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about introducing legislation to implement various reforms which they had Siedeed auring the campaign. One of these was the Koad Act, designed to upgrade the highway system which had been deteriorating for some time. Under the previous administration, all road supervisors had been Liberals. These were now dismissed and their posts filled by roadmasters -- all of them Tories who had been active in support of the party during the lean years of opposition. Following a long-standing custom, ratepayers were allowed to pay a portion of their taxes by doing road maintenance and repair jobs. The Liberals had permitted the Tories to work out their tax. obligations, but banned them from additional work for which they would have drawn pay. This work was given to Liberal party members « The new regime followed the same practice in dealing with the Grits, but, when it came to work which would bring cash payment, the New Haven roadmaster brought in Tories from Churchill, Clyde River, and Elmwood. This was because the Tories in the district were too few in number to handle the necessary work. Needless to say, the action caused furious resentment among the district Grits but, though admittedly/feir and discriminatory, it appeared to havs legal sanction.

With the Koad Act in operation, Mathieson now proceeded to stir up a real hornet's nest by levying a tax on dogs -- something that heretofore had been limited to the urban centers. Hostility to the measure was Island-wide, and by no means confined to the Liberals. Kany staunch Tories were outspoken in tneir condemnation. A number of Liberals categorically refused to pay the tax, but were promptly haled into court and heavily fined. the/roadnaster, whose duty it was to collect the tax, came in for a torrent of verbal abuse and threats. Those Tories who, because of party loyalty, spoke in defense of the levy were the objects of derision. Anti-

tax zealots adopted a program of barking loudly when mseting one of them

in public, and when passing their homes. The roadmaster was repeatedly