James Robinson Fallis
| James Robinson Fallis | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
|
In office 1913–1916 |
|
| Preceded by | Samuel Charters |
| Succeeded by | William James Lowe |
| Constituency | Peel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 12, 1871 Brampton, Ontario |
| Died | May 11, 1935 (aged 63) Brampton, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Jane Lawson |
James Robinson Fallis (December 12, 1871 – May 11, 1935) was an Ontario livestock dealer and political figure. He represented Peel in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Conservative member from 1913 to 1916. He was born in Brampton, Ontario, the son of James Fallis, and educated there. In 1899, he married Sarah Jane Lawson. He was elected in an 1913 by-election held after Samuel Charters resigned his seat in the provincial assembly to become Registrar of Peel County. He died May 11, 1935.
In 1903, Fallis' steers were described in The Globe as being considered "the best that have ever entertained this market", the Union Stock Yards.
At the 1912 meeting of Peel's County Conservative Association, Fallis was elected secretary. On 27 October 1913, nominations for both the Liberal and Conservative parties of Peel were held at the Brampton Town Hall. The Liberals nominated the Reeve of Brampton, A. H. Milner, while Fallis received the Conservative nomination. Fallis' speech outlined his loyalty to Premier of Ontario Sir James Whitney, and his "business-like way" of running the province, highlighting the discounts created by his public hydro policy, good roads program, and reforms to the election process to remove numbering from ballots. Provincial agriculture minister James Duff campaigned for Fallis in Streetsville.
As incumbent, Fallis was chosen by the Conservative party as its nominee for the 1914 provincial election. Nominated by Reuben Lush, his candidacy was uncontested at the event, held at Brampton Town Hall. His acceptance speech denied misspending by his party's government, denied responsibility for rural depopulation, placing that blame on cities and Western provinces, and the introduction of the Workmen's Compensation Act.
At the beginning of the First World War, Fallis travelled to Ottawa, "securing a letter from officers of the Militia Department" allowing him to sell them horses. Returning to the County, he formed a partnership with horse-dealer E. J. Jones of Brampton, and they identified animals at area farms for Government inspection; any that were "passed" were purchased by Fallis or his firm. Fallis profited "less than $3000" and Jones "about $3500" in the horses resale to the government. Sir Charles Davidson's Commission of Inquiry took up the matter, with the Commission's counsel suggesting he "intervened for personal profit when the vendor and Government had been brought together, without rendering any service." Fallis insisted there was nothing wrong with the procedures, and that he didn't prevent farmers from selling direct to the government.
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