« _ a |against municipalities for damages Speaking before the convention 'for flooding or any other drainage of the Ontario Association of Rural damage claims be determined by a Municipalities, he declared that be-- drainage referee or other officials cause of the amalgation of the Geor-- |appointed by the Government rather gian Bay, Eastern Ontario and Ni-- 'than by actions at law. agara systems the commission had _ _The convention unanimously adopt-- found it possible to effect consider-- ed another resolution which asks the able savings which, in due course, 'Provincial Government to review would be passed along. | the situation regarding appoint-- Outlining the growth of Hydro,| ments for returned soldiers "and he declared it now had assets of| make no more permanent appoint-- more than $500 million and yearly| ments until our soldiers overseas re. turnover of funds amounting to| turn home, when they will have an more than $50 million. At present| equal opportunity to apply for and 2'> million horsepower of electrical obtain these positions." energy is being used, of which one| J. N. Corry, Atwood, was elected million is purchased. All, however.' president of the association at its is developed from waterpower. 1"[ final session yesterday. Vice--presi-- 'the United States, he said, most| dents are P. J. Mather, Keene; O. electricity is developed from coal. Foster, Staples; while the secretary-- Until recently Ontario had 120 treasurer is W. S. Milmine, Stoney HMydro districts, scattered "hit and| Creek. §miss" throughout the Province, but| Directors are J. P. Meilleur, Cas-- \these had now been consolidatcd; selman; D. A. Hill, Waterford; H. E. into one district and boundary linesl Kilman, Fenwick; E. Campbell,| \were wiped out. "The promise we Chatham Township; S. Nicolson,| '(made a year ago that the service| Bollevillie; Dr. J. H. Munroe, Max-- |charge to primary producers would ville; Robert Reid, Arthur, and H.) *hp wiped out has been carried out.i Miskel! Mooretown. { Farmers, because of the uniform 'l'ate, have paid out $500,000 less this | ,yem- than they did last year," he said. i 'Bold Move Forecast | It was hoped, he continued, that} '"in the boldest move Hydro has| seen since it was instituted, we will | 'give service to 10,000 new consum--| ers in Ontario." A five--year plan| is being prepared for the postwar' years which, he said, would make Ontario Hydro the "best rural Hydro| system in North America. We hope| to have 85 per cent of all the farms| iin Ontario equipped with Hydro,"| \he said. _ Demonstration coaches| [ would be sent into rural areas to| show farmers just how Hydro could assist them, and rural Hydro super-f intendents would be available to. farmers the same as agricultural representatives, he declared. | This year, if restrictions on ma-- terials are lifted, "we're hoping to| build 400 miles of line and put 10,000| rural customers on if wartime condi--| \tions permit," he said. |