Prime Minister Faced with New Difficulties: Union of Railways Hangs Fire From Ov The resignation of Mr.
Montreal, Que; Oct. 27 Stevens as Minister of Trade and Commerce in the Bennett Government, and as head of the commission investigating mass buying and. price spreads, is the latest bombshell to be thrown' into the Canadian political arena. Coming just after the return of the Prime Minister, Mr. Bennett, froma trip to England and the Continent, during which he attended the sessions of the League of Nations in Geneva, it adds another difficulty fo the many that face the Conservative chieftain. Matters of "un employment relief, farm. mortgage loans, federal-provincial disputes and) the like were awaiting him at Ottawa, and now. it is doubtful whether cabinet risis of the frst order will oot take precedence over them all. For, while Mr. Stevens" resignation has' not been formally accepted, it seems as though that were invitable ud with it may come further defer tions of those who side with the minister of Trade and Commerce 'The immediate cause of Mr. Stevens' withdrawal is undoubtedly the publication of a pamphlet in mid summer, containing the report of an Address he gave to a Conservative study club in Ottawa on the findings of his committee, which had been Investigating. factory conditions and trade practices throughout the winter and. spring. It appears that the address was' given extemporaneously, land the report was supposed to be for the members of the club concerned' but, as often happens, It was Aiscovered by the sensational press, and the secret was out. Meanwhile Mr. Stevens was on his way to the Pacific Coast.
He was communicated with by Mr Bennett over long-distance telephone, end was able to give his chief a Salistielory explanation of the ined ent. in Vancouver, large made statements to them that were Just as provocative as. those of his pamphlet. From that time until this week, he had not seen Mr. Bennett. And it is believed that in 2 cabinet meeting a few days ago, a very orions difference arose, so that Mr ibod his" position ax withdrawing from his official capacities, Mr. Stevens remains a Member of Parliament, and it will be interesting to watch his further career. I have pointed out before rat he has always had tendencies of a radical nature, and refuses to remain long in any. mould, His courageous nature makes a born leader of those who would take issue with difficulty, even at tremendous odds. "Whether this will lead him to form an independent Conservative troup, of to cross the floor of the House to the C.CF. corner, is hard to say. It is hardly conceivable that, after leaving the Cabinet because he felt he could no longer work with Lis colleagues, he would continue to support its policies. might see Int to try and work to-ards a real solution of the staggering Tallway problem, at whatever im= mediate cost to the prestige of the two roads, Mr. E. W. Beatty of the CPR. has been labouring in season
of his company with the CUR. as a out of season for the_unifeation national necessity. He has brought forward one plan after another, the general background of each being the assumption that the unification of of the two systems would cut the operating costs by some $70,000,000 0 ear, which would be sufficient to Sever the fixed charges of both even with the present moderate receipts.
But instead of showing himself to be a man who would explore every venue for the solution of the serious iMeulties, Mr. Fullerton has been carrying on as though all were well. Only the other day he proceeded to feolighten the Halifax Board of Trade 'Treasury nor the tax-payer would fave any worries, Even if this were tine et fom being a partially happy thought; for the stoss revenues just now are' in. the. neighbourhood of two-thirds of his required. total, Enda broad. advance inthe face of increased automobile trate and lower parcenger and freight rates. must, of necessity, be slow. in coming. Mr. Fullerton gave good many" other Surprising figures in Halifax, but 0 indication that he was even interested inthe. unification of the country's Hnilroads "as a national "project. ihis Isa reve picture of what we may expect from him, there is NO Use {ooking for any substantial reli from the burden of railway debt for many years, "And inthe meantime it con Hnues to increase,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.