Page:Sutherland Commission report (hydro-electric railways).djvu/18

12 "Moneys expended by the Commission in respect to valuations, have been as follows": Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway $1,005.27 Toronto Suburban Railway 5,604.86 Total S6.610.13

"These expendiutures were made out of the general fund of the Commission and there would appear to be no statutory authority permitting disbursements of the same. No bonds have been issued by the Commission in the connection, neither is the Province under any liability in respect to the undertaking. In addition to the amounts mentioned, sums expended by the Commission in respect of the Hydro Radial Railway investigation amounted to October 21st, 1920, to $44,704.09, which sums, the Commission contends, are repayable by the Province to it." It appears from a statement recently received from the Hydro-Electric Power Commission that on "Electric Railway engineering investigations, surveys, by-laws and reports, under Hydro Electric Railway Act of 1914, they have expended the following sums:

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1914 $42,385.47

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1915 ." 45,925.18

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1916 38,675.66

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1917 > 37,909-76

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1918 9,597.29

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1919 47,156.48

For Fiscal Period ending October 31, 1920 68,609.86

Period November 1st, 1920 to July 2nd, 1921 4,036.41

$294,296.11

These are not matters as to which we were called upon to make enquiry or report. It appears also that on expenditures on account of Hydro Electric Railways they have expended the following sums: —

Toronto — Port Credit Line $ 715,413.26

Port Credit— St. Catharines Line 492,644.31

Toronto — Eastern Line 41,981.94

$1,250,039.51

Survey Instruments and other equipment 4,201.60

Total $1,254,241.11

It was growing out of these matters so far as they were in evidence in July, 1920, that this Commission came to be appointed.

The question of the relationship of the Municipal Hydro Electric Radial Railways Association and the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario was referred to by certain witnesses, and made the subject of comment by Mr. R. S. Robertson, in his argument. He suggested that much of the initiative and of the work done to create public opinion in support of the construction of the proposed electric railways, did not come from the municipalities concerned so much as from the Municipal Hydro Electric Radial Railways Association, and that there was an intimate association between it and the officials of the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario. When public meetings were called, and public discussions taking place in connection with the proposed passing of by-laws in a particular municipality, the members of this Association and the officials of the Commission were present, speaking in favor of the project, and urging the passing of the by-laws. The Association also published literature for a like purpose. The argument was advanced, it was said, by officials of the Hydro, that in certain localities desirous of obtaining electric lighting, it was difficult, if not impossible, to extend lines to them. It was added, however, that if the railways were constructed through their locality, this