ELECTION TEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23606, 15 March 1940, Page 6

ELECTION TEST

CANADIAN POLITICS VOTING THIS MONTH THE ISSUES INVOLVED BY K. A. MILES The political pot is boiling again in Canada, having been brought to the boil by the bad boy of liberalism, Mitchell F. Hepburn, and skilfully stirred by that astute politician, William Lyon Mackenzie King. 111-193-5 Mr. Mackenzie King surged into power on a wave of popular discontent. ISo government before him had over had such an overwhelming majority. In Western Canada the conservatives were almost wiped out, and the. small band of labourites had their ranks decim/ited by a very vocal handful of "Abljie" Aberhart's social creditors. One by one tho provincial parliaments followed the federal lead and returned liberal majorities. Quebec and Alberta were the only two provinces that stood out. Quebec had just turned out a liberal government dominated by tho financial interests of St. James Street, Montreal, and Alberta returned "Abbie" with his promise of 25 dollars a month to every man, woman and child. ' Fortunately for Mr. Mackenzie King the tides of depression receded and he did not have to contend with the terrific problems of unemployment and popular discontent that had harrassed his predecessor. The new liberal government brought in nothing startling in the way of legislation, but they also did nothing to antagonist* the masses of the people. Trouble From Ontario

Soon, however, tho voico of discontent was heard from an unexpected quarter. The Hon, Mitchell F. Hepburn, Premier of Ontario and head of a liberal government, fell out with his federal leader on tho question of providing additional electric power for the province of Ontario. Mr. Mackenzie King wanted to conclude a treaty with the United States Government so that Ontario could develop additional power from the St. Lawrence rapids. Mr. Mitchell Hepburn, after consulting his friend Maurice Duplessis, Premier of Quebec, wanted to buy additional power from three private Quebec power companies. Ontario had just extricated itself from disastrous contracts entered into with Quebec firms by the previous conservative government. Nevertheless, Mr. Hepburn was very annoyed over this incident. He announced at a public banquet that lie was not a Mackenzie King liberal and' he didn't care who heard him say so. Later Mr. Mackenzie King tried to bring in'unemployment insurance on a national scale, but to do so ho needed the consent of. all the provinces. Mitchell Hepburn refused to co-operate, and the question remained at a deadlock. Oshawa Strike Incidents An argument arose out of the appointment' of federal members of the Cabinet. Mr. Hepburn claimed that he did not . have enough say in the appointment of those representing Ontario. Tactful messengers were sent to him with peace offerings, but he would have none of them. During the Oshawa strike of 1937 Mr. Hepburn made political history by supporting 'the employers against the workers in their fight for the right to organise in unions of their own choice. And when the Federal Government refused to send Royal Canadian Mounted Police down to maintain order Hepburn organised his own private army recruitedjfrom university students. Thts action - cdst the Ontario taxpayers 20,000 dollars. In his feud with the Federal Premier Mr. Hepburn has had a great deal of backing from the Leader of the Ontario Opposition, Lieutenant-Colonel Geo. A. Drew. The later is a Conservative and naturally disagrees with Mr. Mackenzie King, but, he finds that he cannot disagree with both Federal and Ontario Liberals and so he chooses to agree with Mr. Hepburn. He backed him up during Oshawa strike and on several minor issues, and just recently he has found himself decidedly on the side of the Hepburnitcs. Bren Gun Contract Some'/ years ago Lieutenant-Colonel Drew, wrote several anti-war pamphlets, one of which was called "Salesmen of Death." It achieved immediate popularity, exposing as it did the operations 'of the international armament ring. Last year LieutenantColonel Drew began attacking the Federal Government's war policv. He finally exposed what has become known as the "Bren Gun Scandal," showing beyond doubt that a large contract had been let without competition to friends and members of the family of a Federal Liberal niember of Parliament, who owned neither factory nor .equipment to manufacture Bren guns. Mr. Mackenzie King was forced to replace his Minister of Defence with a man who held the confidence of the public. During - the- election campaign that is now being fought the Rt. Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King will have to answer many awkward questions. He will have to explain how his Defence Department came to lease buildings at top prices from friends of prominent Liberal M.P.'s. He will have to answer for the placing of eight contracts on a cost-plus basis without competition. These contracts provided for a profit of 10 . per cent over cost, and the higher the cost the higher the profit. They called for an expenditure of over five million dollars. But I think Mr. Mackenzie King will stand his ground. A Primo Minister is not always held responsible for tho misdemeanours of his Cabinet, and tho system of political patronage is well established and understood in Canada. I think we shall probably see Mr. Mackenzie King returned to power with a majority, if a somewhat smaller one than ho now possesses.