• Proceedings of the House of Assembly During the Third Session of the Twenty - ninth General Assembly of Newfoundland PRINTED IN CANADA BY GUARDIAN LIMITED, ST, JOHN'S, NFLD .

PROCEEDINGS of the THIRD SESSION of the TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEWFOUNDLAND The Third Session of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly of Newfou11d­ land begun and holden at St. John's in the Province of Newfoundland 011 Wednesday, March 7th, 1951, at three of the clock in the afternoon. The House being assembled, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, arrived in the Chamber and ascended the Throne at three of the clock in the after­ noon, when he was especially pleased to deliver the Speech from the Throne as follow~: "Mr.

Speaker and members of the Honourable House of Assembly : It gives me great pleasure to wel­ come you to this Third Session of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland. Since we last met, Newfoundland, together with the rest of the Com­ monwealth and Empire, rejoiced at the birth of a daughter, Princess Anne, to Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. On behalf of the Gov­ ernment and people of Newfoundland I despatched a telegram of congratu­ lations which received gracious and grateful acknowledgment from Their Royal Highnesses.

During the past year the Govern­ ments of Canada and the Provinces have met in conference to devise an amemling procedure for the British North America An, and two further Federal-Provincial Conferences were held for the purpose of considering relations between the Provinces and I he Government of Canada in fiscal matters, including a means of provid­ ing a universal old age pension. Salis- factory progress was made regarding the latter and my Government will do all in their power to co-operate in speedily bringing about this desirable end.

You are called to your legislative dutie ·-; this year at a time when mo­ mentous events are taking place. Menaced by the threat of war, the democratic world is rapidly devoting a fast-swelling proportion of its econ­ omic resources to rearmament. l\1any types of goods essential to the or­ dinary industrial enterprises of a world at peace become increasingly difficult if not impossible to secure for such purposes, as they are divert­ ed to th e strengthening of our de­ fences ag·ainst possible totalitarian ,iggression.

Far-1·eaching changes in our mode of life seem 10 be ines­ capable, and it would be idle to sup­ pose that Newfoundland can be im­ mune to most of the dislocations and shortagr·s thal these changes will bring. My Ministers are g-ravcly couccrncd to note the possible effect of the wor­ sening prospects of world peace upon

4 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Their programme of economic devel­ opment. They have redoubled their efforts to procure the establishment of certain new industries, and the ex­ pamions of others, in case world con­ ditions deteriorate to an extent which might prevent, or at least reduce greatly for some years the accomplish­ ment of that economic development to which they had set their hands . Since you last met my Mini sters have sought, by guarantee of a number of loans to Newfoundland fishing and industrial companies, to speed expan­ sion oi these enterprises.

Details of these guarantees will be laid before you, and your approval of them will be sought. My Ministers have also entered into contracts for the con­ struction of a cement mill, a gypsum­ plaster and plaster-wallboard plant , and a plant to manufacture birch flooring, veneer, plywood and ply­ wood doors. Insofar as it is pmdent and in the public interest LO acquaint you with the financial details of these contracts, they will be laid be­ fore you at the present session.

My Government have for some months been conducting negotiations for the establishment of a Newfound­ land Corporation designed Lo procure important development of the Prov­ ince's natural resources. If these negotiations should be successful, my Government would join with a very large and important financial organ­ ization in the United States of Amer­ ica to form this Corporation, to the end that a partnership of public and private capital would more quickly result in considerable economic de­ velopment of the Province.

These ne­ gotiations are nearing their end, and my Ministers hope to lay the full de­ tails before you in due course.

As you are aware, the Power Cor­ poration of Canada was retained by my Government to conduct carefu field surveys of certain watersheds on part of the South Coast of Newfound­ land. ·with the exception of certain c.lrilling of dam-sites, canal-sites and power-house sites, which will be con­ ducted as soon as weather conditions permit this year, the survey has been cornpletec.l, and the Corporation's re­ port on the hydro-electric potential, together with estimates of the cost of developing it, are expected to be in the hands of my Government be­ fore the end of the present session.

In the meanwhile a competent local hydro-electric engineer has been en­ gaged to conduct a field survey, and to estimate costs of development, or certam watersheds on the East Coast of Newfoundland. In 1950 an air-borne magnometer survey was made of the geological nat­ ure of some 5000 square miles on the North East Coast of the Island.

While the complete map and report of the survey will not be in my Govern­ men L's possession for another few weeks, considerable satisfaction, I feel mre will be derived Crout the fact that preliminary data gathered by the sur­ vey indicated the presence of some interesting magnetic anomalies of the type sought in such a survey. My Ministers propose to have a similar sun•ey made this year of another area of the Province.

Rarely if ever in the history of this continent was there such interest and activity in the search for base minerals as there is throughout North America at the present time, and considerable regret may justly be felt over the fact that more energetic geological survey work by the best means available was not conducted here in the past. My Gov­ ernment are intent upon doing every­ thing practically possible to speed the work of survey and to interest mining

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 5 companies in the mineral possibilit­ ies of this Province. Already two im­ portant Canadian mining companies have entered Newfoundland, and others are known to have become in­ terested. An important economic survey was conducted in Newfoundland and La­ brador in 1950 by Mr. Nelson Rocke­ feller's Company, IBEC Technical Ser­ vices Corporation. This survey cen­ tered chiefly upon the economic feas­ ibility of another pulp and paper mill based primarily upon the me of pulp­ wood to be garnered in Labrador.

The report, which has been received within recent days, is divided into two sections; one of them on the practic­ ability of a mill in Labrador. The other on that of a mill in Bay D'Es­ poir, on the South Coast of New­ foundland. My Ministers are now giv­ ing close study to these reports, and are making all possible endeavour to procure the establishment of at least one additional pulp and paper mill in this Province.

Various negotiations for the establishment of such a mill are being carried on with important organizations in North America and in Europe, and I feel sure th~t you will hope that this development will not be made impossible by the pres­ ent world situations. know that you must have taken much satisfaction from the very suc­ cessful result of the action taken by my Ministers to bring the railway freight rates into line with what they believed were envisaged in the Terms of Union. The favourable judgment given to my Government's suit will save several millions of dollars a year in freight charges.

The situation in the fisheries con­ tinues to be cause for considerable concern amongst my Ministers, as it must to all our people. Since New- foundland became a Province of Can­ ada, responsibility for public admin­ istration of the fisheries is no longer borne by the Government of New­ foundland alone but is shared to a large extent by the Government of Canada. Great satisfaction is there­ fore taken from the fact that the two Governments have united in an effort to establi5h an over-all policy for the fisheries of Newfoundland.

This ef­ fort is being made particularly through the recently-appointed Fisheries De­ velopment Committee under the chair­ manship of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, and with representatives of the two Gov­ ernments and of the fishermen and mercantile community comprising its membership. Both Governments have pledged their unstinted support to this Committee, and are collaborating closely through it. In the meanwhile my Ministers take satisfaction from the fact that they have been able to secure the services of Mr. Clive Planta as Deputy Minister of Fisheries.

Arising out of a public statement made by my Prime Minister, in be­ half of the Government of Newfound­ land in May last, my Government have appointed a Commission under the Public Enquiries Act to conduct an investigation into the prices paid to the fishermen for salt-dried codfish which they produced in 1950, and into the profits made on the sale of that fish in the markets. The Government of Canada have initiated an enquiry into the prices paid to fishermen, pur­ suant to a public statement made by the Minister of Fisheries of Canada in October last.

Considerable useful information, it is to be hoped, will be elicited by these enquiries. My Government have taken the initiative organize in inviting the fishermen to themselves into a strong,

6 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 1'1oviuce-wide occupational body with a view Lo enabling Lhcm Lo make their collecLive voice heard in all matters concerning the [isherics. You will be requested to vote funds to pay the costs of bringing· representatives of the fishermen ol St. John's to attend a conference at which the question of forming such an organization will be explored. lt is the view of my Government that, important though g·eneral eco­ uomic development must be, no lasting prosperity is possible in this Province so long as the fisheries fail to give a fair living lo all those who engage in them.

Since ) ou lasl met my J'vlinisters have availed themselves of the au­ thority which you vested in them to appoint lhe f'isheries Development Loan Boa1·d, the Industrial Develop· menl Loan Board, am! tile Co·oper· ative Development Loan Board. All of these 13oards are under the chair­ manship of Mr. James Baxter, a com­ mercial banker of ~reat e:>.pe: ience, and their membership is made up of men of wide experience in the com­ mercial and public life of this Pro­ vince. Some unavoidabl e delay was experienced in appointing the Boards, hut useful work is expected of them in the period ahead.

Considerable progl'ess has been made during the past year in mu• 11icipal government. Eight Town Coun­ cils have been established during that Lime, and three other Town Councils are in process of being· established. When these have begun to function there will be thirty-one Town Councils in Newfoundland. More and more communities are realizing the greal value of this type of municipal organ­ ization, and the indicat10ns are that Lhe 11mnbcl · of Town Councils will conlinue steadily to increase.

Since the last session o[ your Hon­ uurablc House my Government have conducted a "Buy Newfoundland" campaign designed to encourage mu people to patronize hc,me industry by purchasing more of the p10ducts of our fisheries, farms and faaories. This campaign, which is being con­ tinue,! , has met with encouraging success throughout the Prnvince. My Government attach much im­ portance to vocational training, and you will be asked to vote a consider­ able sum of money with which to match an amount available from the Government of Canada fo1 the con­ struction of a mod ern new building lo house these activities.

My Go\•ern­ ment hope to be able to establish in this same building an efficient School of Navigation and a School of Fisheries. A substantial progrnmme of legis­ hltion will be laid before you in this session, including an amendment to the Alcoholic Liquors Act designed Lo provide for Local Option in our com­ munities and for limiting the sale of hard liquor. I will later request you to vote Supply to His Majesty. Sine-: your last session there has been a notable improvement in con­ uiLions in some of our greatest in­ dustrial enterpris es.

Only a year ago the Grand Falls paper mill was oper­ ;lting on a part-time basis only, while the sulphite pulp mills at both Grand J<'alls and Corner Brook were not operating at all. The mines at Be!l Island were all but closed down. Un­ employment was widespread. Today quite a different picture is to be seen. Both sulphite pulp mi!ls

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 7 are operating at capacity, and both of the paper mills are working full time. They have more orders for pulp and paper than they can fill. The 1950-51 pulpwood logging season has been the largest cut in Newfound­ land's history, amounting· for the first time to a million cords. The future of this industry is bright with promise. So, too, is that of the mines at Bell Island, Buchans and St. Lawrence, and at the limestone quarry at Agua­ thuna.

Large sums of fresh capital are being invested in the mines at Bell Island, and their productive capacity is being increased from one and a half million to two and a half May Divine Providence bless your labours and make them fruitful." Thereupon His Honour, the Lien­ tenant-Governor left the Chamber. MR. SPEAKER: I have to inform the members of this Honourable House that when His Honour the Lieuten­ ant-Governor opened the Third Ses­ sion of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly of the Province of New­ foundland, he was graciously pleased to deliver a Speech from the Throne of which I have obtained a copy.

If it is the will and pleasure of the House, Mr. Clerk will read the Speech of His Honour. the Lieuten- million tons a year. Demand for the ant-Governor. base metals mined at Buchans was never so brisk, while the fluorspar mines at St. Lawrence are being kept exceedingly busy in an effort to meet the demand for their products. Both mines at St. Lawrence are spending considerable sums to improve their efficency. My Government have guar­ anteed a further considerable sum of money to one of the two companies opera ting there.

Very large new installations and extensions are to begin on various defence works in this Provint:e this year and thousands of men will prob­ ably find profitable employment therein. Altogether, therefore, my Ministers believe that 1951 will prove to be an exceptionally prosperous year for a lareg number of our people, and the beginning of a relatively long period of expanding earning power for the population in general. I have full confidence that you will discharge faithfully your duties and responsibilities in the best interests of all our people. Thereupon the Speech from lhc Throne was read by the Clerk. MR.

SPEAKER: For the infor- mation of this House, I will take notices of motions and questions im­ mediately after the Committee has been appointed to draft the Address in Reply. MR. HORWOOD: I move a com­ mittee be appointed to draft a reply to the Speech which His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was pleased to favour us with this afternoon.

I am sure not only the members of this House, but all the people of New­ foundland will take new heart, will go forward with renewed confidence when they look closely at Lhe present Goven1ment's p1·ogram111e of economic development, al the things accom­ plished in thaL field and the plans for Lhe future. It can be the proud boast of this Government that it has not fallen down on one promise thaL it made to the people. This Govern­ ment promised the people a new and progressive and more vigorous road policy-that policy has been imple-

8 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS mcnte<l. The country will be upened up and Jinked up by new roads and during rhc time of this Government 1 he long outstanding dream of a road right acmss the Island is to be achiev­ ed. This Government promised the people a complete programme o( social and labour legislature. That programme is now an accepted fact, a part. of the history of fonner sessions of this House. And it has done much to make life more pleasant for the less fortunate members of our community.

This Government prom­ ised the people a vigorous programme of economic development; this pro· gramme is now in the process of accomplishment and is now being implemented in the face of crushing difficulties and with the threat. of a world war hanging over our heads. Last year, at this time, economic development was only a hope, only a promise, now, one year later, we al­ ready ha1·e three new industries in ac­ tive stages of building and a number of others passed beyond the reallll of hope into the realm of virtual cer­ tainty.

The strength of this programme lies in the fact that it is based upon our unused natural resources. Take for instance birch-birch is a natural re­ sotuce we have always known we have had in this country, one we used only for fire wood and for making railway ties. Birch cut into railway ties is worth something like sixty-five dollars a thousand. That very same birch made into veneer is worth over two hundred dollars a thousand. That is in labour in making that veneer.

That two hundred dollars veneer made into plywood is worth three hundred dollars in wages and that hundted dollars worth of plywood manufactured into birch flooring is worth four hundred dollars in wages. .-\nd that is not all for in cutting this birch into ties sixty percent or more, at least sixty percent of the tree is left in the wood s lo ror. This waste cut into birch wood is at its worst worth at least one hundred dollars per thousand feet.

In addition to this, it is planned in this same dev elop­ ment Lo make use of our aspen hither­ to regarded as merely a nuisance and something not even fit Lo burn for fire wood. Now the mill at Donovans plans Lo use about five million feet of aspen plank, one-and-a-half and two inch plank which is mOl'e valuable than spruce. It is merel y an effort to take our people and put them Lo work using· one more of those resources worth very little in the raw state and transferring it into a product with very high commercial value. Let us now turn to a less spectacular side of economic development, the fishery .

This was one problem never attacked by any past governments with the degree of initiative and imagin­ ation necessary to make long-standing and permanent changc8 in it. They chipped the problem, they made little dents in it. The Commission of Government was better than others in that respect.

They established bait service depots, electric freezing plants and filleting plants but they did not get at the root of the problem, and the root of the problem of the fishery is need for conversion from 011r an­ tiquated methods to more modern and more diversified methods of catching not only cod but more diver­ sified kinds of fish. That problem was left for this Gov­ ernment to tackle and it has tackled it in the only way possible, experi­ ments and demonstration, and by making funds available for conversion to more modern methods of fishing.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 9 c:xpe1·imcnting either directly or through companies it guarantees. This Government has already demonstrat­ ed lhe feasibility of seine and long­ line fishing in Newfoundland waters from the experiments conducted al Bona\ista with little boats with the characteristics of week-end pleasure crafts a11d maximum range of twenty­ five miles; demonstrated the feas­ ibility of long-lining in the Bonavista area and I understand there has been practically a clamour from fishermen in Bonavista for boats of this type to be made available to them.

The brief experiment off Baccalieu conducted by one of the Icelandic fishing boats de- 1110nstrated the fact that there may be an important off.shore winter fish­ ery on our North East Coast, some­ thing we never dreamed of before and something which might be of the ut­ most importance to the fishing indus­ try of this country . This policy of experimenting and demonstration has resulted in inquiries from fishing in­ t.crests from all over this island, and if pursued, with energy and deter­ mination may eventually produce the answer to the problem of the Labra­ dor floater.

This Government has been a powerful instrument in the hands of the fishing population, an instrument to help fight their age-long battle for justice and recognition. This Government has helped to put new heart into the common people of Newfoundland, has helped to lift them out of age-long despair, has gone at least part of the way towards touch­ ing their hearts with immortality, giving back to them the upward look and the light, rebuilding in them the music and the dream.

Supposing a few mistakes are made­ they have been and they will be­ supposing a few dollars are wasted­ they have been and they will he-it does 11ot matter providing I he over­ all direction is right. There never was any programme of developmen1 costing millions of dollars in which. on looking- hackwards, some hundreds, yes some hundreds and some thousands of dollars went to waste.

But I tell you here lhis afternoon, I would ralher see a Government which took our forty million surplus and spent every cent in experiments and lost the most of it, I would far rather have seen such a Government than the do-nothing government garded the surplus as a and sat on it waiting for it which re­ nest egg lo hatch. The question of fishermen's organ­ ization-I can see that organization accomplishing tremendous good or I can see it coming to grief. It all de­ pends upon the fishermen themselves and how they run it. It won't de­ pend upon the G.overnment.

An or­ ganization of that kind cannot be led from the outside, it will depend upon the fishermen. I think, I do know, the idea is right.

The idea is basic­ ally right, founded on the principle that "The Lord helps those who help themselves." And I do think too that in places where they have strong, well developed fisheries, Norway, Den­ mark, Iceland, British Columbia, they also have strong fishermen's organ­ izations of this type and the 01·gan­ ization has been largely responsible for fisheries development and largely re~ponsible for the returns from this type of development, which once went into the pockets of the producers.

But all this Gm·ernment accom­ plished up to now, no matter how important, how fraught with good for Newfoundland, it will all pale into comparative insignificance beside the good accomplished by a third paper mill , should that mill actually be­ come a reality.

10 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS .-\ third pape1 · 111iJJ has been 011c of I he greater dreams oE our people. IL has been a dream stirring the im­ agiuation of Newfoundlanders ever since Squires failed to put his gang on the Gander and righLly so, because we ha,e seen the possibilities inherent in a large mill. This has been de• monstrated to us in Lhe splendid tow11s of Corner Brook and Deer Lake with a population of over twenty thousand depending entirely or al- 1nost entirely upon one industry and one mill.

Should the proposed mill go in Labrador, I feel it will demon­ strate vision and foresight of the first 01<le1·. Lake Melville, the pro­ po:,ed site of the mill, by natural en­ dowment, is potentially one of the great centers o[ civilization of Nmth America. I believe this just as firmly as I believe in the destiny of Canada it:clf. l)r. H. Padden and Sir , ,vilf!'cd Grenfell believed it before me. Jt is deeply to be regrcltcd that neither of them lived to see 1·he justification of their confidence as we can see that justifkatiun tutlay.

Mme than a year ago I expressed my faith in the Lake Melville area before ever this mill was talked about, I described it in the press as the heart of an unborn nation.

Here are some of Lhe resources of Lake Meil'ilie: An inland waterway nearly a hundred miles long, a navigable waterway ex• tending from Holton to the head of Grand Lake; forty million cords of merchantable timber on the remark­ able small area of six million acres; a Kl'eat river besides which the Exploits is merely a babbling brook, a river with a power potentiality of over a miJlion horsepower of the cheapest. electricity in North America flowing into tidewater.

Lake Melville also has a remarkable , a riety of fish both fresh and salt waler varielies and a river botto1n which is said to be encrusted with marketable shrimps; a climate with summers warmer than St. John's and winters warmer than Ottawa; it has excellent agriCII I Lura I areas which can produce anything which can be pro­ duced in Newfoundland with the add­ ed advantage that soil clearance there is so much easier and can be cleared at a lower cost. There is one misfortune, a misfor­ tune which it shares with most of the North East Coast of Newfound• land, it does not possess an ice free p01 L.

Navigation can he extended only Lo five or six months a year, the t·est of the season it is closed with ice. But that is a difficulty which can be overcome and will be overcome tnm·e easily as the center of civiliza• tion moves farther and farther north. The head of Lake Melville is en­ dowed by nature 10 he the center of a g·reat Northern Empire of uim· 111rrr,·. It is no accident that the vast airport of Goose Bay was built at the head of Lake Melville.

And, if this Government is the one to begin development in that region it will be looked back upon with respect and honour a hundred years from now when Newfoundland may well be known as an island oEf the coast of Labrador. It is very unfortunate, as His Hon• our said in his speech this afternoon, that preliminary work iu this field ll'as not done by past governments. The sins of om political fathers a1e toclay being visited upon us. Though they did nothing they ought not to have done, it is certain they often left undone those things they should have done.

One of. thqse things they should have done was the survey work on natural resources of this

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 11 Province. This Govcrruncnl slwuld not have had LO bcg·in a snrvc:y of power potentialities of the SouLh Coast of Newfoundland; they should not have had to begin an aero-mag ·nct ic survey of mineral resources, they should not have had to eugag e IBEC to advise the possibility of establish­ ing newspapers mills in this province. These things should have been done by the Commission of Government which we we re told was set up here mainly for the purpo;e of rehabili­ tation.

In spite of this the programme of economic development is growing and hearing fruit much sooner than we could have hoped , and I think it is only fair lo give credit where it be­ longs. The credit for this programme, its composition, its development anti its success, this credit belongs to no one else but the Premier. And I p1·e­ <lict, when the annals of hi Lory are come to be written of this era in Newfoundland, that one name will stand out with paramount significance, the name of J. R. Smallwood. He is a man who set out methodically to change the history of a nation in a certain way and did so.

He fought single handed most of the time what were reputedly the most powerful and came off the victor, not once but again and again. He has done more in four years of such gigantic efforl as politi­ cal history has ever seen; accomplished more for the common people of this country than any of its past stat esmen accomplished in the whole course of its career. His nam e will be read 11·ith gratitude and honour not tn e rcly J.s the father of confederation bu L also as the father of reconstruction and up lo now th e greatest of her sons . Mr.

Speaker, I do nol feel we have reason to fear; I do not feel we have reason for doubt, if we are lucky enough to escape all -out control then we 111'1)' go for ward togell1cr looking to a future bright with hope, con­ fidc11L we are building for ours elves a land in which all people may be free, Hot only from physical tyranny but economic Lyranny; the spectr e of want; fre e from the pinch of hunger and of cold; free from insecurity, to eat a st1uarc meal, all we want, with­ out wondering where the next meal is coming from.

Many men who have known what is was to come home to their family with empty hands have put their trust in this Government. It is for Lhem we n eed to build a t)etter Newfoundland; for the farmer, the fishermen who have toiled aJJ season and taken nothing; for men who have worked long hours for small reward, for mothers who know what it means Lo have to pinch and scrape and make-do , for children who have grown up with the stamp of privation indelibly written on their bodies. These arc Lhe people Lo whom the GoYcrnmenl's policy of economic development means the most.

If we can help Lhem to a life of better security, if we can help them to hope for a living of great er comfort and happiness then we can justly feel that we have not failed, have not lived in vain and th a t future generations w'ill ris e up and en 11 us bli;ssed. MR. JANES ; Mr. Speaker, in re­ sponse to Lhe Motion by the honour ­ able member for Labrador, I want to repeat wnal one of the member s in rhe Legislatur e in the Maritime Pro­ vinces had lo say iu seconding the Speech from Lhe Throne there. He said "{ hop e thal nex

l) car we will 1,e all he1e doing I he same thing all over again." l have no intention of elaborating on what the honourable member from Labrador has said with regard to the

12 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS industrial development by the Gov­ ernment of the Province; hut I would, however, like to add my voice of praise to what has a lready been ac­ complished and the great good, and I feel the greater good has yet to be accomplished. You will prnbahly hear, in this debate, much regarding the economic development programme and poli cy of the Government; yo11 will see the introduct ion of legislation tu set up the lndustrial Development Corporati on of Newfoundland. ,'\That has been done, has been of great significance. I will refe r to it only in respect of the matter of jobs.

The number of jobs might not be great, but they are, when you consider the handfol of thre e hundred thousand, people, fifty thousand of whom have lived perpetually on the threshold and brink of poverty. Any job, whether one hundred or one thousand, creates conditions in this Province which is very difficult to estimate­ not only the jobs whi ch the industry its elf will provide, but the jobs of the utilities and services for those engaged in the industry. Now , Sir, I ~tu not going to spend any time on industri al dev elopment; but we will have ample opportunity to debate it.

But I v.•otlld like to turn my thoug·hts to things we do not hear much about. I would like to turn my thoughts to the rural econ­ omy of this Province. ,vhen we speak of economic and industrial activity in this Province we seem tu be concerned with factories, mines and mills to make jobs for the people of Newfoundland. The majority of the peop le of Newfoundland do not earn their living-nor is it expected that they will earn their living for a con­ siderable time to come, from mines, factories and mills . They earn it on th e land and take it from the sea. ln agriculture, this Government is formulating a policy.

I think we have had a rejuvenation of agriculture in th:is Province. It was only a matter of a few years ago, travelling around this coumry, I found that the farmers were dejected and unhappy. But the scene is changing, certainly; and changing fast.

I believe that the source of all wealth is land and that we have not come to utilize, in this Province, the land which we have; the good arable land which we have; and the names of those in the Gov­ ernment who said to the people a few years ago "before you receive your six cents a day, you will kill your cow; you will kill your pig; you will kill your sheep" should be written on the walls o[ this Chamber as a reminder Lo all governments.

The majority of the people of Newfoundland still live in rural communities, and although no small part of their income, no small part of their livelihood is taken from the land; in such places like Indian Head, Trout River, the South Side of Bonavista Bay where they once carried fair herds of cattle; in the process of having to destroy them, they have nothing to take their place -nothing. One other of the big things which has held back sound agricultural economy in this Province has been roads and means of trans­ portation.

The Government is push­ ing ahead with roads policy and, I believe, when completed, it is going lo provide more answers to the agri­ cultural economy in this Province than this government or any govern­ ment eveu visualized . Isolation is the rnrse; always has been the curse and still is a curse of Newfoundland, not far removed, Sir, from the Govern­ ment's economic development policy, is agricultural independence; indeed it is probably part of the Department

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 13 of Public Welfare. If this Govern­ ment had done nothing else other than set up mothers' allowances and dependents' allowances, this govern­ ment would have been justified. We have people who criticized that; peo­ ple who do not know the conditions under which the people in this Pro­ vince lived and are still living. It might cost more than was estimated; but if it does, it is further proof of the poverty which actually exists.

Thousand s of widows there were who had no income; thousands of cripples, through no fault of their own, whose misery is a little bit alleviated by what this government has been able to accomplish. We can deeply ap­ preciate wha,t has been done and it is not impossible that we have done as much as we can do for the time being. Some people have called this "The Welfare State." I, myself, do not know the definition of a ,-velfarc State.

I do maintain that as long as we have to subscribe to the idea of competitive economy, we must also be prepared to carry the burdens of those who cannot carry their own; cost what it may. Referring to my own districl, which I have the privilege and honour to represent; we are indeed grateful to the Government for the hospital serv­ ice on Fogo Island . The Island is designed to serve Fogo and Indian Island and even Change Islands. This hospital has been under consideration for many years, but the task was never undertaken until this year.

The people of Fogo Island are deeply grateful to Lhe Premier and the Min­ ister of Health for putting these serv­ ices there and it is the hope of the people that when the hospital is ready for opening, both the hnourablc Premier and the Minister of Health will find it convenient to be there to receive their thanks. Our roads on Fogo Island are im ­ proved and we will have a fair net­ work of roads around Fogo Island. These roads, I feel, in the future are going to play a

part in the Fogo Is­ land area. Fogo Island, Change Is­ lands and Indian Islands-there we have an area in Newfoundland which is probably the most prolific as far as inshore fishery is concerned. If there is any future in the North East Coast Fisheries, that future must lie around Fogo and Change Islands. They tell us there are red fish and scallops in the area. Let us hope these fisheries will be developed.

Let us hope that the acquisition by the Government, of equ ipment in assisting the fisheries of Chang·e Islands; into which the fish­ ermen have put no small effort them­ se lves; will either prove or disprove the operation of this equipment . The Wesleyville-Lumsden road, we hope, will he continued over the straight shore to connect Mu sgrave Harbour, and this will open up the area of the straight shore; open up a ,:ompletely new area of good forest land and good arable land; good land an which the people can come in from the islands and settle.

We hope too that with the development of Lhe La­ brador codfishery, transportation will he provided. Tran sportation is now im possible hy sea because of the state of Lhe coasl. We hope that if that road can be extended to Gander, we will be able to offer to Newfoundland ~ome of the finest tourist attractions in Lhe Province. Many people are 1 hinking about Florida. We have 111any better places in Cape Freels than in Florida. Looking for salmon? "''e have Anchor Brook and Deadrnan's Bay, as good as any in Newfoundland. A roa,l will take you to ii. I am hop -

14 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS ing, Sir, Lhat with these roads con­ structed; even the 1·oad lo Gander, in which we shall be especially inter­ ested, will twing to this unknown part of t\i"ewfonndland many people: a place where you can fish at eleven o'clock; shoot moose at 2 o'clock: visit the Islands-Penguin Islands at 3 o'clock and be back in your camp at 5 o'clock, if you want to. Rack to more serious things, sir : This is Education -week and the topic of the day is "Education is Everybody's Business. " It would be a laudable thing if education was indeed every­ body's business.

As iL is, I find, per­ haps it is the business of a very few people. I want to congratulate Dr. Dawe, not only on the very sensible address on the radio; but his words were the bold words of a cool and capable n1an. IIe said things which ~ lot of people would like to say but which they are afraid to say. ',Vhat I am g·oing to say on this matter might be termed "a political indiscre­ tion." It might be termed even worse than that. But my wuscie11ce in this matter is more important than polit­ ical indiscretions; and so I am going to say it.

I feel that I am expressing an opinion which is not only my own personal opinion; it is the opinion of a lot of people in this Province; also Lhe opinion of a lot of professional people in this Province; the profes­ sional teachers. ,ve have at this mo­ ment in this Province thirty classrooms closed. ,ve have one thousand children walking about, doing nothing; and the excuse is held forth, "we cannot get teachers." Agreed! ,ve cannot get teachers!

The truth of it is this: _-\fter a young man has passed school­ ing or a young woman, and they have spent a few years at a University; these people ar~ not going to leave the University and spend a lifetime in some forsaken hole. That is the truth. That is the truth regard­ ing our school system today. I do not contend or dare to contend that Christian principles are not an impor­ tant thing in the school system. It is desirable that it should be continued; but I do not think that in rural com­ munities the system shonld continue as it is today.

It is a disgrace and the children are being sacrificed and, may I ask, to whom and to what? Our system, S'ir, is unique. We have no scarcity of teachers. ,v e have plenty of teachers. The tronble is, there are too many schools. I contend our present system in our rural com­ munities is as leaky as a basket. Here in cities and towns, there is probably rvrry justification for it.

Tt is not im­ possible to have the present denomin­ ational system in Lhe city or town where denominations can provide suf­ ficiently large schools and sufficient staffs; it is not impossible that these schools and colleges can provide as good an educational system; but we cannot say that of the outports in Newfoundland-the greater part of the outports. The subject is not much discussed, Mr. Speaker; it is not discussed in the Council of the churches; but it is discussed around the ·waterloo stove by the father and mother responsible for the education of the children. There it is discussed very fervently.

Only a few years ago I had the fortunate or unfortunate experience of having taught in a one­ room school in which forty-five chil­ dren attended. It was a nig·htmare Lo me every morning to go to that school at nine o'clock and look down into forty-five anxious faces. I ended 11p i11 June as most teachers end up­ a wreck. Across the way, less than fivt· hundred yards, was another lit­ Ile school with ten children attending.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 15 There was plenty of mom in that community, as there is in hundreds of rural communities in Newfoundland, for two teachers; but there was only mom for one school. I do not know who is going to prnvide the leadership but come it must. \Ve must have amalgamated schools in this Prnvince and it is right, I think, that the lead­ ership should come from those in whom is at present entrmted the care and education of the children of New­ foundland. Family Allowances and the Compulsory School Attendance Act are not the answers. That is only part of the answei-.

It is not the com­ plete answer. Once again, may I ask, in our deplorable education system in our rural communities, what and who are being sacrificed? Is theTe any man or woman in this country, know­ ing the conditions of education in the outports, who can conscientiously say that this thing musl continue? That it is warranted? It is nol! It is not warranted! Every argument in favom · of it is as leaky as a basket. Education is Everybody's business and the fisheries of Newfoundland is everybody's business too.

I wish that some day, some time, this House could open without somebody's talk­ ing about the fisheries. It would in­ deed be a wonderful thing. I wish I could avoid it. As it is, I represent the District of Fogo in which more than seventy-five percent of the popu­ lation derive their living from the fisheries and I must have something to say about it. The curse which has been hanging over the fisheries of c,!ewfoundland for generations has al last descended with a vengeance. The fishermen have hauled up their boats on the beaches. Let nobody make a mistake about it.

The engines and traps are in the stages and they are there to stay am\ my blessings go wjth the fishermen of Newfoundland. Stick to your g·uns, and you will do it! There must be some temporary solu­ tion found to the inshore fishery of Newfoundland, if it is going to pro­ vide the people who are presently engaged in ·1hal industry, with a means of livelihood. I am not talk­ ing about motor cars and diesel en­ gines.

I am talking about six horse­ power engines, "'e ha,e had plati­ tudes each succeeding season handed out to the fishermen, saying "O.K., it will be alright next year; it will be a little better next year." Too long have we heard from the trade those talks about modernization, talks about some of the profits taken out of the fisheries and now put back in the fisheries. From my observations, these profits are being ploughed into mar, malade agencies and sole agencie,. Must the fishermen of Newfoundland he sacrificed over and over again?

And, even Jt this late hour, we hear men conversing about the fisheries of I his country-either we do something or face the consequences. Talking about it now. The consequences, Mr. Speaker, have already arrived and if the President of the Salt Codfish Association does not think they have, he had better take a run around the country in a motorboat and see if they have not arrived. If he does, he will have no more worries about it al all. I doubt very much whether either this Provincial Government, or the Federal Government or even the Salt Codfish Trade know Lhat the consequences have arrived.

They are here and they are of greater magni­ tucle than we imagine. \Ve need to have no worries aboul overproduction in 1951 unless some Lernporary solution is found to the situation still carried over from 1950, There will be no necessity of action

16 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS by the suppliers to curtail prices, no provision for the fishermen to stop fishing earlier. No necessity of that this year. The boats are on the banks. lt is not impossible that our vendors of marmalade and jams, at last, will probably find some temporary solu­ tion. And what are the consequences? l"he boats of the fishermen are on the banks to stay, until a solution: a temporary solution is found. It is no good to say to the fishermen "you must wait for development to come ." What is he going to do in the mean­ time?

If you have a patient who is sick and about to <lie, and you are about to perform an operation on him and he is in great pain; you do not say "Well, old fellow, you must suffer lit out." You give him a shot of morphine until yon are ready to do something for him. The fisherman of Newfoundland is in that condition at this moment and the trade and the Federal Government must do some­ thing. Fish, to this Province :is butter and cheese and wheat to Canada.

If they can do it for wheat and butter and cheese, they must do it for fish and we refuse to become a little baby that is going to fit quietly into the pattern of C.nnfecleration. Consequence number two : It would be a very useful exercise for any of us, the next time we are in a fishing community, to take a walk down around the stages and see how many men are in the fishing boats who are under the age of forty. Our gener­ ation is out of the fishing boats tu stay. The men in the fishing boats today, the majority of them, are over forty years of age.

Where are the fishermen, the young fishermen of Grate's Cove, Catalina, Greenspond and Fogo? They are not in the fish- ing boat. My generation is not going in the fishing boat. ·we have no in­ tention of goiing there. We saw too much poverty. We ure the T.B. gen­ eration, the generation who suffered the empty stomachs. ,ve are not go· ing back. There are many sons of fishermen who are not going back and my blessings go with them. Consequence number three: As I have already said; we need not worry about the fisheries in 1951 unless speedy action is coming from some quarters.

It is the duty of the trade to let the fishermen know what !is going to happen. And consequence number three-and this is probably not a consequence a.t all-what is the situation in the fisheries today? I have said that the young labour force is not there au<l they are out to stay. I have said it is not impossible that the boats are on the bank to stay too. Why? They wlill tell us there is not much money in the fisheries; not much money made in the fisheries. There has been money made, but i-t has never been ploughed back into the fisheries of Newfoundland. A few of the men are on Bell Island and in Buchans.

We had twenty-eight thous­ and fishermen-twice as many as in the whole of Conception Bay. If the profits which were taken out of the fisheries; if only some small portion could have gone back into experi­ ments; even if they had been put back by the people into whose hands Dame Fortune had put the guidance of the fisheries; if they had gone back into expetiments they were conversant with, we would not have Lhe situation we have today. But, they turned them­ selves into vendors of marmalade and canned foods.

J do not. doubt that marmalade and canned foods are al­ right., but I do not think that fisheries industrialists should be concerning

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 17 themselves with marmalade and jams. It would be far better if the profits went back to where rhey took them from. Last year I do not know what sort of price ll'as paid for, fish. We had all sorts of prices. I ,,·ill say this, and say it quite conscientiously; that it is impossible for a fisherman lo launch his boat, Ip put his trap and trawl in the water without ten dollars a qui111al. If he does, he will end up in 1951 the same as he did in 1950-a Iii tlc poorer than when he started. In order for the fishermen to arrive at ten dollars a quintal, something must be done.

"'ho is going to see that it is done? JI is no good to say "ft is economic; it will slow up devel­ opmenl; why put a dryer at Bona­ vista? Why conduct experiments?" lf you do not, you will not have any labour force left. H there is a future to the fisheries in this count ry, and I believe there is a fo ture, even in the inshore fishery, action must be taken now to preserve all labour force.

The Yery fact that we are living in a world of food shortages, that alone should lie sufficient lo warrant every assista11cc available be­ ing given to the fishing· industry. ?\o small number of the people of this world are a little poorer than what we arc. It is the grca Lest weapon of Karl llfarx, of Lenin and of Stalin. that the people ha1c 1101 got anv­ thing to cal. Our rishermen a,c producers of food; a matter with which most of us ha1e nnl been concerned all our life­ time. \\'c probabl) had enough, but there are an awful lot of people who have not.

The fishermen of New­ foundland, being producers of fish, are people who arc helping to provide three square meals a day for some- body. · If they are going to continue doing that, they must be given sup­ port and they must be given help. \Ve welcome the setting up of the new Fisheries Committee. ,ve welcome the Inquiry into the prices paid for fish in 1950. I believe the Committee are going to bring forward policies which are going to be of great value to the Province. I hope the Inquiries will satisfy the minds of most of us.

Probably more than anything else, we welcome the challenge that has been thrown out by the Premier to the fishennen to organize on their own. I believe that is thc;r last chance. If they fail this time; if the fishermen fail this time, I do not think that in my lifetime, at least, that ever again may rise up such an organization which i; so badly needed. They will go down licking wounds from which they will never recover. I feel, Sir, that the fishermen of New­ foundland are out to organize them­ selves and to remove the very dis­ turbing fact that they themselves a re probably being their own greatest enemies.

MR. JOHN G. HIGGINS (Leader o[ the Opposition): In accordance with an old custom of the opposition, I l'ise lo ,upport this motion. Since ll'e appeared here the last time we have seen in front of us a gallery of celebrated men of the past who be­ long· in Newfoundland history. They arc there facing us to remind us that even the great difficulty of a govern­ ment majority may be overcome, and I her arc hanging over the Govern­ ment lo remind them they must have reason and conscience enough to dic- 1 al c justice. As I look upon them I know most of those faces.

I did not live in their time, I was not then a chartered member of this House and

18 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS I know those faces mostly from his­ tory, and I know some of them were men of vision, of giant intellect and ability. Out of all those, only three are alive and so they stand to remind us that it is appointed to all men once to die and then the judgment; to re­ mind us that we must vote with one end. I have heard a lot of conscience but it is a far sight better that men should have the conscience.~ and not rhe bills. If this is so, any bills passed, when men of conscience pass them, are going· to be g·ood bills.

I do not know how far conscience goes in speeches, but I have heard a lot of prattling statements going on. To hear them one would think the last government is one of angels, that they are the colour of angels, that they have all the great men, all the leaders in the world with them, the only body of men ever to have done anything for the poor man; that great statesmen like Bond who pledged his own private funds for this count,ry, was a man contaminated because he lived in the past; great men like Sir James Winter.

Now it is beyond me how some young men suddenly blos­ som forth and think they have the right to attack everything and every­ body and to discuss problems and build up and settle mistakes of ages here, but through all this comment and attack, Sir, there was one thing that made sense and that was when the member for Fogo repeated what someone who had seconded a sim­ ilar motion said, "He hoped that next session we will all be here." l should say, Sir, in a Christian country that I hope the g·ood Lord will be gracious enough to have us all here the next time we meet.

The sewnd Lhoughl Lhal comes to us when we look at them, these men opposite, facing us, we are reminded of the men who played a big

part in the pages of Newfoundland history, men far above the average of high, very high intellect, they should serve us as an example of modesty, to be modest in our own ideas, not to think too much of ourselves, not to feel we are the only statesmen in the world, the only ones that God created in this country. I think I heard someone say one 'time : "The men here are the finest body of men who ever sat in this House".

Some people put an idea in a vac­ uum and rotate it, but I am going to dispense a few ideas in a very small compass, Sir, because after all, now, the day is over, the glory, the cannon gun, the infantry and the police, with rifle and shouting of or­ ders being called out, the thunder of guns and flash thereof, and then the opening of the House with a large commotion, the Mace, the Lieutenant Governor bedecked appropriate to the occasion. Then the crowd came.

This is their day, Sir, not ours-we have the outsiders here as visitors, they take our places and sit in sanctum and we feel so important knowing nobody should be in those seats except on a very special occasion like this. Just to have a look around, they came, to see the portraits, to see how you look in your regimentals and see us like poppy jays in our morning coats. I think I am the only one on this side but on the other side there must be a dozen. They have Government money. Some want to see where Mr. Drover is going to sit and where the opposition sits and the still smaller independents sit?

They heard the Speech from the Throne-so good it has to be read a second time; some people got it off by heart now. Now I shall be short. One thing I want to say, Sir, with all the trap-

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 19 pings we have nov.-Old Age Pension forms and Income Tax forms and duplicate and triplicate and quadruple forms and sales tax forms, all these being thrusl upon us to r emind us of liberties we once had and will never have. \Ve must follow twelve mil­ lion Canadians we have joined and we must have a second language, we must speak in duplicate, we must be bilingual. Ilut J am afraid we must not only be bilingual, trilingual or qualingual, I am afraid we will have to learn to speak with divers' tongues -tongues and tongues and more ton­ gues, fish tongues before long.

Ton­ gues of the East and the ·west, the North and the South; tongues of the English and of course of the French, of the Latvians, Germans and Iceland­ ers. vVhere are we going to be? I am afraid we are creating a confusion of tongues and later there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And the cement mill will disappear, the gypsum plant will dissolve and the heady hopes will all depart and the vi· ions of some bold dreamers will vanish and leave only a wreck be­ hind to remind us of the glory-to-be that never was. What then will be of Newfoundland? Newfoundland will not be, Sir.

Never did money speak so much as today. Three-and-a-half millions for this and three millions for that but when we think of all this money, Sir, just let us stop and conside1· what tho e men, men of the past did against difficulties and let them be an ex­ ample to us. A younger generation went down in the twenties and still another in the thirties and yet we survived. None of us had money, we ~,•ere all poor, all born poor, some of us even had mothers who went out and worked for us and brought us up well. In the outports, when the fisheries failed they all managed to live.

J was poor myself, I never had money. 'What is the use of our pre­ tending; we are a decent people whose parents earned their bread by the sweat of their brow-And then we hear all this talk about the terrible past. We had fifty million dollars to start with and we are spending it as fast as we can. We are told it is bet­ ter to spend it than to hoard it; that we must sow to reap. Certainly; but I want to say this much: In the time when Newfoundland was different than it is now, in the days of White­ way over there; our national debt was one million dollars. Then it went to th ree million dollars.

I remember as a little boy hearing about a debt of three million dollars, then five million. Then it went as high as ten million and finally fifty million. But what was being built up on that fifty mil­ lion dollars. Men of great character, honesty and ability built up enormous assets, no government will question that in spite of all that was said of ''the dirty days of responsible govern­ ment." In the days when one man said when he heard of a member vot­ ing on a certain bill "I hope to God it is on his conscience." Dirty days indeed, these days when men built up the great country we have today.

Now then, I could say here as it should be said, according· to olden times, that the real objects of the gov­ ernment contained in the Speech from the Throne are all mixed up and that it is not noted for what it says bnt for what it does not say. But Sir J will not say it, Lhough T might do so. We have had today a challenge from the other side on education. That is a matter that will be brought up.

20 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Rut I t-ell you one thing. I was· Sec­ reta1 'y o[ the South Coast Disaster FunJ for two and a half years-The "Telegrain" published an account of it recenth• and never even mentioned ,ny natiH.' . secretary. '.'\ c, ertheless was the . -\.fter it was all over, the Chairman told me th,H in his travels all over this Island one thing he was convirn;ed of was that no matter what happened in this country there would always be denominational education. It could 110L • be otherwise because one

section o[ tbe country such as the Southern Shore was all Roman Cath­ olic, another

section United Church, another ,

section l'resbyterian. An attack on the educational system of this couutry could very easily develop into an attack on religion itself. 1 have no more to add to that. In i:e.fercnce lo the old customs of the countl')'-1 like tO see old customs and traditions upheld. The Premier may have a mind like Bel­ loc but 1 have a mind for lost causes. For insta11ce I like LD wca1 a 111c,rning coal here because l feel I am doing 111y duty and I like to sec the mem­ bers of the Government wearing them. Is the i\Iinister of Justice wearing his morning coat?

I thought so, I like to see these things happen; to finish up, I would like to follow the good old custom ant! as Leadder of t'he Oppo:;i­ tion give rny support to the motion before the House. HON. J. R. SMALLWOOD (Prime Minister): I think I voice the senti­ ment of everyone present when I ex­ tend cong-ratulations to the two mem­ bers who moved and seconded the motion that a committee be appointed to draft an address in reply to the speech with which His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor so graciously opened this session of the House.

Very rarely indeed have I heard this motion so elegant!) moved and sec­ onded as it was done here today. Speaking for myself and I am sure for all of us on this side, I am very proud indeed lo be associated with two young :\'cwfouncllanders such as the members fo, • Labrador and higo. I feel that eve1·y citizen on either side of the House or nt<•rdy here as tem­ porary \ isitors will join with me i11 Jnidc that :\'ewfoundland has pro­ duced two young; statesmen of the calibre of these men.

Certainly this Co\'ernment is not likely Lo become lackadaisical, smug or complaisant while it is supported by men such as these. I am very pleased that we are supported by men such as they and they are typical of most i[ not all of I he members in this House who do ,11pport the Government. l am pleased indeed, and I think I, and my col­ leagues in the Cabinet are prevented from succumbing to any temptation to rest on our oar;;, lo take it easy, to feel that we are doing very well and that there is nothing Lo worry about.

If Lherc is any danger of our falling inLo that trap we will be rcmindecl lllore than once, as in the past, that it is not enough Lo go to the people and win a grea I electoral victory; not enough in the first couple of years to have striven hard and to have had the beginning of some success bur rather the battle goes on incessantly, nel'er does the baule of reform, the battle of progress, the battle to rise inch by inch and yard by yard the standard of living of the common peo­ ple of this Island.

To the winning of that battle this Government set its hand more than a year and a half ago and we will not rest, day or night, until that battle is won. I am not so opl imistic, optimistic though I be by nature, as to believe that in the first three or four years of our term

HOl)SE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 21 in the first ten or fifteen years of our possC'ssion of the majority in this House we can accomplish all that we dream of accomplishing-. That is why I said more than a year ago that I felt we would be here on this side of I he House for the next quarter of a century, and :\Ir.

Speaker, we have lhe courage, we have the strength, we have the nerve lo face the remammg years of that quarter of a century with determination th,it we will finish the job we set out to accomplish. do indeed with great sincerity con­ gratulate the mover and seconder of the motion and in doing so I express my gratitude and great satisfaction to finding myself associated with men like them. congratulate also Lhc honourable and learned Leader of Lhe Opposition [or the kindly, the generous speech l1c has made in support of the motion.

I said on opening day of the first session of this House, this General .\,sembly, that, if I had had the choosing of the leader of the npposi- 1 ion, my choice would have been the gentleman who was the choice of his colleagues and followers. The hon­ oural>le , learned gentleman is what we know proudly as a patriotic New­ foundlander; a man born with a Jove of Newfoundland and a man who has by reading and living acquired an in­ lensc love of Newfoundland and the history and traditions of Newfound­ land.

So it was no surprise to me that my honnurablc and learned friend in his opening remarks shoulci l1a ve drawn attention to this gallery of portraits of the speakers of this House up to but not including Your Honour who is the present speaker, and that he should have spoken with such emotion and in such moving terms of the greatness of our men of the past in this House and of the in- spiration which the presence here nf their portrnits (done so magnificently, so bea111ifully b,• ~[r.

Fredrick Steiger 11·ho I have seen here lhi s after ­ noon with a great deal of pleasure) 11·ith their constant reminder to us !hat life is short, that grc;,r men have been here before us and that we would do well to emulate the best that was in the best of them . Mr. Speaker, my honourabl_e and learned friend has not touched at any length upon the speech 1:, 0.111 the throne, I assume, I have no doubt, that he will do so in the course of the debate upon 1hc address in reply when the committee presents that address back lo the chamber.

He did, however, in . passing give in to the temptation tn refer with some irony and some sarcasm to Icelanders and Germans and Latvians and we all understood his allusions, I think everyone present und erstod it quite clearly in fact. The fact of Lhe matter is that this Government has entered into two contracts with German man­ ufacturing concerns who are located in the great German city of Bruns­ wick; with th e great industrial . firm of l\IL\G for construction of a cement 111ill and the other for construction of a gypsum plant and a plaster wall board plant, alsn in a city of Ger­ many . Mr.

Speaker, l will give my hon­ ourable and learned friend a tip; T will give any newspaper who com­ mits ilself on the cenient mill and 1he gypsum plant in the next few weeks, a tip. I will give the same tip Lo every honou "rablc member opposite and the tip is this : The less they have to say by way o[ sarcasm or irony about whal I have done, this Government has done to build that cenient n1ill, fo build that gy"psum

22 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS plant and to place the Ol'ders for construction of the machinery with German firms, in Germany, the less they say about it in the next few weeks the prouder they will be that they had said so little as they did. In a few weeks, Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House care not as to the nationality or religion or race of the individuals or personal beliefs or creeds of any man or any company with which we deal when it comes to raising the standard of living of our people by economic development.

We have dealt and we will deal with bankers, financiers, industrialists in our own country and in our own United Kingdom, as we have done and are doing in the U.S.A., as we have done, are tlui11g and will do in Germany, in 'iwitzer\and and Belgium. As we have done, are doing and will continue to do, we will deal with any man of any nation. we refuse with contempt, with unutterable con­ tempt to pay any attention to his nationality, his race, his religion just so long also as he can give us a better price for the people of Newfoundland, give us a better machinery, give us shorter delivery.

So long also as he will help this Government to indus­ trialize Newfoundland and to over­ come the long centuries of negligence in the past. I would out of sheer friendship and I am nothing if I am not friendly to him; I have every reason to be; I have been treated with great cou11tesy and great decency by the honourable gentleman opposite. No premier, no government, no gov­ ernment party has ever been treated with more consideration and friendly, manly decency than we have been by our honourable and gallant fl,iend opposite.

And so, out of friendship, resist that temptation to sneer at Lat­ vians and Germans, it is small town slllff, it smacks of the bush, it is the small altitude ot a back-woods m,in who has not had the advantage of learning, good high school or college or university education; one who has not had the advantage of having his education, his mind broadened by travelling as most certainly I have had in the past year and a half.

Resist the temptation, my friend. \Vhen my honourable and learned friend knows, when the people of this Province know, as they will, the com­ plete story of what the cement mill really has cost by getting it built in Germany; when they know the cost o[ that mill compared with any cement mill anywhere in the world built during exactly the same period of time. When they know that, when the people of Newfoundland know that they vvill take their hats off to the Government. MR.

HIGGINS: I rise to a point of order: I attacked no Latvians, I at­ tacked no nations, l attacked the idea that the Prillle Minister took other people from Europe lo take the place of our people. I attacked no nation­ alities but I will attack the idea that they come over here to take work that Newfoundlanders can do. I don't be­ little any nation . MR. SMALLWOOD: By that, my honourable friend, has made himself a little clearer than he had during his speech, and in passing, may we say we have got in Newfoundland no Lat­ vians tliat can do any work that can be done by any Newfoundlanders in Newfoundland.

Now then, who have we got? What have we got? We have g·ot Latvians, road engineers. There is not one we can gel in Newfound­ land, in all the great Canadian Na­ lion from St. John's to Victoria, five thousand miles across. In all Can-

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 23 ada, in a year and a half of constant advertising, after constant writing, constant personal communications and contacts, my honourable friend, the Minister of Public Works was able to secure one. HON. E. S. SPENCER (Minister of Public Works): Another was secured in the past week. MR. SMALLWOOD: One road en­ gineer in all Canada and that is be­ cause throughout Canada there is a great programme of road-building, and they want their own engineers and they raised their pay. Only one engineer we were able to get. The work of building roads is de­ pendent upon having engineers.

We could not get them in Canada. We tried and we failed. There was one point at which we did get a road en­ gineer in Saskatchewan. The salary was agreed loo; all the details were arranged. He was to leave Saskatchewan on a certain date for St. John's. At the last minute he was offered a considerable increase, and without telling us, he wired say­ ing "Sorry I have changed my mind. Not corning." MR. HIGGINS : Did he sign a contract? MR. SMALLWOOD: No. The reason we lost him? I will tell you.

In all Canada today-unless the gov­ ernment of Newfoundland is pre­ pared to pay Roads Engineers very much more than scale-very much more-we cannot get a Road Engineer. MR. JACKMAN: What about the Public Works Engineer, Mr. Speaker? MR. SMALLWOOD : If we are to build roads, we must have Road En­ gineers. It cannot be done other- wise. We can build trails through the woods, cow paths; but we cannot build modern roads without Engineers. We cannot build bridges without En­ gineers. So, when people in all parts of this Province clamoured for roads to be built and we had surveys to be made and we could not do it.

I got angry. I got angry with my honour­ able colleague, the Minister of Public Works. He said "No use your shout­ ing and bawling. I tried to get En­ gineers, I could not get them. Now, you try." I said "Where have you tried?" He said "Everywhere-in every Province in Canada." I said "Show me the correspondence." He showed me his files containing his efforts. I said, "Ned, I take it back, I apologize. You are right; there is no use looking in Canada; let's look somewhere else." We looked in Germany. For Germans: No.

We have not employed one Ger­ man since I came into office and, as far as I know, we have no intention of doing so although I would remind you that all the democratic world is endeavouring at this moment, it has been doing so for some months; in­ deed, for more than a year; to bring the German nation back amongst the allies; to make allies of them. But we have not employed one German. Not one. We have gone to Germany and what have we got? We have got­ ten one Medical Doctor, a Latvian. We got how many Roads Engineers? Four Latvians in Germany. We got one distinguished bridge designer and builder, Dr.

Jacobson, who arrived a few days ago, a very ditsinguished de­ signer and engineer. Let me say this : In the past five years, the Government of Newfound­ land, that is to say the Commission of Government and this present gov­ ernment, together, have spent on ar­ chitects, no less than three or four

24 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS hundred thousand dollars on archi­ tects. Let me tell you sonwthing: Our predecessors, the Commission of Covernment, let a contract for the building of the Nurses' Home at the Mental Hospital. It was built under contract with a contractor. The ar­ chitect in Montreal, a Newfoundland­ er, who designed the Nurses' Home was paid five percent of the cost of the building as his architect's fee. Five percent! Out of every one hundred dollars spent, he got five dollars for designing. Another Newfoundland architect here in St.

John's was paid an additional two percent on the "due of all the mechanical pa1·t o[ the building and an additional five per­ cent of the building itself. So that 'we came in and found to our horror that the architects' fees were taking no less than ten percent in every case (and in some cases twelve percent) of the cost of the building; and that is how all the buildings erected by the Commission of Government were C'rcctecl.

That is to say, the contractor \\'as g-ivcu the ~u11L1acl lu erect lite building, and an architect was given the contract to design the building; and whatever the building itseH cost, the architect got no less than five percent; and in many cases there were two architects; one in Montreal and one here, what they call a Supervising .lrchit.ect. They got ten percent. .-\nrl in many cases the buildings were built on a cost-plus contract; so that the contractor who had the contract to erect, had every reason to drive up the cost of the building, because the more it cost, the more he got and the more profit he got.

And when he drove up the cost of the building, the architect sat back with a smile on his face like that on the cat who had got the- canary. Up went his 'cost. "'hat would my- honourable learned friend clo if he had been in my position or had his colleagues occupied the posi­ tious of my colleagues? What would I hey have done? Would they have gone on under the same system or would they decide to do away with I hat system and get our own architect; pay him $5.000 or $6,000 or $7,000 a year and save one hundred thousand dollars a year? That is what we did.

I think that is what my honuurabk and learned friend would have done. How many more? One distinguished bridge desig·ner; four bridge engineers -two from the mainland (after a year and a half of Confederation we have lost the habit of calling the mainland Ca11adian 'foreigners')-we are discuss­ ing foreigners al the moment. The Province of Nova Scotia got ahead of us. They got in there first and got more Latvians than we did, about ,_.hich I am sorry. That is because 11·e did not come into office earlier than we did.

Rael we come in earlier, \\'C 1\'ould have not five Latvians, but ten, fifteen, twenty or thirty; and I suggest humbly that in a population of three hundred and fifty thousand souls, we will not be too contaminated by bringing in twenty or thirty Lat­ vians. I think, somehow, we will stand up under it.

I think we will survive. ~ow, I am very pleased and I am sure every member of this Honse, in­ cl11ding Your Honor, everyone is pleased to sec back he1·e in his place, the honourable member-I think per­ haps the senior member for Harbour Main-Bell Island, after a bout of sickness. \\'c do trust lhat his health will continue to irnpro,'e and that we will have him here a long time. \Ve might c,·en ,dsh him the good luck of some­ tinlC' being 01·er here on this side of lhe House. \·Ve have nothing but the kindest regards for him.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 25 ,ve are all exceedingly pleased that we are honoured this afternoon by the presence of the on! y living ex­ Premier of Newfoundland, the Hon. \V. S.

Monroe. \Ve arc all, I am (JUite sure, pleased indeed that we have here in the Chamber this afternoon our latest acquisition lo Newfoundland-a man with a very remarkable record of achievement; a man of great standing across this great Canadian nation; a man of great reputation-and he was willing to leave all that behind to come here amongst us; to throw in his lot with us; tu put his hand to the plough, the fi.,heries plough, about which my honourable friends spoke -our new Deputy Minister of Fish­ eries, Mr.

Clive Planta. ,ve were proud " ·e were able to snatch him from under the noses of Ottawa, bring him to :-lewfoundland and make a Newfoundlander of him. Before I close, may I say Lo my honourable friend, the member for Fogo , that if he felt that in one or two of his remarks he was commit­ ting 'a political indiscretion'-as I think he put it-that in my opinion he was not..

Surely we have not reached th e point in this British coun­ trv, in this building, that that great tradition of free speech and fair play, tlemocracy, when an honourable mem­ ber elected lo take his place cannot speak his honest opinions on matters such as he discussed this afternoon, even when that discussion includes a topic which often and, I think, un­ necessarily arouses passion and sus­ picion and foreboding-the matter of Education. He spoke his personal opinions frankly and earnestly, as, of course, he has every right to do.

He himself would be the first to tell you that he was not voicing the for­ mal. official policy of the Govern- ment. He dirl not presume to do that. He did not undertake to do that. He was expressing his own per­ sonal opinion. "'e honour him fo1· his fearless and frank expression of op11110n. May I say, speaking for­ mally and in behalf of the Govern­ ment of :\'cwfoundlancl, that we have 110 thought at all of taking the juris ­ diction of education out of the hands in which it presently, properly rests . That is to say , in the hands of the people and of the religious denomina­ tions.

There it is and there is be­ longs and there, so far as this Gov ­ ernment is concerned, it will cun ­ t inne to be. At the same time, men being men, having insight and brains, men will differ in lheir personal opin­ ions and

interpretations, and God for­ bid that touchiness or fear or suspi­ cion ~hould ever make it inexpedient fur a man to express his honest feel­ ings even _on so delicate a matter as this one of education. This is what my honourable friend, the me'11ber for Fogo has done, as a man; as a mem­ ber of this House who is proud to snppol'l Lhis administration of His \fa jesty's Government. MR. JACKMAN: would • like to rem ind the Premier that we haYe here this afternoon a very important per­ wnagc who happened to be the leader u( our Party in the last election, the llfayur of St. John's.

I · tliink he shoulrl be welcomed officially. MR. SPEAKER: Is the House ready for the question? It is moved and seconded that a Committee be appointed to draft the Reply to the Speech from the Throne. "'hereupon the motion was carried. I would appoint the following mem ­ bers to draft the Address in Reply : The Hon. Memb~r for Labrad~r, Mr . Horn·uod; the Hon. Member for Fogo,

26 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Mr. Janes and the Hon. Member for Hr. Main-Bell Island, Mr. Fahey; and order that the Committee report to the House. Notice of Motions and Questions MR. SMALLWOOD: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Life Insurance Act, 1933" and a Bill entitled "An Act to Amend the Insurance Premium Tax Act, 1950." HON. LESLIE R. CURTIS' (Attor­ ney General): Mr. Speaker, I give no­ tice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following bills : A Bill "An Act to Amend the Agree­ ment for Policing the Province Act, 1949." A Biii "

An Act to Facilita te the En­ forcement of Maintenance Orders." HON. JAMES ). SPRATT (Min­ ister of Provincial Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bills : A Bill entitled "An Act to Amend the Nomenclature Board Act, 1939." .\ Bill "An Act Further to Amend

Chapter 76 of the Consolidated Stat­ utes (3rd Series) entitled 'Of the Per­ manent Marine Disaster Fund'," A Bill "An Act Further to Amend the Shops Act, 1940." MR. }"OGWILL: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the honourable the Minister of Health to table the following infor­ mation: I.

If the Furnishings and Equip­ ment 'for the West Coast Sanatorium have been purchased as per vote un­ der Sub-head 1023 of the 1950-51 es- timates of expenditure, if so state name of supplier; and if furnishings have been delivered give some de­ tail of the number and kind of fur­ nishings supplied, such as beds, chairs, etc., also inform the House if ten­ ders were called, state if the lowest or any tender was accepted. 2. To ask the honourable Minister of Supply to table information show­ ing the cost of living index for the months of April, 1950, to February, 1951, inclusive. 3.

To ask the honourable Minister of Finance to table a statement show­ ing the total revenue received from April 1st, 1950, to February 28th, 1951, under the various headings as follows : Finance, Provincial Affairs, Education, Attorney General, Natural Resources, Public Works, Health, Pub­ lic Welfare, Board of Liquor Control, Supply, Fisheries and Co-operatives, and Labour. 4.

To ask the honourable Minister of Finance to table a statement show­ ini;{ the tot~I expenditure from April 1st, 1950, to February 28th, 1951, un­ der the various headings as follows : Consolidated Fund Services, Legisla­ tive, Executive Council, Finance, Pro­ vincial Affairs, Education, Attorney General, Natural Resources, Public Works, Health, Public Welfare , Board of Liquor Control, Supply, Fisheries and Co-operative, Economic Develop­ ment, and Labour. 5.

To ask the honourable Minister of finance to table a statement show­ ing the total amount to the credit of the Province on deposit with the Government of Canada; also to inform the House of the total amount of the credit of the Province in the Bank of Montreal in Newfoundland as of Feb­ ruary 28th, 1951.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 27 6. To ask the honourable the Prem­ ier if there has been correspondence and/or discussions between the Gov­ ernment of Canada and the Govern­ ment of Newfoundland, relating to any proposed amendment to the con­ stitution of Canada, in 1·espect of the right of Provinces to collect indirect sales taxes, if so, to table all infor­ mation thereto, and also to state if the Government of Newfoundland is in accord with any such amendment. 7.

To ask the honourable the Prem­ ier to inform the House of the total number of telegrams received by him, regarding his message to the fisher­ men of Newfoundland, in respect to the formation of a fishermen's organ­ ization. 8.

To ask the honourable the Prem­ ier to table a statement showing a fully detailed account of the recent advertising program regarding the sale of Newfoundland-made products, the statement to show the amount paid to each person and firm em­ ployed, and the name of the Super­ l'isor of the program and the amount paid for his services; also to inform the House of the percentage increase in sales of local products as a result of this expenditure. MR. HIGGINS: Mr.. Speake1·, give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to ask the honourable the Premier the following questions : 9.

(1) Who bought the Merchant Seamen's Club, once known as the Mechanics' Hall.

(2) What was the price received therefor?

(3) What was the method of sell­ ing?

(4) If by tender, were there any other offers? 10. (

I) How much did the Icelandic herring venture cost?

(2) What has happened to the ships and equipment?

(3) What does the Government intend to do with the ships and equipment?

(4) Is it possible that the infor­ mation obtained by the Icelan­ ders will be the means of bring­ ing Icelandic herring boats to these shores? Notice of Motion MR. CURTIS : Mr. Speaker, I would ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled "An Act Respecting the Tak­ ing of Oaths by Officers in the Armed Forces "' and I would ask that that Bill be now read a first time. Motion carried . Bill read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on tomorrow. MR. SMALLWOOD: Mr.

Speaker, in moving the adjournment of the House until tomorr;:,w, Monday, at three of the clock, I do so in the be ­ lief, without consultation, that my honourable friends opposite would wish to have some few days during which they might study the Speech from the Throne so that they might, perhaps, be ready on Monday to pro­ ceed with the debate, should the Committee appointed bring back its Address in Reply by that time. MR. HIGGINS: I hope the Min­ ister will let us have Bills in plenty of time for perusal. MR. SMALLWOOD: I give that undertaking.

My honourable friend is aware of the fact that it is not until a Bill has been given first read­ ing that it may be printed; although

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS I he practice has been to print it, even for first reading. My honourable friend is aware also that if he is not ready to proceed with the debate on a Bill, he has every right to ask, and the Government has the right, in courtesy, to accede to the request that there be a delay until the Opposition and ,the Independents ai·c prepared to go forward. MR. HJGGINS: That was not thought of the last time. The first two sessions were rushed. MR. SMALU ·V'OOD : I think there was a considerable rushing in the first session.

In the second session, I do not think there was nearly as much hurry, except 6n towards the end. Never was then, a Legislative Assem­ bly that <lid not have a bit of rush and hurry in the closing days of a session; it has been extremely difficult to avoid. MR . SPEAKER : The motion is not debatable . MR. JACKMAN: l would like to ' ask if it would be possible to have a morning session as well as an after­ noon session? After all, a lot of us fellows are all just common working men, toiling masses; and while we are here, we would like to get in as much time as possible.

If the Govern­ ment could arrange it, I would like to have a morning and evening session. Every day we have an ad­ journment until the following day at three o'clock and persons like me have nothing to do only spend money. MR. SMALLWOOD : I am not too sure whether I am in order; but I would say that we as a Government, an Executive Government find it necessary when the House . is not in session to meet quite frequently. When the House is in session, it is necessary lo mcel even more frl'­ quently.

If the House meets morn­ ing, afternoon and night, then the Executive Government will nol have an opportunity lo meet and perhaps there will not be too much business for the Honse. By th e same Loken, if Lhe Executive Government never met, there would never he any legislation and no need of a House at all. The House adjourned until tomor­ row, Monday, the twelfth, at three of the clock. MONDAY, March 12, 1951. The House opened at three of the clock. i'reseming Petitions Hon. F.dwartl Russell, Minister of Natural Resources, presented a ·petition from Bunyan's Cove, regarding the building of a road . Hon. C. H.

Ballam, Minister of Labour, presented a petition on he­ half of Mr. Speaker, from Belburns, District of St. Barbe, Tegarding men­ ace of dogs. Hon. Dr. H. L. l'ottlc, Minister of l'uhlic \-Velfare, presented a petition on behalf of the I esi<lenls of Bay de Verde and Red Head Cove regarding the repairs of road. Mr. Vardy presented a petition from the settlement of Blackhead Road regarding the repair of road. Mr. Button presented a petition from Trinity Sou th regarding the construction of a hospital. Mr. Cashin presented a petition from Renews regarding 1:oad repair.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 29 The petitioi1S were received and referred' to the departments concerned. The following documents were tabled: Hon.• James J. Spratt, Minister of Provincial Affairs, tabled a report from the Housing Corporation for dis­ tribution. Hon. Edward Russell, Minister of Natural Resomces, tabled a copy of an agreement between the Minister of Natural Resources, and Chester Dawe relative to a Birch Industry. Also a copy of an agreement between Lhc Minister of :slatural Resources and a number of mink farmers respecting loans made during the past year to said mink farmers. Regulations under the Wild Life Act, 1947 prohibiting the taking of Reaver in a certain

section of Labrador. Amendment (Salmon and 1948. of the Wild Life Trout) Regulations, Regulations under Lhe Vegetable (Grading) Act, 1950. The Saw Mill (Licensing) Regula­ tions, 1950. Proclamation made under sub-sec­ tion (

I) of

Section 2 of the Dog Act. 1938. HO:\'. DR. H. L. POTTLE: (Min­ ister of Public Welfare): I would like Lo ask the members of the House 10 consider a memorandum or table I circulated earlier, a Statement of Distribution of Statutory Payments made by the Department of Public Welfare for February 1951. If any m'ember wishes clarification should he g'Iad to furnish it. I be­ lieve it is self explana _tory.

The hon'. ourable members may wish to have time to look into the data and prob­ ably ask questions in the course of time relating to their own districts or the total picture. lf the honourable members have no further questions to ask I would beg leave to lay three copies of the Annua,I Report of the Director of Child Welfare and of the .Judge of the St. John's Juvenile Court, the work of the fisca_l year, on the table . lvIR. SPEAKER : Before calling the_ next order, I wish to inform the House, some time ago a committee was set up to revise standing orde:rs . of the House.

I hope to be able on tomorrow to place in the hands of lhe members of the committee the completely revised rules and standing orders of this House together with certain other papers and the commit­ tee may be able to report to the House in due course. Reports of Standing and Select Committees MR . HORWOOD: Mr. Speaker, regarding the select committee ap­ pointed to reply to the Speech from the Throne, it is already in the hands of Mr. Clerk.

The Clerk of the House read the following reply from the Speech from · the Throne: To His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Leonard Cecil Outerbridge, Knight Bachelor, C.B.E., D.S.O. May it please Your Honour:

30 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS \\'e, the Commons of Newfound­ land for Legislative session as­ sembled, beg to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to this House. (Sgd.) H. HORWOOD. R. J. FAHEY. GORDON W. JANES. Assembly Room, March 12, A.D. 1951. MR. SPEAKER : The motion is that this address in reply Lo the Speech from the Throne be adopted . I understand that the debate on the question is to be made on the Speech from the Throne. Do we proceed on that debate now or defer it? HON. J. R. SMALLWOOD (Prime Minister): We had better defer it to a point later in the afternoon .

MR. SPEAKER: It is the wish of the House to defer this debate. Notice of Motions and Questions MR. CASHIN : 1 give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the honourable the Minister of Finance co table the following information :

(1) A copy of the Public Accounts for the fiscal year 1949-50 as well as a copy of the Report of the Comp­ troller and Auditor General for the same period.

(2) A statement certified by the Auditor General showing the amount placed to the credit of the Province of Newfoundland from the surplus upon the Terms of Union; also the amount to the credit of the same ac­ count at the present time. If any withdrawals have been made from the original deposits, to give a state­ ment of such withdrawals.

(3) A statement showing the amount of revenue and expenditure for the fiscal year 1949-C,0. This statement co be shown under the various headings. .-\Jso, a statement showing the amounts received from the Federal Government as Transitional grant for the fiscal year I 949-50 as well as a statement showing the various amounts received from rhe Federal Government under rhe headings of Public Health and Welfare for the fiscal year 1949-50.

(4) A stat ement showing the amount received from the Federal Government from April 1st, 1950, to date for Tran­ sitional Grant as well as the amount received under the Department of Health and Welfare for Old Age Pen• sions, etc., also any other amounts re­ ceived as Grants from the Federal Government and shown in the Consol­ idated Revenue account .

(5) A statement showing the amount of actual cash to the credit of the Treasury in the Bank of Montreal as at February 28th, 1951-the total amount of cash to the credit of the liuar<l of Liquor Control as at Febru­ ary 28th, l 9!il. (6)-Give a statement showing the operations of the Newfoundland Sav­ ings Bank for the fiscal year I 949-50.

(7) Give a statement showing the amount of actual cash loaned Lo the various industries, giving the names of the corporations to which the money has been loaned, the rate of interest being paid in each case and all particulars regarding such loans. This statement to includ e amounts advanced by the Commission of Gov­ ernment..

(8) Give a statement showing the amounts of money guaranteed to var• ious corporations or individuals and full particulars concerning such guar­ antees.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 31 Also I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the honourable the Minister of Provincial Affairs to table the following information :

(1) A statement showing the cost of operating the various apartment buildings in the Housing Corporation. Give details of such cost; such as the annual cost of heating, insurance, janitor service, etc. Give the total rentals. Also I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the honourable the Min­ ister of Public Health to inform the House why it is that the cottage hos­ pital has not been constructed in the district of Ferryland as provided for in the estimates of expenditure passed through this House during the last session.

Is it true that the Secretary or Assistant Secretary for Public Health has advised the Government not to perform this work and if so, would the Minister inform the House why it is that legislation passed through the legislature covering the Public Health Department has not been carried out. Also I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the Minister of Public Works to table a statement as follows :

(1) The total number of miles con­ structed under the Trans-Canada Highway plan during the year 1950- the total cost to the province of such construction-the total number of miles of such road to be constructed over the next few years under such plan, and the estimate of cost of such plan. Given an estimate of what amount this whole Trans-Canada Highway plan will cost the province when finished and whether the prov­ ince is actually committed to finish this project.

(2) What amount of money was ex­ pended in the form of relief work on public highroads during the autumn of 1950; give this information show­ ing the amount expended in each dis­ trict.

(3) Table a copy of the tenders submitted for the construction of the additional wings to the Mental Hos­ pital, informing the House what com­ pany or companies were awarded the contracts and were the lowest tenders accepted. MR. JOHN G. HIGGINS (Leader of the Opposition): I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the honour­ able the Premier : (

I) Who started the "Buy Ne\V­ foundland Campaign?"

(2) By what authority was $50,000.00 allocated?

(3) Who appointed the Director of the campaign?

(4) What is the work of the Associat­ ed Newfoundland Industries in con­ nection with the campaign?

(5) Under whose auspices was the fair held in August and why was such an inconvenient time chosen?

(6) How much money was realized for the booths and to what did this money go?

(7) Who was responsible for bring­ ing down the Circus and was the Cir­ cus recommended by anybody?

(8) How is the Buy Newfoundland Campaign carried on now?

(9) If advertisement is used in con­ nection with it what papers get the advertising and what space is used by each paper?

(10) Has there been an audit of the funds of the organization. If not, why not?

32 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Also .lo :isk the honourable the Min­ ister of .Co-operatives: (

l) Did any person oi- companies re­ ceive any money or guarantee from the Govermneqt to builc,l taverns or road houses· or touri"st lodges? . .

(2) If so, what are Lhe names of the parties 'pr companies, , what is the amount ·involved and what is the ~merican Aerated Water Company building on LeMarchant Road?

(2) For how much? If conveyance drafted, please table a copy,

(3) What was included in sale?

(4) Why did the Government buy it?

(5) Was it bought on an a ppraise- ment value? security?

(6) Is the Government aware that Also , to ask the honourable the this building was offered for sale Premier: . some time previously? (

I) How much will the cement fac­ tory cost?

(2) Does the Government intend to work it. If not, who will?

(3) How many will it employ?

(4) Who got the contract to build it?

(5) Who supplied the machinery?

(6) If machinery was bought in Europe, who did the buying and what . was paid for it?

(7) Was the Government offered any machinery for a cement factory on this continent?

(8) In the event of war, how will spare parts be obtained ?

(9) Have any arrangements been made for selling cement out of this country? '

(10) On whose authority was the order for the factory given? ( ll} Has any money yet been paid on the cement mill or its machinery?

(12) On whose authority was it paid?

(13) Was the Comptroller consulted in the matter? Also to ask the honourable the Premier:

(1) Did the Government buy the·

(7) Did the company approach the Government to buy or did the Gov­ ernment approach the company to sell?

(8) Has the Government got a ware­ house for liquor, and if so, where? \Vhat was the cost of the warehouse and what can it hold? Also to ask- the honourable the Min­ ister fol' Co-operatives : (

l) How much money has been ad­ vanced to or guaranteed for Lourdes Co-operative Association?

(2) How often has money been paid or guarantee given. On what dates am! how much on each occasion?

(3) What collateral was given fm the loan or loans or guarantee?

(4) On whose recommendation was or were the loan or loans advanced or guarantee given?

(5) Was an inquiry made at any time by the Government as to the af­ fairs of the Association? If so, when, and was this done befor e any loan was made or guarantee given? (Ii) \\That was the financial position of the Association at the time the $40,000 loan or guarantee mentioned in the Act passed at the last session was given?

(7) What is the financial position of the Association today?

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 33

(8) How much of the loan or loans has been paid or by how mnch has the g·uarantee been reduced?

(9) Was Lhe $40,000 advanced to ob­ tain supplies or pay off debts? ( l

O) What actually happened to the money? MR.

FOG\\'ILL: I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask the honourable the Premier : To table statement showing the Lola! cosl of the Royal Commission which was appointed to inquire into the high cost of living in Newfound­ land, the statement to show the names of the Commissioners and the names of all persons employed by the Com­ mission and/or by the Government in connection with the inquiry and the salary paid to each, also to show the cost of travelling expenses, the cosl of printing· the report and the name of the printer; also inform the House of what action is being· taken by the Government lo bring down the high cost of living, and if in the opinion of Lhe Government the expenditure incurred will result in reducing the high cost of living, if so, state what percentage reduction in living costs has been evidenced or may be ex­ pected.

Also to ask the honourable the Premier: Has the Premier any knowledge of the amount collected in Newfoundland si nee April the first nineteen forty­ nine by the Government of Canada, in respect to Lhe eight per cent gen­ eral sales Lax, if so, state the amount.

Also to ask the honourable the Premier: To table a statement regarding the [oreign rate dispute, showing all par­ Licnlars, such as the number of firms or persons employed, salaries, travel­ ling expenses, fees, etc., paid or still to be paid on this account; state what in the opinion of the Government is the approximate total amount paid in excess of the adjusted freight rates as from April 1, 1949, to the date when the adjusted rates came into effect; also inform the House if, in the opinion of the Government a sub­ stantial lowering of the cost of con­ sumer goods at retail prices will result.

Also to ask the honourable the Premier: If it is the intention of the Govern­ ment to pursue this matter furthe1 in respect to having the adjusted rates made retroactive to April I, 1949, Also to ask the honourable the Premier: Has the services of the Director of Economic Development been secured by contract, if so, inform the House of the tern ~s of the contract, if the Director's services have not been secured by contract, then inform the House of the conditions of his employ­ ment, stating salary, travelling allow­ ances, and any other fee, emolument, etc., paid to him since his services have been secured.

Also to ask the honourable the Premier: To table a statement showing the tolal cost of the visit of the Acting Deputy Minister of Fisheries to Euro­ pean fishing centres last year, state­ ment to include the amount of travel­ ling expenses and salary paid; also to inform the House if the Acting Deputy Minister has made a 1·eport, if so, table the report; also inform the House if the Acting Deputy Minister of Fisheries is presently employed by

34 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS the Gov ernment, if so, state the nature of his employment and the salary paid. Also to ask th e honourable the Premier : How many Newfoundlanders are presentl y employed in Labrador in connection with the iron ore develop­ ment; has the Government any know­ ledge which would indicate with any degree of accuracy the number of men likely to be employed there in 1951? Also to ask the honourable the Premier : Has the Government made any attempt to keep the Newfoundland Industrial Board functioning, if not, Wh)' not ?

Also to ask the honourable the Premier : Did the Governm ent assist in setting up and the operating of a pilot fish meal plant at the Naval Dockyard in St. John 's, if so, what was the cost and the result? MR. SPEAKER : Any further notice of questions? MR. SMALLWOOD: 1 give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave of the Hou se to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Life Insuran ce Act, 1933," am! while I am on my feet will give replies to two questions directed at me on Wednesday past, by the hon­ ourable the junior member for St. John's, East.

Number eight on the Order Paper : Thi~ ought to be addressed, I think, to the honourable the Att orney G eneral who , l helien ~. will give the reply today. Number seven on the Order Paper addre ssed to me : "To inform the House of the total number of tele- grams received by me regarding my message to the fishermen of New­ foundland in respect to the formation of a fishermen's 01·ganization?' About seven hundred telegrams and one hundred letters from more than ten thousand fishermen .

The honourable the same member to ask me to table a statement show­ ing a fully detailed account of the recent advertising program regarding the sale of Newfoundland-made pro­ ducts, the statement to show the amount paid to each person and firm emplo yed and the name of the Super­ visor of the program and the amount paid for his services; also to inform the House of the percentage of in­ crease in sales of local pro<luct s as a result of this expenditure.

The reply is a full and detailed report of the wo1·k of " Buy New­ foundland Campaign" now under preparation by the Director and will be tabled as soon as it is received. Question number nine : addressed to me by the honourable the Leader of the Opposition ought to have been addressed to the honomable Minister of Public Works. Question number ten, also addressed to me ought to have been addressed to the honourable the Minister of Fisheries and Co-operatives.

Question number five addressed to me should be addressed to the hon­ ourable th e Minister of Fisheries and Co-0peratives, and the statement is now in the course of preparation, and the same reply applies to question number four and to question number three. I think, Mr. Speaker, that is all the questions on this Order Paper referred to me.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 35 HON. P. S. FORSEY (Minister of Supply): Question No. 2 on the Order Paper-Mr. Fogwill add1·essed to the honourable the Minister of Supply­ Table information showing the co&t o( living index for the months April 1950 to February 1951 inclusive. 1 April, 1950 ......................... . G May, 1950 .......................... ........ . 3 June, 1950 ........ .. . ... ........... ..

I July, 1950 ... ..•. ... _ ····- ........ . 5 Augusti 1950 ······-··········-·······'"·· 2 September, 1950 .................... . 7 October, 1950 ..................... ....... .. 171.2 170.9 172.9 174.J 176.8 177.!l 176.7 ,1 November, 1950 ............... ....... 176.3 2 December, 1950 ····- 178.3 G January, 1951 .......... . 179.6 (Index for the month of February 1951 (not yet released). Replying to Question No. 1 1eferred to me for reply-Mr.

Fogwill address­ ed Lo the honourable Minister of Health. lf the Furnishings and Equipment for the \Vest Coast Sanatorium have been purchased as per vote under Subhead 1023 of the 1950-51 E~timate~ of expenditure, if so state name of supplier; and if furnishings have been delivered give some detail of the num­ ber and kind of furnishings supplied such as beds, chairs, elc., also inform the House if tenders were called and state if the lowest or any I ender was accepted.

Tenders for the furnishings and equipping of the \Vest Coast Sana­ torium at Corner Brok were invited throug·h my Department from large mainland firms such as Henry Morgan & Co. Ltd., and others; Cassidy's Limited, T. Eaton I(: Co., Limited, Robert Simpson & Company Limited, and others in Montreal and Toronto last year to be paid for out of funds provided under Department of Health Subhead 1023 of the 1950-51 Estimates.

These firms maintain a special con­ tract division providing free cost for the services of interior decorators, heating and equipment specialists, in­ stallation technicians, etc., and are equipped to supply properly matched items of merchandise designed to meet the need.~ of any institution.

The most complete and comprehen­ sive submission was made by the firm of Cassidy's Limited through their special hotel and hospital contract division at Montreal, and in this way were successful in being awarded the main contract for the supply of fum• iture and equipment, all of which has now been delivered and is being in­ stalled under their supervision at no cost. At this time it might be ohservecl that Messrs.

Cassidy's Limited, Special Hotel and Contract Division at Mont­ real were also successful in obtaining_ from the Western Memorial Hospital Corporntion at Corner Brook the com­ petitive contract to supply, supervise and install all the furniture and equipment for their hospital.

The furniture and equipment for the \Vest Coast Sanatorium was very carefully selected on the basis of good quality commensurate with cost and a recent inspection of Lhe completed Nurses' Residence has shown the furniture supplied and installed by Cassidy's Limited to be of exceptional quality and has justified the policy of the Government in following the modern trend in taking advantage of expert technical advice available from larger supply houses free of cost as well as obtaining finer prices made possible through bulk purchase, result­ ing in higher quality merchandise all round.

36 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS The greater portion of the furn­ iture such as beds, mattresses, bed­ side lockers, overbed tables, screens, chairs, etc., for the 277 bed institution was made by Simmons' Limited of Montreal. Finns who were also successful in being awarded tenders for the supply of other equipment were: Surgical Supplies (Canada) Ltd., Toronto. Foulis Engineering Sales, Ltd., Hali­ fax. T. McMurdo and Co., Ltd., St. John's. McDonald Wholesale Drugs Ltd., St. John's. Neyle Soper Hardware Co., Ltd., St. John's. Bowring Brothers Ltd., St. John's. .J. F. Hartz Co., Ltd., Toronto.

Ayre & Sons Limited, St. John's. Dicks & Co., Limited, St. John's. Goodyear & House Limited, Corner Brook. National Wholesalers Limited, Cor- ner Brook. Halley & Co., Limited, St . .John's. Newfoundland Paper Bag Company. Peter Pan Sales Co., St. John's. Brookfield Ice Cream Co., Limited, St. John's. A. E. Hickman Company, Limited, St. John's. Steers Limited, St . .John's. Earle Sons & Co., Limited, St. John's. Sanitary Products Ltd., St. John's. Royal Stores, Limited, St. John's. Dye & Chemical Co. of Canada Ltd., Kingston, Ont. G. & A. Hardi) & Co., Limited, Toronto . Colonial Cordage Co., Limited, St. .John's.

United Nail & Foundry Co., Limited, St. John's . Heap & Partners (Nfld.) Limited, St. John's. Provincial Sales & Contracting Co., Limited, St. John's. I111pcrial Oil Limited, St. John's. D. H. Gosse Limited, St. John's. R . .J. Coleman Limited, St. John's. Nfld. Tractor & Equipment Co., Ltd., St. John's. Physicians Records Co., Chicago, Ill. Gilbert Surg-ical Supply Co., Tor- onto . Ingram & Bell Ltd., Toronto . P. C. O'Driscoll Limited, St. John's. Casgrain & Charbonneau Limited, i\fontreal. Sterling Rubber Co., Guelph, Ont. Canadian T. n. Associatiou, Ottawa. .J. B. Lippincott & Co., Montreal.

The Commonwealth Fund, New York, N.Y. McAinsh & Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont. National League of Nursing Edu­ cation, New York, N.Y. American .Journal of Nursing, New York, N.Y. Public Health Nursing, New York, N.Y. Newfoundland Margarine Co., Ltd., .Journal of the American .Medical Toronto. Assn., Chicago, Ill. Standard Chemical Co., Limited, "White Clothing Co., Limited, St. Toronto. .John's. Canadian Laundry Machinery Co., Ltd., Toronto. George P. Pilling & Son, Philadel­ phia.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 37 HON. LESLIE R. CURTIS (Attor­ ney General) : Qnestion No. 6, ad­ dressed to the honour:i.ble the Premier has been referred to me for reply : If Lhere has been correspondence and/or discussion between. the Gov­ ernment of Canada and the Govern­ ment of Newfoundland, relating to any proposed amendment to the con­ stitution of Canada, in respect of the right of Provinces to collect indirect sales taxes, if so, to t:i.ble all inform­ ation thereto, and also to state if the Government of Newfoundland is in accord with any such agreement.

At the Federal and Provincial Con­ ference held at Ottawa, December 4 and December 7, a provincial pro­ posal for an amendment to the Con­ stitution to permit the Provincial Legislature to levy an indirect sales tax at retail level was discussed, and it was agreed that the proposed amendment to the Constitution should be drafted by the Department of .Justice and submitted to the Provin­ cial Government for early consider­ ation. In pursuance to this agreement the Honourable the Attorney General and the Minister of .Justice of Canada has submitted to the Government of New­ foundland a proposed amendment to

section 92 (2) of tht' British North America Act, reading as follows : "

(2) The raising of revenue for provincial purposes by (

a) direct taxation within the province in re­ spect of the sale of goods (except goods sold for sale outside the pro­ vince) to a buyer for purposes of consumption or use and not for resale, at a rate not exceeding three percent of the sale price, but not so as to discriminate between sales of goods grown, produced or manu­ factured outside the province, and not so as to discriminate between sellers or classes of sellers of the same class of goods.

The Government approves of this proposed amendment and has notified the Attorney General of Cana.da accordingly. ,vhen the amendment has been made it is propsed to withdraw the present social security assessment and substitute therefor an assessment as provided therein. HON. E. S. SPENCER (Minister of Public "\,Yorks): The answer to ques­ tion number 9 addressed to the Pre­ mier by the honourable the Leader of the Opposition is as follows : The Government finding themselves in possession of a building properly known as the Mechanics Hall consid­ ered what sound use if any they could make of it.

The building is quite unsuitable for Government offices and on account of lack of suitable structural strength and age made it entirely unsuitable for a liquor warehouse. The decision was therefore made to sell the building. The sale of the Merchant Seamen's Club was made to the City Reality Company Limited. The sale price $20,000. The sale was made by in­ viting tenders through the public press. One other tender was received. The offer of the City Reality Com­ pany Limited was the higher and was accepted. HON. WILLIAM .J. KEOUGH (Minister of Fisheries and Co-oper­ atives) : Number 10, addressed to me:

(1) How much did the Icelandic herring venture cost?

38 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Answer : The finding.i and state­ ments are now in the hands of the auditors for preparation. (2) \\That has happened to the ships and equipment? Answer : The ve,sels are tied up at St. John's, at the Naval Dock, and the equipment has been placed in storage.

(3) What docs the Government in­ tend to do with the ships and equip­ ment? Answe1·: Disposal of vessels, having in mind their worth and use. The answer to number (4) is : Highly improbable. MR . CURTIS: Mr. Speaker , give notice I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act Re­ specting Survivorship." MR. SMALLWOOD: Mr. Speaker, T beg leave to introduce a Bill to­ morrow ",\n Act to Further Amend the Newfoundland Corporation In­ come Tax Act, 1949." HON. JAMES J. SPRATT (Minis­ ter of Provincial Affairs) : I beg leave to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Nomenclature Board Act, 1938." I beg leave also to introduce a Bill "An Act Further to Amend

Chapter 76 of the Consolidated Statutes (Third Series) entitled 'Of the Permanent Marine Disaster Fund.' " I beg also to introduce a Bill "An Act Further to Amend the Shops Act, 1940." MR. CASHIN : You iave notice on opening day. MR. SPEAKER: It would be bet­ ter if honourable members be called in order. MR. SPRATT : In reply, I gave notice on opening day. MR. SPEAKER : It will be called today. The honourable the Premier lo ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Life Insurance Act, 1933." On motion the Bill was read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on tomorrow . MR.

SPEAKER : The honourable the Premier lo ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Insur­ ance Premium (Tax) Act, 1950.'' On motion the 13ill was read a first Lime. Ordered Lo be read a second I ime on tomorrow. Honourable the Attorney General to ask leave lo introduce a Bill "An .-\cl to Facilitate the Enforcement of Maintenance Orders .'' On motion the Bill was read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on tomorrow. Honourable the Attorney General tu ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Agreement for Policing the Province Act, 1949.'' On motion the Bill was read a first time.

Ordered to be read a second Lime on tomorrow. Honourable the Minister of Provin­ cial Affairs to ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act to Amend the Nomen­ clature Board Act, 1938.'' On motion the Bill was read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on tomorrow. Honourable the Minhter of Provin­ cial Affairs to ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act Further to Amend

Chapter 76 of the Consolidated Stat-

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 39 ules (Third Series) entitled 'Of the Permanent Marine Disasters Fund'." On motion the Bill was read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on tomorrow. Honourable the Minister of Provin­ cial Affairs to ask leave to introduce a Bill "An Act Further to Amend the Shops Act, 1940." On motion the Bill was read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on tomorrow. Orders of the Da}' MR. SPEAKER : The question lleforc the House is that the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne be adopted. MR. SMALLWOOD: Mr.

Speaker, I don't propose to speak to that mo­ tion but rise merely to enquire of my honourable friend the Leader of the Opposition if he is ready to proceed with the debate for which purpose we adjourned Wednesday last until to­ day, and if not, if he can indicate when he expects they would be ready to proceed with the dellate. I may say it is our disposition here on this side to accommodate our honourable friend to the maximum extent pos­ sible.

On the other hand, it is, I think quite customary to be ready for the debate on the Address from the Throne and to proceed almost at once after a day or two has elapsed fol­ lowing the deliverance of the Speech from the Throne by the Governor General. We have a rather heavy program of legislature; we have in addition an extensive program for economic de­ velopment which has to be debated in this House; we have as well the estimates and the budget. I am quite sure that it would be the wish of every member of the House Lo conclude the work of the session without the necessity of going in on the warm summer months.

For that reason,-and I am reminded by my honourable friend the Attorney General there is also the Easter re­ cess and Holy Week before us which will still further delay necessarily the business of the House and for this reason I would sincerely hope my hon­ ourable friend opposite might be prepared to proceed with the debate in the Address in Reply at the earliest possible moment. If they are pre­ pared to go ahead with the debate now, we arc on the Government side, if not perhaps the honourable and learned friend opposite would be prepared to indicate when his party would be ready to proceed with the debate.

When we know that any members on this side of the House de­ siring to take

part in the debate can govern themselves accordingly and some friendly arrangement may be made whereby speakers on both sides of the House could, to some extent, as far as the comparative numbers on the respective sides will allow, alter­ nate their speeches and in that way make it more of a debate and less of a sedes of unrelated speeches one having no bearing on the other. MR. HIGGINS : We shall be ready on Wednesday. I am sorry we were delayed; I did not think the Speech from the Throne came up for a few days after the opening of the session. I hope the speeches will go alternate­ ly one side to the other.

Because of the number over there it would be necessary to consider two or three of the Government members as one on our side. I regret to learn there is going to be a lot of legislature this year. One

40 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS time lhe Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount were sufficient lo do business. But now there must be a large number of acts passed in which nobody would know, •one way and another what was intended with the result that lawyers like myself would be tripped up and would not know the law. And as ignorance is no excuse of the law I have to go to jail. and when some client comes to me with some problem I would nol know what to tell him, I would have lo look it up in a law book.

The lawyer will be confused more than once but as for the client, he has the good fortune that, for a fee, he can apply to a lawyer for the answer. I move the debate be deferred un­ til tomorrow "\1/ednesday. MR. SMALLWOOD: As it involves the time-table of the House of which lhe Government has some say, I think I ought to move the debate be deferred until tomorrow, Wednesday. Motion carried. Second reading of Bill "An Act Re­ specting the Taking of Oaths by Of­ ficers in the Armed Forces.'" MR. CUR TIS': Mr.

Speaker, I beg lo move the second t·eading of a Bill, au Act respecting the taking of oaths h)' Offic.en. in the Anned Forces. This bill has been distributed and honour­ able members will find copies on their desks. I would not introduce the second reading and move for in­ troduction were it not for the fact that the Bill is a short simple one present• ed by us at the request of the Attor­ ney General of Canada.

The effect of the Bill is to enable commanding oficers of His Majesty's Forces of Can­ ada on acth·e service in Canada or outside to administer oaths and take affidavits within or without New- foundland for use ll'ithin Newfound­ land. This is necessary for testing volunteers and for other army discip­ linary matters. Bill was read a second time. MR. CURTIS: In view of the facl we have nothing else to do, but ad­ journ this afternoon, and this is an important matter, could we go inlo committee of a whole now?

Rule 2Gl was suspended and the Bill "An Act Respecting the Taking of Oaths by Officers in the Armed Forces'" was referred to a committee of a whole. The commiLLec ruse and reporled having considered the matte