EYES TOWARDS ALBERTA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 300, 18 December 1937, Page 5

EYES TOWARDS ALBERTA

INTEREST IN CHANCE ELECTION, OTTAWA, (By Mail.) With the Government of Hon. Mitchell F. Hepburn (Liberal) returned to power in Ontario by a large House majority, and with stability and continued economic improvement in Dominion affairs, political interest in Canada is directed toward the province of Alberta and its Social Credit administration under Premier Aberhart. Mr. Aberhart has run into difficulties with his programme. The Dominion Government disallowed his legislation for taxing the banks, on the ground that banking is solely within Federal authority. Then Mr. Aberhart called the Legislature together to re-enact his bill in a somewhat different form, and along with it a bill “to ensure publication of accurate news and information" in newspapers and periodicals. The Lieutenant-Governor refused to sign the measures and they are being studied by the Dominion cabinet in the light of representations made by Mr. Aberhart. The Cabinet has also before it protests against the press bill made by newspaper organisations and private individuals. Meanwhile, there is much speculation over the course Mr. Aberhart will pursue if these bills are disallowed. He has spoken of the possibility of an election, but has not made any definite statement. There is strong opposition to the Social Credit? administration, but the opposing army marches under various leaders. The Liberals and Conservatives are in the field, the United Farmers (who controlled the Government before Mr. Aberhart won the-election two years ago), the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, the People’s League, and so on. Efforts which are meeting with some success are being made to form a united front against Social Credit under Mr. E. L. Gray, provincial Liberal leader, and an impetus was’ given the movement when Mr. Gr?* with Conservative and other support, won by a large majority a place in the Legislature at a by-election held recently in Edmonton.

In Ottawa preparations arc going ahead for the session of Parliament that will open about the middle ol January.