• Proceedings OF THE House of Assembly of Newfoundland SESSION 1920 WlitDNEBDAY, April !O, 192e. Upon the twentieth day of April, A.D. 1920, the members returned for the several districts, with the excep­ tion of Archibald Targett, Esq., as­ sembled between the hours of two ana three of the clock in the afternoon in the Council Chamber and took and subscribed the oath of allegiance be­ fore the Honourables Robert K. Bishop, James D. Ryan, and Marma­ duke G. Winter, the commissioners of His Excellency the Governor thereto appointed.

At three ~ the clock the memberb being assembled in the Assembly room, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod delivered a message from His Excellency the Governor request­ ing the attendance of the members in the Council Chamber where His Ex· cellency's commission having been read by the Clerk, the Commissioners signified that the members should forthwith return to their own chamber and elect a proper person to be their Speaker and present such person to ms Excellency on to-morrow in the Council Chamber at three of the clock.

"Whereupon the members having re­ turned to the Assembly Room, the Ptime Minister, the Honourable Rich ­ ard A. Squires, K.C., moved that the Member for the District of Carbonear, William F. Penney, Esquire, do take the chair as Speaker, and it wa1 se­ conded by the Honourable William R. Warren, K.C., Member for the District of Fortune; and no other person being proposed, Mr. Penney was unanimous­ ly called to the Chair by the House, and was conducted to the Chair by the members who proposed and seconded him.

Whereupon the Speaker, standing on the steps addressed the House, ex­ pressing his gratitude to the Honour­ able Members for the high honor un­ animously conferred on him. The House then adjourned until to­ morrow, Wednesday, at half-past two of the clock in the afternoon. • WEDNESDA:Y, April 21st, 19!0. The House met at half-past two of the clock in the afternoon, pursuant ·to adjournment. At three o'clock a message from Hrs Excellency the Governor was de­ livered by the Gentleman Usher of the ' Black Rod, commanding the Immediate attendance of Mr. Speaker and the House in the Council Chamber. Whereupon Mr.

Speaker and the House attended ·His Excellency in the Council Chamber and being returnea to the Assembly Room, l\lr. Speaker informed the House that when fn at-

• HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 5 Mr. Speaker, I do not quite agree with the hon. member for St. John's East. What he has said would apply if this were not a new session. The Hon. Leader of the Opposition is entitled to make his motion before the Speech from the Throne is read, but after having returned to this Chamber the Speaker has to report what tran~pired in the Legislative Council. I wish to refer to rule 11 and rule 12 which di­ rect the procedure: Those rules must be carried out be­ fore a motion is made and before the carrying on of any other business.

The Speaker has to report that th~ House has been in attendance upon IIis Excellency the Governor and that the privileges of the House have been conserved, and then takes his seat. My honourable friend would then be tite in order to make his motion in the ordinary course. HON. THE SPE.KER:-I take the position that I have not been con­ firmed in this House as Speaker until I had reported that His Excellency the Governor had approved of my election and I rule that the motion made by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition ' 4 out of order.

After I have annou A that His Excellency approved of my elec­ tion and the House of Assembly is in session, the Leader of the Opposition or any other member is perfectly a., liberty '" ~-" forward any resolution or any motion he likes. I shall now p1'0ceed.

I have to inform the House that when in attendance upon His Excel­ lency the Governor in the Council Chamber, His Excellenc:y was pleasefJ to approve of my election as Speake.l · of this House; and that in the name and on behalf of the House of Assem­ bly I, by humble petition to His Ex­ cellency, laid claim to all its rights and privileges, w~ich His Excellency had confirmed in tis full and ample a manner as they have been heretofore granted or allowed by His Excellency or any of his predecessors.

I beg to repeat my respectful acknowledg­ ments to this House, for the high honor which it has unanimously con­ ferred upon me. I further announce that whist in the Council Chamber, His Excellency was pleased to make a gracious speech to both branches of the Legislature, a copy of which, for purposes of greater accuracy I have obtained, and will now read to the House. 1lr.

President and Ho•ouable Gentle· · me• of the Legislative Council: I deem it my first duty on this oc­ casion to greet tbe new members who have been appointed to the Legisla­ tive Council in the place of some whose loss we deplore I also wel­ come all those who have been elect­ to to serve in the new House of As­ sembly.

When in April of last year I ad­ dressed the Legislature on the open­ ing of the Eight and last session of ~he 23rd General Assembly, I express­ ed my feelings of pride and thank­ fulness at the wonderful suc-cess of the Allies armies in the great world war, and thankfulness at the termina­ tion of the conflict which had cost such untold miseries to the greater portion of the human race; and in greeting you today, while I re<'r ~nize that the ratification of the fir~(, of the Treaties of Peac· e in January last holds out high hope that the nations of the world have. indeed embarked ~ upon a period of reoganization and reconstruction, I cannot avoid im­ pr.ession upon you the lesson of all history, that a great convulsion is followed by much unrest and that all t our patience and sympathy will be required before we can realize under the guidance of Divine Providence a permanent peace upon earth and goodwill amongst formerly warring nations

6 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS My Mlnist~rs appreciate the dona­ tion by the British Admiralty to New­ foundland of two ships hitherto u ~ for naval purposes. These two ships, together with a third ship purchased from the British Admiralty by the Government, afe now being prepared at Chatham for their voyage to New­ foundland It is probable that one of these ships will be used as a coastal boat; another as a supply ship in connection with the Lig'hthou.- De­ partment, and the third for emer­ gency and rescue purposes.

For many years a dispute has been • 1>endlng . between the Provinces ot Quebec and this Colony in relation to the boundary between Newfoundland and Quebec on the Labrador Penin­ sula. An agreement has been arrived at as to the submission ot the dispute to the adjpdlcation of His· . Majesty•ts Privy Council, and it ts thought prob­ able that .some substantial progress towards a final settlement of this longstanding controversy may be made during this year.

Promptly after Its assumption ot oftice the Government established regulations to protect the fishing In­ terests of Newfoundland in their for­ eign markets, and it is pleasing to know that the establishment of th" regulations lias been attended with much success and substantial . benefit to our codfish Industry. The fisher­ men of Newfoundland will be invited to co-operate earnestly with the Gov­ ernment in its etlort to Improve the cure of codfish. It can reasonably be a lcipated that If the cur~ of fish be Improved so that a prime

article lH produced, the price of Newfoundland cedftsh will continue at firm values. -~ effort is being made by the Gov­ ernme~t to wind up tJte Department of Militia and the Department of Shipping at the earliest possible mo­ ment, The Newfoundland Pay and Record Office tn London bas alread) been closed.

The work of the Clvf1 ' Re~Establishment Committee will ,it is hoped, during this year be brought practically to an end, and the matte! · of medical treatment of returned sol­ diers and sailors will be concentrated in one hospital building so as to give greater emciency of service at a very greatly reduced expenditure ot pub­ lic funds. If the burden of expendi­ ture resulting from the . war may seem a heavy one let us remember that it represents the least that we can do for those who enabled Newfoundland to take her stand in the forefront of humanity's great battle.

The Rev. (Major) Nangle has been placed in charge of matters connect­ ed with the concentration and regis­ tration of the graves of our heroltt dead in Europe. Suitable War Me­ morials are being erected on sites purchased by the Newfoundland Gov­ ernment. The battle:fteld of Beaumont Hamel, the name of whien will ever be a tragic memory amongst us, has been secured, and here, wf thin en­ closures dedicated to tile cause of liberty and justice by Newfoundland's heroic sacrltlces, will be concentrat­ ed the graves of all members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who fell in the advanee of July lat, 1916. Ir.

SPM.Dr aad Gentlemea of tile Hoao.rable House of sseml>IJ: The revenue for the last :tlscal year showed a subatantial surplus over el' .. pendit11re. On the other hand, there have been large expenditures not in­ clttded within the scope of last year's Estimates which it will be necessary to legalize. In spite of these large disbursements the revenue was more than suftleient to meet current ex-• pendlture.

It must be rtemembered, however, that practically the whole of the very large expenae incurred in connection with the Depa.-tment ot Militia and in the matter of pensions for soldiers and sailors and their hospital treatment atld civil re-esta?tw I

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 7 lishment was borne on Capital Ae- built in Newfoundland and of all count. The Estimates have been subject to considerable revision, and have been based upon the report of the Civil Service Commission appointed by my late Ministers. My Ministers propose to submit to you for your careful consideration a bona fide 1tatement of the moneys which are estimated to be necessary to cover the expense of the public service of the Colony for the coming fiscal year.

They are of the opinion that the • practice whic~ has grown up during recent years ot submitting Estimates tar below the actual anticipated ex­ penditure, trusting to provision being made under the head of "Supplement­ al Supply" at a subsequent session of the Legislature for the authorization ot over-expenditure, should be dis­ continued as far as practicable. Ir. Pmsldeat ancl Hon&urable Ge•tle­ mea of the Legislative Council: Mr.

Speaker &lld Ge~tJemetl of the Ho:u.ouable House of Assembly: The Department of Marine and Fisheries, which may be considered one of the most important Depart­ ments of the Administration, will be reorganized; an Information Bureau and Sclelllti:flc Research Department Will be established; a commission will be appointed to put into operation laws for the ' standardization of ft sh &ad the improvement of the cure thereof. Trade Commissioners and other agents will be appointed from time to time until ~(ewfoundland is auitably represented in all its prin­ cipal ftsh markets.

Legi·slation will be introduced to provide tor the en­ forcement of such regulations as my Minlaters may con:sider necessacy to protect the interests in foreign coun­ trie· s ot those who ship fish to the foreign market. Leglslatio& will be introduced to establish a proper survey or ships vessels engaged in the foreign trade of the Island. . This legislation will include provision ~r the protection ot the lives of those employed oa foreign-going vessels. You will be invited to consider bills for the creation of a Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the crea­ tion ot a Department of Education.

A reorganization of the Department · of Agriculture and Mines is being undertaken with a view to the cur­ tailment of expenditures which past practice has indicated to be unfrutt­ ful and the development of a new pQlfcy which my Ministers confident­ ly believe will tend to make agricul­ ture a very much more important factor in the Colony's prosperity than it has been in the put.

Tb.e problem of both Coastal and Inland transportation, which are of the first importance to the Industrial welfare of the Colony, are receiving most caretul consideration at tbe hands of my Ministe:rs, who hope to be in a position to submit for con­ sideration at this session of the Leg- 1 slature some practical proposals f OP more efficient service. Quite recently a company has been incorporated for the purpose of the erection of a large number of work­ ingmen's homes.

The company hopes that as many as thirty houses at a cost · not exceeding $2,000 each will be constructed during the pre~nt year, and my Ministers anticipate that application will be made by the Com­ pany to the Legislature for cerltain concessions to assist them In theil' philanthropic activities. I express the hope that your delil>­ erations may, under the guidance of Divine Providence, tend to the further welfare and prosperity ot this ancient Colony. SIR MICHAEL CASHIN: -Mr. Speaker, I move these Resolutions.

8 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS In moving these Resolutions I would like to draw the attention of the House to tbe fact that in them I am not making any charge of wrong­ doing.

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that cer­ tain irregularities have taken place and certain. definite charges have been made against the Leader of the Gover­ nment by an iexMinister of the Crown and an ·ex-member of this House, and until that affidavit and these charges are closed · up, I do not think 1t is out of place to move an adjournment and a13k that the Leader of the Gev­ ernment withdraw from this House until a proper enquiry establishes his innocence. Let us go back to 1894.

In that year charges were made against eighteen members of the House led by the late Sir William Whiteway Charges were ~aid against the. m in ~ Sup.reme Co·urt of this Colony for bribery and corruption. · Wb(at ~ happened was that this House was called t~ether and wh 1 en theSu­ p:r:eme C·ourt pronounced upon the first two cases tried before it, un­ seating two of its memb ·ers, Messrs M·oore and Woods, members for Bay de Verde District, the remaining mein- • 'bers of that party refused to occupy their seats.

That was r,ight and pro- • per, and according to moral law and uisages they should not hold their seat's in this House with a cloud hang­ ing over them. Today a similar thing has happened The Leader of this House has been charged with serious · irregularities, as has already been stated. And this charge is not of yesterday or of a few days ago. It has been in exist­ ence for a month and it is up to the Leader of the Government now to re­ but that charge now before a proper tribunal.

Is it n·ot the· duty of mem­ bers of this House, I ask, to satisfy . themselves as t~ whether or not the ' Prime Minister is innocent and is it not only decent and right that we should adjourn this House so that th1e Commission appointed by the Govern­ ment within the past forty-eight hours could tak· e evidence and report to this House or to His Excellency the Gov­ ernor. It has always been the prac - ' tice and traditions of this House to jealously guard its independence, in­ tegrity and honesty. Why deviate from it now?

Ihave been a member of this House for twenty-eight years and during that period period charges were laid against me here. One man at present occupy ­ ing a ·seat in this Chamber-I refer now to the Leader of the F.P .U.-made a charge against me. What happened My colleagues, one of whom is Prime Minister today, appointed a Com­ mission over my head and without giving me notice, inquired into the charges. I kept clear of any executive meetings while that charge hung over my head until the Commission reported and vindicated me.

Now what I am saying is perfectly correct, and in making this statement this evening 1 hope that you gentlemen on the other side of the House will take action and see that justice is done to the Lead­ er of the Government and to this House. As previously mentioned by. me, in '94 Sir William Whiteway, Sir Robert Bond, Sir Edward Morris, and fifteen others, members of the Government and of the House of Assembly, were unseated and disqualified for corrupt and illegal practices. That is now ancient history.

Immediately the House was· called together, an adjournment was taken to wait for the pronounce­ ment of the Supreme Court where each and every case was tried. Sir William Whiteway could have come in here as you are today and gone on with the business of the House, bue, he took the position that a cloud hung·

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 9 over the heads of eighteen members of his Gnvernment, including himself, and for tl1at reason he was not pre­ pared to come here to transact the business of the house or pass any legislation whatever. I have presented a resolution that 1~ right and proper. I am asking nothing which cannot be granted by the other side of the House. Nothing at all. When I present this resolution I am not blaming the Prime Minister, but I think it is right that we should await the result of the Commission . Why should we not leave this House until such time as there is an enquiry into this matter.

Why should any legislation be passed while such a condition of affairs exists. I think the Prime Minister ought to withdraw from the House, Sir, until this matter is cleared up. Why need any bills be passed? It is not necessary and we therefore ought to adjourn for one week. I can assure him, Sir, that as Leader of the Op­ position and on their behalf that we will help the Government to pass all ·legislation that is necessary and bene"' flcial for this Dominion.

I think, Sir, that the Leader of the Govern-­ ment, the Prime Minister, ought not to come in here and keep his seat until such time that his innocence is established, and I serve notice that otherwise no business will go through this House. I make that stand on behalf of the Opposition. And I think this resolution ought to be shown every consideration and that before the result of the inquiry is known, I nothing should be done. Why should the Prime Minist~r place himself in that position? We can leave the business of this House for the present. The Pr;me Minister ought to with­ draw from this Chamber.

All neces­ sary legislation can be gone through when we come back to this Chamber. This is the position taken, Sir, and I have much pleasur , Sir, in moving this resolution. MR. BENNETT:--In ris·ng to second and support the resolution just submitted by the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Michael Cashin, I wish to avail of this early opportun ­ ity of extending my personal con­ gratulations to you, Mr. Speaker, on the high honor tl1at the House has conferred upon you, that of the high­ est Commoner in the land.

You have been called therefor to fill a very im­ portant office, an office occupied by many able and eminent legislators, and I feel sure that the traditions that surround the Speaker's chair will be well maintained by you and that the impartiality that ever marked the office of your predecessors will still be continued and prove an incentive to you to follow in their footsteps. The extraordinary circumstances at present existing in the House ne­ cessitate extraordinary procedure on His Majestys' loyal opposition.

The resolution just submitted is such as upon reflection, I feel sure ., that members -0n both sides of the House will consider most reasonable and desirable. It cannot be denied that at the pres,ent time the Leade,r of this House is in the unfortunate position that, until such time as he clears himself of the charges made against him through a sworn affidavit of an ex-Minister of the Crown, he can neitl1er expect or deserve the confidenc · e so essential to his office in the conduction of the business of this Assembly. lVIr.

Squires stands charged \Vitl1 a serious offence and personally I re­ gret to see him in that position a11d I feel that in order to absolutel y .. ·vindicate his character and reput a· tion he will agr e·e to an adjol1rnment of the House for a few days or un til such time as tl1e co1nn1ission tha t is to be appoint ed can inve s tj gate and

12 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS than innocent till he is proven guilty. I cannot see why the business of this House should be held up mere­ ly because it is the wish of. some that this tradition be broken. I have no doubt that the Prime Minister will make a statement as to his position with regard to the charge of which we have beard so much, and mean­ tilne I content myself with making · the statement to which I have already ref errecj.

I have been called upon to put in motion the machinery of the law against the gentleman concerned in these charges and I · have refrained from doing so because I am convinc­ ed that even if they were proven ~uilty of the action alleged against them there is nothing criminal in that action and therefore nothing of which I, as Attorney General, was called upon to take notice. I have moreover fortified myself with an­ other opinion.

I cabled the solicitor of the Government in London asking him to consult eminent legal author .. ity on the point and his reply was \ that counsel advised that there was nothing criminal in the action charg­ ed against the Prime Minister, and consequently no foundation for any ' action by the Department of Justice. HON. THE PRIME MINISTER:­ Mr. Speaker, permit me first of all to extend to you, Sir, my hearty con­ gratulations. on your elevation to tbe distinguished rank of first commoner of the land.

For many years the electoral District of Carbonear, for which you are now the sitting mem-. . ber, has been honored by having its representative occupying the Speak­ er's <?hair, and in congratulating you I &Dl congratulating your constitu­ ency in that the honor which has been conferred upon you by tbe members of this House is an honor to the con­ stituency which you represent.

I am particularly pleased that Sir Michael Patrick Cashin, the Leader ot the Opposition, has given me the very earliest possible opportunity to refer to an affidavit which is now known throughout the length and breadth of the country as the St. Patrick's Day affidavit of Willi~ Woodford. The allegation made by M~. Woodford that on St. Patrick's Day I entered into an agreement with him to purchase his resignation from the House of Assembly in considera­ tion of a Government job, had been used by Sir Michael Cashin and his • associates, William J. Higgins, one of Woodtord's solicitors; William J ..

O'Neill, editor of The Plaindealer_ and a n1Jm ber of their persona~ as­ sociates and friends for the purpose of personal vilification of myself, and during the past weeks bitter, false and offensive personal attacks have been made upon me by members of the Opposition and in the Opposition press. These attacks haye not, however, been more bitter, falser, more vin­ dictive or abusive than has been the persistent personal campaign against ~yself by these men for months past. This vindictive personal pursuit is not unexpected to me.

It is the sort of opposition which I must naturally expect from the class of people who have identified themselves with these attacks. The~ men were prepared to take any step, no matter how despicable, and ta go to any lengths, no matter how dishonorable and dis­ gusting, if perchance they could suc­ ceed ;n injuring myself as a public man, and as a citizen of the -com ... munity.

Coming from the quarter from which these attacks come, I welcome them; coming from the minds and characters by which these attaek:s are .produced, I also weleome them, and feel thankful that out of the party which It is my distinguished honor

14 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS public man, as a professional man, and as a citizen. I all\ very happy tliat Sir Michael Cashin has given me an opportunity of dealing with this at the earliest possible moment, but I am partic­ ularly happy that Sir Michael Cashin and his associ~s, constituting the entire Opposition, were pleased to identify themselves personally and as the ofticial Opposition with this in­ famous political plot, which as a St.

Patrick's Day affidavit attack upon myself will have no more effect upon myself personally nor upon . the sta-­ bility of this administratioB than the Guy Fawkes plot, memoralized on "Bonfire Day," November 5th, had upon the British Parliament. MR. SULLIVAN:-Lilre my friend on this side of the House and my friends on the opposite side, I heart­ ily concur with the congratulations tended you on the high honor which has been conferred upon you.. The Prime Minister stated in his address that the members on the Opposition side have been denounc­ ing him for the last month or two.

I can assure him that I have not gone out of my way to denounce him, and I am sure that there are several members on this side of the House who have not even mentioned his not doubt Mr. Warren's word ~'r a moment, but he should table the cor­ respondence, so that he will know on what grounds the answer he received was received. It is rather late now in the day for the Prime Minister to come out with such a statement. He has had a considerable while to think ft over, and I doubt now it he would make a s;tatement at ~II oi;ily he was forced to do so.

He said every effort was being made by certain people and nothing would be ~topped at to keep him from meeting this House as Prime Minister. I am at a loss to understand his insinuation and would be pleased it he would ex­ plain what ~e means. The reason that I am supporting this resolution is because I believe in all sincerity that the members of this House will endorse this resolution which was carried at the public meeting the other night practically unanimously, and ·I that it should have been quite easy for the Prime Minister to have made a statement, when this happened first. If Mr.

Squires is prepared to take an affi­ davit that there is nothing in this charge then I will be one of the first to 'Say · that he is welcome here, and I hope he will be here a long time. SIR J. C. CROSBIE:-Mr. Speaker, I rise 'to support the Leader of the Opposition in the resolution which he has moved for the adjournment of the House for one week. I also wish to take this opportunity of congratulat­ ing the Speaker upon the bigh honor conferred upon him, and personally I feel sure that the Speaker will so conduct himself in his po~ition as to re:flect credit upon himself and the ..

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY · PROCEEDINGS 15 necessary for Mr. Squires to get off what he did ,this afternoon. I think Mr. Squires would have acq·uitted himself mu·ch better this afternoon if he had· left unsaid a lot of things that he said. These charges bave been in the air ever since the election. Auditors were brought here from New York and Bo·ston to prove charges against me.

If I ever did anything wrong when I was a Minis­ ter of the Crown I did it without And in my innocence (and you know I am not very innocent), I would like to say to the Prime Minister "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone," and I don't think there are any stones around this House. I have been in this House when charges were made against members and things said in the heat of debate that were better unsaid. I am now occupying a chair that was once fill­ ed by a late Leader of the Opposition.

He and I had many spats and cross­ ed swords several times, but I will say this for him that while I was associated with him in the National GoV'ernment I found him to be correct and above board. I found nothing wrong with him. I feel that the leader of the F.P.U. will see that justice is done in this matter though the hea~ens may fall. I would like to say to the prime minister this afternoon that charges have been made in the Daily Star newspaper that could have been left out. I am manly enough to bring this matter up, not that I feel it; but rather because I should like for the prime minister to know it.

Last night my head \Vas likene<;I to a billiard ball in the "Star.'' Now I do not think this is etiquette. I do not think that a man who is looking to keep up a high standard of politics and who hopes to get good clean go,v­ ernment should tolerate this sort of thing. Now I am not going to be Plypo­ critical, but the one who sets himself , up to teach the man underfleath him to do what is right is like a preacher and if he does not do what is right himself, he should expect to be judged by his own standards.

I really believe this afternoon that the prime minister is considering an adjournment of this house until Mon­ day next. If either he or Mr. Coaker have anything to bring in that will be good for the colony I will support it, but if it turns out like the Fish Regtt­ lations I will oppose it. I would like for Mr. Squires to act squarely and rnanly in this matter ~ef ore the chair. I do not ask hi1n to get l\t\r. Warren or JVir. Coaker, to act in his place during his absence. \Vhen he has cleared him­ self of the Woodford charges I think he will stand on a higher pedestal in the eyes of his fellow-countrymen.

I trust that Mr. Squires's explanation v,dll be satisfactory to himself and that ' . d the Royal Commission gives their e- cision that he will be honorably ac­ quitted. Personally I have nothing against any individual on any side of the house; I have nothing against the F.P.U. or any men1ber thereof. You beat us last fall at the polls, but I was never beaten and I do not think that any Britisher yet was ever beaten. If I was going to be down and say I was beaten my fellow-countrymen would say I was no good. Messrs.

Small and LeGrow would not be with us to-day if the British had to say they were beaten two, three or four years ago. In concluding my remarks I appeal to my friend Mr. Coaker, leader of the F.P.U. and his associates and I appeal to you, Mr. Squires, to adjourn this house until Monday next. I ask you personally to quit this personal abuse as it is not .. good enough. It is all very well to circulate charges and stories for the purpose of exciting people, but when these stories are put in cold­ blooded print, there is where you will

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 17 I take this opportunity of drawing the attention of the house to its duty to itself, and would ask the members on the other side of the house to keep secure its dignity and privilege ·. We will for our part see that the dignity and integrity of the house are carried out and respected. It is not a matter of merely pure party politics. J f any members on the other side wish to vote against the motion, well, they are not upholding the traditions of this house.

If they want to break these down by voting against this resolution, well it is their own business, but I fear they will some day regret it. I should like to see the cable and the reply. I have a good opinion of the attorney general. He is too good a lawyer, and so is the premier himself, not to know that there are other aspects in the way or criminal law application to this country aside from the English • election act.

I merely suggest to the Honourable the Minister of Justice in the interests of the house to consider the resolution before the house and ought not the honourable the prime minister in consideration of this Reso­ lution before the house and public opin.ion vacate his seat for the time be­ ing and not make himself unworthy of • the position which he fills in this house. The prime minister as the leader of the house should set the example by doing what is right in matter of the privileges and honour of this chamber.

It is not a matter of party interests, but is a matter for the consideration of the house as a house, because the rights of the house belong only to it­ self. We should not talk of the crin1- inal laws. Parliament is beyond and above the laws. What could have hap­ pened if no Royal Commission had been . appointed to investigate the mis- conduct of the prime minister stands accused of? The prime minister would come in here and debate this 1natter under privilege.

Yes, I might sincerely say to the pri1ne minister if there was no commission to deal with the matter I believe he himself would move the house into privilege for the consideration of this matter. I respectfully and sincerely submit that the resolution does not discredit the leader of the house, nor does it suggest anything underhand, it merely asks that the business of this house be def erred, and for that reason I think · the motion is worthy of being carried 'Vhether it came from the other side or not and in th!:tt case I should and shall support in and even if it concerned the leader of the Opposition.

Whereupo~ the House divided ant! these appeared for the resolution:-­ Sir M. P. Cashin, Sir J. C. Cro$bfe) Messrs. Bennett, Higgins, Fox, Vinni -.; combe, Dr. Jones, Mr. Moore, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Sinnott, Mr. Sullivan, Mr • MacDonnell-(12); and against it­ Prime Minister, Minister of Justf ce, Minister of Finance, Minister of Mar­ ine and Fisheries, Minster of Educa­ tion, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, Hon. Mr. Foote, Minister of Public Works, A\cting Minister ot Shipping, Mr. LeGrow, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Winsor, Mr. Small, Mr. Cheeseman, Mr. Htbb!, Mr. Gosse, Mr. Archibald, Mr. Scam­ mell, Mr. Targett, Mr. Guppy, Mr.

Jones, Mr. Samson-(22); so it passed the the negative and was ordered ac­ cordingly. Mr. Speaker further announced that whilst in the Council Chamber Hts Excellency had been pleased to make a speech to both branches. HON. THE PRIME MINISTER-Mr. Speaker, may I be permitted at this stage of the proceedings to occupy the . attention of the House for a moment with the consideration of a resolutf on of sympathy to the relatives of the three deceased gentlemen who since last session have vacated their seat In the Legislative Counctl of Newfound-

' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 19 Not so, however, was the case ot the Hon. John Harvey, who in the fullness of life's activities was called from the Legislative Council cham­ ber and his large business Interests, hia many social and philanthropic activitie~, to other fields of labor. In hla departure we all feel the cutting short ere its time of a noble life. "Yet once more, 0 ye laurels, and once more , Ye myrtles brown, with ivy ·never sere, I come, to pluck your berries harsh and crude; And, with forced fingers rude, Shatter your leaves before the mellow­ ing year.'' In the case of the Hon. Dr.

Skelton I and the Hon. A. F. Goodridge, the mellowing year had come and almost passed. In the case . of the Hon. John Harvey, his earthly life ceased before full fruition. As a prominent member of the firm of Messrs. Harvey & Co., the Hon. John Harvey was vitally in­ terested in the commerce of the Col­ ony. As a business man he was &uc­ cessful, and the firm of which he was the senior member has the highest reputation for honour and efticiency in business matters. In spite of the pressure of his business responsibilities Mr. Harvey was ever ready to devote • time and effort to public and philan- thropic matters.

His work in con­ nection with the campaign against · the ravages of tuberculosis which ex­ tended from the year 1907 to the yea~ 1913, when the work was taken 9ver by the Government, is a memorial to the self .. sacrificing industry of this public-spirited gentleman. It is gener­ ally understood that the summer training school 'for teachers could not have . become a accomplished fact had it not been the large private donations of Mr. H rvey.

During the war he was ever ready with any effort which lay within his power in the interests of Newfoundland recuitlng, and the first Newfoundlander to lay down his life for the Empire was the Hon. John Harvey's bother, Bernard, who was a commander in the Royal Navy. The passing of Mr. Harvey means a loss to Newfoundland ot a citizen who easily bore his own large burdens as an outstanding business man in the community and a man who was ever ready to help to bear the burdens of others also. These three legislative councillors stand out as an object lesso• of faithful service. In the case of the Hon. Dr.

Skelton and Hon. Mr. Good­ ridge the:re was fullness of lite round­ ed out by a plenitude ot years; in the Hon. Mr. Harvey an intensity of life cut short at early maturity. • "Now the laborer's task is o'er; Now the battle-day ls past; Now upon the farther shore Lands the ~oyager at last. "There the tears of lite are dried; There its hidden things are clear; There the work of life is tried By a juster Judge than here. "Father, in Thy gracious keeping, Leave we now Thy servant sleeping." I move, rMr.

Speaker, that · this resolution do now pass: RESOLVED-That this house de­ sires to record the expression of its deep regret at the death of the Honorable George Skelton, the Hon­ orable Augustus F. Goodridge and the Honorable John Harvey; some­ time members of the Honorable Legis­ lative Council. RESOLVED-That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the rela­ tives of the deceased honorable gen­ flemen. SIR MICHAEL CASHIN :-Mr. Speaker, I join with the l~der of the government in the motion of con- ...

20 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS dolence before the chair. Dr. Skelton lived a life of · usefulness, and did noble work in the interest of New­ foundland. He was an active figure in all public matters. In the legislature he was always first in his place, and always last to leave the place. I often discussed with him mornings when we met of the conditions of his health and congratulated him on his remarkable vitality. He was one of the old land marks who did his duty quietly, fear­ lessly, and without ostentation.

He was unassuming but earnest in his political duties as he was . kind and courteous in his private life. A gentle­ man of the old school who bore no ill­ f eeling, who by his example and c-0n­ duct strove to make things run smooth­ ly and to appease bitterness and strife.

We shall meet him no more here, . but we can feel with an assurance st'rengthened by our strong faith in Divine justice, that he is now enjoying the reward of a well spent life and the happiness which is due to one who in this life bent his energies and exerci~ed his will to make our conduct harmonize with what is good, generous, and char­ itable. Next to him who has passed to the great beyond since this legislature last met, is the Hon. A. F. Goodridge, who was . known to me better than any hon­ ourable member of this house.

He came to Ferryland district 67 years ago to engage in the fishery business under the tuition of his fa th er. He grew up in Ferryland and he trained in the busi­ ness of the fishery there and his name in the district was ever an honored one, and his memory will long be cher­ ished in the hearts of the people. The Goodridge firm, as you ·all well know, was one of the foremost, if not the foremost, of the business houses in Newfoundland, and it occupied that place because of the industry and in­ tegrity of its members, and the Hon. A. F.

Goodridge was loved in the dis- trict of Ferryland and esteemed be­ yond the ordinary man. True the Good­ ridge firm made money in Ferryland as they did elsewhere, but it was ever their aim to deal fairly and generously with all; and I venture to say, sir, that when the announcement of Hon. A. F. Goodridge's death was made there were more prayers offered for him in that district than in any other part of the country.

The proof of the high place which he held in the esteem of the peo­ ple amongst whom he latored, is to be found in the fact that when he stood as a candidate for Ferry land district he was unanimously elected to this as­ sembly without any opposition what­ ever, and I now make the statement without fear of successful contradic­ tion that had he desired to remain the representative of that district up to ffi&. time of his death, he could have done so.

An outstanding characteristic of the Goodridges was that they nevet saw a poor man go without assistance, and it was never ·known of them to turn a man away unprovided for. If, as it often happened, they were forced to cease doing business with anyone because he had got on the wrong side of the books, they sent for him and gave him the wherewithal to carry him through the winter, . and it is with the deepest regret for his deatb that I sec­ ond these resolutions. though we must not forget that his life was run. He was four score years of age, but he stuck to his business to the very last.

He was not the kind that rusted out, I I but rather was he one who, in the truest sense, wore out, and he was just as .anxious to further the business in­ terests of the country at the last as he was in the days of his greatest activity. And now sir, I come to the third of these honored men whom death has re­ moved from the upper chamber, the Hon. John Harvey. I did not have as close relations with the Hon. Mr. Har­ vey as I did with Mr. Goodridge, but l

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 23 land can never be expected to be a great agricultural country; a ver:y· large portion of its soil is unsuited to agricultural pursuits! the climate of many sections of the country ls also adverse, but 1t is a erying shame that Newfoundland should have to import from the nearby provinces of Canada the ordinary vegetables, which grow . so wonderfully in the soil of all sec- tions of the country. I feel confident that under the guidance of Dr. Alex­ ander Campbell, who is himself an agricultural enthusiast, the Depart­ ment of Agriculture will be greatly improved.

The Department of Public Works is being reorganized, and an effort is be­ ing made to put the matter of govern­ ment contracts upon a business-like basis. Graft is eliminated from the program of the new administration. Some people undoubtedly regard the new government as a stingy govern­ ment, but the people of tbe country who pay the bills will appreciate hon­ est, earnest effort on behalf of the De­ partment of Public Works to secure reasonable value for money expended. The.

Department of Marine and Fish eries has at its head one who has achieved great success as an organizer of the fishermen of tne country and as head of an important fishermen's co­ operative enterprise. Mr.

Coaker has the confidence of the . fishermen of the North particularly, and though I am not a fisherman yet I am satisfied that measures will be brought forward by the Government on his recommenda­ tion aa Minister of Marine and Fisher­ ies for the improvement of the work­ lng out of matters in connection with his Department, the development of our fisheries, the standardization of the cull and the improvement of the cure. The appointment of trade agents in Newfoundland's principal foreign fish markets will be measures I ot incalculable benefit to this our stable industry.

I am proud of the opportunity which has been given me of moving that this committee be appointed; I am proud of the opportunity which the electorate has given me of identi­ fying myself with the government party, feeling confident as I do that the Prime Minister and those who are his associates in the council chamber have one ambition and one ambition only, and that is to serve our Island Home honestly, honour­ ably and to the best of their ability as statesmen. I take this opportun­ ity to congratulate you on the great honor conferred on you.

I beg, Mr . • Speaker, to move that this committee be appoiDrted. · SERGT. F. LeGROW-Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of seconding the motion so ably put before the House by the Hon. and gallant Mem­ ber for Burgeo-Lieut. Small. I am sure the House has listened with a great deal of attention to the splen­ did speech with which Mr. Small has made. I would first of all take this oppo.r­ tunity to extend to you, Mr. Speak~r, my sincere congratulations on the high honor which has been conferred upon you.

I feel sure, Sir, you will uphold the honor and dignity of the high position you now hold and that the best traditions of the House will be safeguarded by you in your dis­ charge of your high official duties. The country will, I feel sure, be pleased to learn from the Speech from the Throne that the Govern­ ment, on the representation of the Prime Minister, has succeeded in securing trom the British Govern­ ment three ships, a full description of.. which has already been published in the city press. One of these steamers fs a sJoop of considerable merit and will no doubt be used by ,

ROCBl!DINGI i tJOIDe cases a whole da~, awaltag tlteiP turn to the coastal wharf. No faalt · 0611 be found with Mesd?s. Bo1f­ ring Bros. They are doing, and I Ulla I will ~ readily admitted, ha'V19 alw-.ys done their best in thie con­ neetlon. The same can be eatd of the oftlclals of the Newfoundland Produce Co. I bOpe, Sir, ways and means will be devised whereby a quic er and b&tter service will be given the trade itl the matter of shipping goods by our eoasta;J steamers.

As ·one who represents a ft.Shine constituency:, I feel it my duty to congratulate the Government on Ute manner fn Which ft grappled with and handled C)ttr staple industry fmmedi­ ately on its aaauinptlon to power. Tile ftlltertes of this Colony will ~ years to co e, maybe for ever, be lie •• ll tJtAple eQK>rt of Newtoundlantt aad ant-thing the Go1'erament ~n do to lnt~e both the cure and tire mar~ k tlC of oar fiah, Bho'ald recel'f'e the ea.rti*'8t and ~ cere co-operation ot a I those 'Who h~e the "Dest inter­ e ta Of our peoJ»le and common coun- t# at heart.

I win adm a great deal ot ml•­ u 6ntandlng was .caused wben tlle QCWe ~8 new fish regulation• were lrst promulgated, but I think it "Wm bi& admitted by even the bittereat •Mi of. these regulations t-t ~ r&undland has gained a good deal ~ t1ie~ and in this resp,ct I '111>- , that a deal of credit u• -- ~ ork done on bell Of tM ~olony and th• great iattre1t takei. Ill the welfare at o r fiBllarDUhl by the Hon.

Minister of Marine anCI ~ • Ullese regulation• ha•• Cttren ~ewfftndland tlsheriel a l'XJd ·- new name in the au~Jl mat­ tt&; They have been _, r:o.el\Qa et ~~ more forcibly t& the ·noUce ot our foreign buyers !ti.kt 1Jewtbuiid- laa • determined lmpr<>Te her t ood&ih aad ill e f&ltur.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 25 those who buy our fishery products will get the best value for the money they pay. We have both heard and read quite a lot about the Italian Consorzio and the alJeged Hawes-Coaker combine. I take it, Sir, that there are not a hundred intelligent persons in New­ foundland who ever took seriously the claims of those who for purely partisan political purposes were pre­ pared to jeopardize the fishing indus­ try of this Colony.

I have had faith in these regulations from the first, and I a.m firmly convinced that in the very near future the wisdom of the Government's action in the matter will be so apparent to ail that there C.Will be no room whatever for even a difference of opinion as to their use­ fulness, not to speak of the benefit~ that will accrue to Newfo~dland and her hardy sons who wrest from the ~ bosom of the Atlantic the cod that would refer, and that is the provision for the construction of workingmen's houses. We will all admit that ther~ never was such a pressing need for houses as there is to-day.

The world over governments are confronted with the same difficulty. In England there is a countrywide movement on foot to cope with the situation. Muni­ cipal and state authorities are taking the matter up and the people them­ selves are helping in every way to improve the present deplorable con­ ditions that exist. Here in our own city Hon. John Anderson, assisted by Hon. M. P. Gibbs and Mr. Jas. Mc­ Grath, until recently President of the L. S. P. U., have done yeomen work in this pal'lticular, and the people of S't.

John's will l:>e pleased to observe ir, the Speech from tbe Throne that the newly incorporated company are pushing ahead in this matter a11d that they hope to construct 30 house~ makes this country self-supporting.. ·chis year. Party politics . have played a big This is a matter that deserTes the

part in these regulations.

The Min- closest attention of this legislature ister of Marine and Fisheries asked and I am pleased to observe that the for unity from all in what he and his &'OVernment anticipate being able to fishery advisory board thought would assist tlle company in their laudable be for the general good of the coun- undertak1ng. try, but he was forced to face un- The conditions under which a necessary abuse and a deal of ridicule large portion of our city laborers are in doing his duty. living is indeed appalling and noth- At the time these regulations were inK should be left undone by the gov­ put in force the foreign markets were ernment and the citizens generally in a bad shape financially as a result to help in the improving of present of the war.

Financial credits were in conditions. 1 a tangled skein, and it required bold- The new company is . one ·which ness, courage and faithfulness of pur · should command the respect and con­ pose to meet the situation. The tidence of all investors and I am sure Government met all three and did itJ that the investing public will, when duty to the country, and I ·feel sure the call is :piade, be only too willing the fishermen who lives by the :fisli- to invest in such a pi:oposition.

The eries will appreciate and give due government may not be able · to do credit to the Prime Minister and his all thwt it may be asked to do in this party associates for their work in matter, but it is pleasing to learn their behalf. . from his excellency's speech that the There is another paragraph in the matter is being recognized and that Speech from the Throne to which I the government is prepared to deal '

' HOUSE ASSI!M8LY PROCEEDINGS 27 titled and hallowed by the young blood of Great Britain~s oldest pos­ session. Today many of our noblest and best sleep quietly in the silent places where the scarlet poppies grow in rich profusion-to their sacred memory the purchase of tbe site of Beaumont Hamel is the graceful tri­ bute of a grateful country. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I think I could not do better than quote the ·wol'ds of the immortal Lincoln in his never-to-be-forgotten Gettysburg speech. We have secured Beaumont Hamel as a last resting place for those who g~ve their lives thait the nation might live.

It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrwte, we cannot hallow thjs ground. The brave men living and dead who struggled there, have consecrated it tar above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note or long remember what we do here: but it can never forget what they did. It is for us the living, rather, to dedi­ cate here to the unfinished work which they who fought for have so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedi­ cated to the great task remaining be­ fore us, that from these honored dead "e take increased devotion to . that cause for which they gave that last full measure of devotion; and that \Ve highly resolve that tl\ese dead f halt not have died in vain, and that this country, under God, · shall have a new birth of freedom; and that a Government of the people, by the people,. and for the people shall not perish from the earth.

I ~ink, Sir, I have covered the most impo1'tant parts contained in the Speech from the Throne, and have therefore much pleasure in seconding the motion so ably and logically moved> by Lieut. Small, that a select committee be appointed by this House to draft. a reply to the Speech from the Throne, with which His. Excellency has been pleased to open thi· S first session of the 24th General Assembly of the Newfoundland Legis­ lature. It was moved by Mr. Small and sec­ or1ded by Mr.

LeGrow that an addr~ss of thanks be presented to his excel­ le11cy the governor, in reply to the gracious speech with which he had been pleased to open the present ses­ sion of the legislatiire, and that a select committee be appointed to adopt such address in reply, the committee to consist of Mr. Small, Mr. LeGrow, Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Fox and Mr. Sullivan. SIR M. P. CASHIN :-I rise for the purpose of congratulating the movier and seconder of the Address in Reply to His Excellency's Speech. As has been stated they are the first of the soldier representatives in the Honse of Assembly.

I congratulate them on the manner in which they have prais­ ed the Speech from tbe Throne. Mr. Speaker, out of respect for those two gentlemen, I have .decided to reserve my remarks till the next sitting of the House. Both these gentlemen are Blue Puttee men; both those are two of the first who rallied to the call in 1914. I remember quite well the day they left on the ill-fated Florizel. I was one of the members of tbe Gov­ ernment, and when that call came Newfoundland wasn't in the position financially that she is in today.

It seemed impossible, I may tell you, to the government of the day, that five hundred men could be rallied from Newfoundland, to go and fight our ,, unteered in the first of the war than we can ever repay. All that the battles. Some went at it diligently, not with much hope, but what do they· find? Men like the mover and second­ er rallied to the call. They were the

• 28 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS men who led the way, and that is the reason I reserve my remarks till the next sitting of this House. I have much pleasure in congratulating the mover and se·conder. HON. THE PRIME MINISTER:­ Mr. Speaker, I desire to join with the Leader of the Opposition in con­ gratulating the mover and seconder ot the Address in Reply to His Ex­ cellency's Speech. It is with more than mere formal courtesy.

We owe a great deal more to tbose who vol­ Board of Pensions and Civil Re-Es­ tablishment Committee can do is not too much for the boys who took their chance in face of fearful odds, to do honor to the Empire.

Hon. the Minister Of Justice gav~ notice that on tomorrow he woul'l ask leave to introdu ·ce a bill entitle·~: ''An Act resp ·ecting the effect and ap·· plication of certain Acts subsequent to · Consolidated S'tatutes (Thir1 "An Act respecting the Department of Public Works." Hon. the Prime Minister gave no­ tice that on tomorrow he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled: "Ari Act re·specting the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.'' Sir M. P. Cashin gave Notice or Question. Sir J. C. Crosbie gave Notice of Question.

Hon. the Prime Minl!ter tabled the following documents: Report of Newfoundland Saving• Bank, 1919. Report of Harbor Grace Industrial Society, 1919. ~ Report of Newfoundland War Con .. tingent ... \ssociation. Report of Department of Militia up to March 31st, 1919. Thanks of House of Lords and Commons for the services of New­ foundland Soldiers and Sailors in the Series)." . Great War. Hon. the Minister of Justice gavJ'~ It was moved and seconded that notice that on tomorrow be ·wou•fl ask leave to introduce a bill 1entitl9'j.

"An Act to amend the Industrial Societies Act, 1919." Hon. the Minister of Justice gave notice that on tom·orrow he would ask leave to introdu ,ce a bill entitle:d: "An Act to amend Cap. 41 of the Con­ solidated Statutes (Third Series) ~a­ titled: 'Of the Newfoundland Medical Board.'" Hon. the Minister of Marine and Fisheries gave notice that on tomor­ row he would ask leave to introduce ~ a bill entitled: "An Act to provide for the Standardization of Codfish.'' ~ Hon. the Prime Minister gave no­ tice that on tomorrow he would ask leave to introduce a bill entit1e<l · . ''An Act to amend tbe Food Control Act, 1917 ." Hon. the Prime Minister gave no­ tice . that on tomorrow he would af·k leave to introduce a bill entitled: when the House rises it adjourn un­ til tomorrow, Thursday, at three of the clock in the afternoon.

The House then adjourned accord­ ingly. THURSDAY, April 22, 1920. The House met at three of the clock in the afternoon, pursuant to adjournment. MR. SULLIVAN:-Mr. Speaker, I ask leave to present a petition from several of the inhabitants of Rushoon, Pla,centia Bay, asking that that p.Jace be made a port of call of the s.s . . Argyle.

Those people over tbere are laboring under great .disadvantages; and while I am on this matter I would like to ask my hon. friend, Mr . • Foote, member for Burin, to support this petition, as Rushoon divides the two districts in two, and it would be i great benefit to his district as well as to the District of Placentia and

30 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS the coastal service during the eominr: :rear_ MR. CHEESEMAN:-! have much pleasure in supporting the prayer of the petition and endorse all that has been said about it. As Mr. Walsh has said it is utterly impossibJe for one boat to give satisfactory service in Placentia Bay. On this

section of the coast, business is very great and de­ mands greater attention in the steam­ ship service. I shall sincerely do all in my power to have this done and believe the Government will do some­ thing and do it p~operly to bring about a better state of affairs in the steamship service of Placentia Bay. There is no bay in the country whose needs are more pressing than this one and I sincerely trust that before long there will be more than one boat plying in Placentia Bay. MR. SULLIVAN:-Mr.

Speaker, I beg to pres1ent petition · which has been presented to me from the inhab­ itants of Haystack, Placentia Bay. 'rhis House, no doubt, is fully aware that in last November, terrific storms swept this part of the bay, and from the storm of the 9th of November past the people of Haystack suffered considerably. This place is built on a :flat piece of land which is a narrow neck and from the above storm great havoc resulted to the people of this settlement. The petition is signed by thirty-five electors and they ask that a breakwater be built so that any grea damage in the future will be pre ... vented.

Should any great storm take place it is likely that several houses will be washed away. Considering the great damage that the petitioners have suffered I think that something should be done. They ask for the sum of five thousand dollars to build this breakwater. Owing to the grav- ity and the g rave nature of the dam­ age that may occur at any time, I think it is advisable to send out the outport inspector or the Government Engineer to Haystack and make a re­ port on this matter.

I trust that the Government will see its way clear to meet the prayer of this petition after receiving the report of the engineer or the ma n whom they may send. I have much pleasure, therefore, Mr. Speaker, in giving this petition my hearty support. HON. MINISTER OF JUSTICE:-1 beg leave, Mr. Speaker, to present a petition from the Women's Patriotic Association of Newfoundland. I think there could not be anything more im­ portant to this House than a petition from the executive body of this asso ·· ciation. The hon. member for Pla­ centia, Mr.

Walsh, in presenting the petition from the people 1 of Rushoon said that the petitioners occupied the unique position of having five repre­ sentatives in this House, and that the petition ought to have their support, and in the same way I feel sure that every member of the House will sup­ port this petition and particularly the three honorable gentlemen of His Ma­ jesty's forces which are represented here. The petition prays that

an act be passed incorporating the associa­ tion, and this is asked because the liberality and generosity of the people of Newfoundland has enabled them to have a surplus of money on their hands left over from their patriotic exertions. They desire that they be able to devote the same to some pur­ pose. The women of Newfoundland through their executive committee, de­ cided to ask this House to pass

an act incorporating the association, so that they will be at liberty to spend the money in any way they ·desire. I may say to the honorable members of the House that this is a little out of the ordinary, and so that the members may understand what is asked I will read the first paragraph. (Reads 1st. para.) l' feel sure •that as far as this House is concerned it will give effect

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 31 to the pray~r of this · petition, and I hope that in a very short time to pre­ sent to the House

an act or bill em- Cashin, the Leader of the Opposition, the courtesy of such delay as he may desire for preparation for the debate bodying the reqt1est of the Women's on this motion. Patriotic Association of Newfoundland, HON. SIR M. P. CASHIN:-Mr. when every member will be enablea to give expression of their admiration and sincere gratitude to the women of tbis dominion who did so much for the comfort of the soldiers and sailors of this country during the war. MR. SULLIVAN:-Mr. Speaker, I have much pleasure in giving my l1earty support to this petition. MR. SMALL:-Mr.

Speaker, I have inuch pleasure in supporting the prayer of the petition. l\1:R. LeGROW:-Mr. Speaker, I have mt1ch pleasure in supporting this pe­ tition. .HON. THE PRIME MINISTER:-! have much pleasure in joining with tb.e Attorney General who has present­ ed and the honorable and gallant gen­ tlemen who have supported the prayer of the executive committee of the Women's Patriotic Association of Newfoundland, asking that the asso­ ciation be incorporated for patriotic and philanthropic purposes.

The work of ·the association during the years of 'var was of incalculable value to New­ foundland's fighting forces and meant a very great deal of work for the ladies of the association and much self-sacri­ fice on their part. This organ.izatton represents the leaders of patriotic and philanthropic work not merely in St. John's, but throughout the entire country and did much to stimulate re­ cruiting and provide comforts for our soldiers and sailors while overseas.

I feel sure that the house will gladly accord unanimous passage to the act of incorporation which will at a later date be introduced on behalf of the executive committee of the Women's Patriotic Association by the Attorney General. HON. THE PRIME MINISTER:-! am glad to extend to Sir Michael Speaker, I beg to move that the adop­ tion of the report to the Address and Reply to His Excellency's speech be deferred till to-morrow. Sufficient time has not been given to the mem­ bers on this side of the House to con­ sider the Speech from the Throne. HON.

THE PRIME MINISTER:-If it is the desire of the Leader of the Opposition that the report as to thu Address and Reply to the Speech from the Throne be deferred till to-morrow it shall be done. Mr.

Small, on behalf of the Select Committee appointed to draft a reply to His Excellency's speech, presented the report of the Select Committee as follows: To His Excellency Sir Charles Alex­ ander Harris, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.V.O., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Dominion of New­ foundland and its Dependencies: May it please Your Excellency- We, the Commons of Newfoundland, in Legislative Session assembled, beg to thank Your Excellency for the Gracious Speech Your Excellency has addressed to both houses of the Legis­ lature. (Signed) H. H. SMALL, F. P. LeGROW, W. R. WARREN.

Assembly Rooms, April 23rd, 1920. On motion this report was received and it was ordered that the motion for adoption stand over until to-morrow. Pursuant to notice and leave grant­ ed and on motion of hon. the Minister of Justice the bill entitled "An Act respecting the effect and application of certain acts subsequent to Consoli­ dated Statutes (third series), was in troduced and read a first time, and ;

HottSB 01" ASBJDlBLY PROOUDINGS Pursuant to notice and leav.e ed and on motion of Hon- the Minister the bill entitled "An specttng the Departm.~nt of Works" was inttoduced and first t'nie and ordered to be second time on to-morrow. PUrsuant io notice and leave ~t· ed anti on motion of Hon. the P. me Minister, the Bill entitled "An A,ct te- Hllll'''l.l:ii': .... 1 ,., .. -clin~ the De~artment of Pos re the aadavtt made by W. Woodford. Esqul e. Sir J. C.

Crdsbie asked the Actiq Mini ter ot Shipping to lay on the table of the House a copy ot all cables and correspondence between his d.,. partment and the United States Shi,_ ping Board wf th reference to the Im­ portation ot a cargo of eoal in the month of March. Mr. Sullivan gave notice of que,tlon. Mr. MacDonnell gave notice of ques­ tion. It was moved and seconded that when the House rises it adjeurn until to-morrow, Fri day, at three of the clock in the afternoon. The House then adjourned accord­ ingly. FRIDAY. April 28, 1920. The House met at three of the clock in the afternoon, pursuant to a journment. MR.

MacDONNELL-Mr~ S~er, I ask leav~ to present a petition from the inhabitants of Codroy and Grand .River in respect to the terry ~errice 3t the mouth of Grand River. This matter is or great importance and the peo))le there have looked for an lm­ prov&me;nt so long and the pre, Ing iiere4s of a ferry boat bas not bft!l roqht before the attention of the House. The fteight to the ~ttlement

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 33 came of it. This petition which I now present is signed by about one hundred people, in fact by everybody in that section. The signatures to it include the ones of the clerymen of the dis­ trict and all those of the representa­ tive people. I am sure, Sir, that be­ ing a matter of great consequence it will rec1eive the attentirJn wbich it de· ~erves. I hope, Sir, that this peti­ tion will not be overlooked as the previous ones were and ask that it 'be referred to tbe department to which it belongs. HON. MINISTER OF JUSTICE:­ Mr.

Speaker, I beg to present a peti­ tion from the inhabitants of Pass Island, Hermitage Bay, in the District of Fortune Bay. It asks that the is­ land be connected with the tej.egraph system of tbe country. Like the petf.­ tion presented by my friend the mem­ ber for St. George's, this matter has been before the House already and I trust that this petition will not be treated in the same manner as the previous ones on this point. Pass . Island is of course an island and re­ quires a cable to be connected with the telegraph system.

Pass Island is quite an industrious place in Fortune Bay and I ask that the prayer of the petition be acceded ~o. · I take this opportunity of presenting it before the Estimates come on before the House so that I may impress the House and my colleagues in the Ex­ ecutive Council of the necessity of tbe approval of this petition, and I ask t~at it be referred to the depart- ment to which it relates. ' HON. MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. - Speaker, I beg leave to present a petition from the inhabit­ ants of Northern Arm, Exploits Bay. This place is about four miles from Botwood, the nearest telegraph office.

T'hey ask that telephone and tele­ graph system be extended there. There are poles extending to this place and it would only mean an ex­ penditure of placing the wires. I hope that the prayer of this petition will be granted and ask that it be re­ f erred to the Department of Postal Telegraphs. MR. JONES':-! beg to support the prayer of thi~ petition as presented by my colleague, Mr. Jennings. This is a very necessary facility to the in­ habitants of Northern Arm and I trust that it will receive careful at­ tion. MR. SAMSON:-Mr.

Speaker, I beg to support this petition of my col-... league from the people of Northern Arm, Exploits Bay, ande hope that it will receive th1e attention which it deserv ·es. Mr. Sullivan asked the Hon. the Prime Minister to lay on the table of the House copies of all correspondence respecting the engaging of the two auditors from the United States who have been in the city for the past two months, also a statement showing when they came under pay, the amount of their daily remuneration, and wh~n it is anticipated their work will be completed. Mr.

Mac Donnell asked the Hon. the Minister of Education to report what 'vork, if any, in the nature of organi · · zation of his department has been done since his assumption of office; also what staff, if any, is therein employ­ ed; and what is the nature of the . work of such staff. MR. SULLIVAN:-Mr.

Speaker, I wish to join with my colleagues in congratulation to the mover and seconder of this address and to say that they have acquitted themselves in a manner that reflects great credit on them as debators and proves that they have the qualifications which are needed to make them successful and creditable members of the Legislature. It is fortunate that the Government se­ lected for this work men who by their ,

34 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS addresse s put some force and earnest­ ness into the proceedings, as in my opinion tl1e speech itself is flat and in • a great measure meaningless, requir­ ing the vivifying enthusiasm which men of well-known gallantry and ability displayed by the gentlemen who moved and seconded this Speech from the Throne.

I join with the expression of pride contained in the Speech from the Throne at the marvellous success of the Allied armies and thankfulness at the successful termination of the great conflict, and in doing thf s would wish to put on record iny very high appre­ ciation of the services rendered this cause by the men from this Dominion, who in the Army and Navy displayed such exceptional valor and bravery.

Newfoundland has reason to be proud of the part played by our heroes in thi~ conflict which has placed us before the world in such a light that we could never otherwise attain and proved that for daring and exceptional bravery our soldiers and sailors take equal place with the best in the British Empire. We owe a debt of gratitude to these men which I trust will never be for­ gotten and it is the duty of the Gov­ ernment to see that proper provision is made for dependents and for those who h~ve suffered disability which prevents them from taking up the civilian duties which they occupied previous to the conflict.

The action of the Government with regard to the regulations governing · the export of fish does not meet with popular approval. I think we all ad­ mit that some kind of export regu­ lations are absolutely necessary in the best interests of this great big fisbing indu 'Btry; evidently the pres­ ent regulations are far from satis­ factory and there is great diversity of opinion as to the results that have been attained by their enforcement. Opponents of the regulations contend that owing to the fish regulations ' .. thte country has lost millions of dol­ lars this year on the sale of codfish.

In the other hand supporters of tbe fish regulations insist that if It had not been for the fish regulations fish would have been very much lower than it is at the present time. It would be a very great pity if the fish regu­ lations was made a party politics discussion. Newfoundland interests can best be served by consolidating the very best talent we have in for­ mulating legislation that will have for its object, the best interest of ·the country.

For many years the men engaged in the export of fish have been trying to adopt measures to control prices abroad, but ·unless you can have the loyal support of all the exporters, no control is possible. In the past it bas been found that there was always some person ready to undersell his competitors and break the market; naturally then the only solution, M far as I can see, is some form of government control. Government control is objectional in a way and party politicsislikely to creep in.

There must be some way out, and I would suggeset as a solution that in the event of an advisory board being formed it would be to the best inter­ ests of the fishing industry to cut out politics and place members or sup­ porters of the Opposition as well as members or supporters of the· Gov­ ernment on the advisory board. We have now on record in connec­ tion with the present regulations pro­ tests from men who have been ac­ tively engaged in this industry and who from the knowledge of the cir­ cumstances are qualified to pronounce intelligently on the matter.

Those men 1COntend that the regulations are destructive to the best interests of the Dominion. We have seen that some of those who, in the early stages of the fish regulations were loud in sup· -

' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 35 port of the system to be adopted, are now vehemently denouncing tbe regu­ lations and pleading for their cancel­ lation. Only a week ago a prominent merchant naw in London cabled his ftrm as follows: "My opinion regula­ tions now in force are detrimental to trade interests; if continued, curtail supplies to minimum." A message like I have referred to coming from a man like Mr. Monroe compels one to think.

If the regulations as they stand are not perfect, then let us all get together and give the best that is in us and try and form some satis­ factory and workable policy that will be acceptable to the great majority of the trade. I have been informed that since tbe regulations were put in force fish has dropped from 10 to 30 shillings a quintal, and that while the regulations kept the merchants from selling and making a fair profit our competitors came in and sold their fish.

It is agreed by many who are in accord with the regulations now in force that if there had been no regu- · lations :fish would be now down to 40 shillings a quintal. Opponents of the :fish regulations on the other hand ask if the regulations kept the price of fish up, how is it that we today cannot , sell our fish. From what one can learn it seems to be a case now of every one who has fish tL ~ell get­ ting under cover and trying to get out of the mess tbe best way they possibly can.

If the present regulations are detri­ m·en tal to the trade of the country and especially injurious .to the :fisher­ men of the country, who will be hampered by not r.eceiving supplies from the merchants who are curtail­ ing their business on account of the regulations, then it is up to us all to unite and try to re-establish confid .. ence amongst the trade and fisher­ men and be prepared to meet com- petition with other countries. Let us insist on a better cure, have a strict cull and make our fish a good market­ able food commodity.

Let us endeav­ our to get new markets and we should at once start in with propaganda work in South America; there must be great possibilities in the Argentine, Paraquay, Uruguay and other South American Republics. I desire to express my congratula­ tions to the Rev. Major Nangle who has been placed in charge of matters connected with tbe concentration and registration of the graves of our heroic dead in Europe. With Major Nangle this is a labor of loV'e as well as duty. He as chaplain of the forces worked for their welfare, spiritual and temporal.

The soldiers loved and venerated him for his faithful services as he admired and loved them for their bravery and loyalty, and it is fitting that he should now search the battlefield for the remains of those sacred dead whose memory will live as long as this Dominion lasts.

The purchase of Bieaumont Hamel battle­ field which is associated in the minds of all of us with so many tragic mem­ ories commends itself to me as I am sure it does to all who have at heart the interests ot. those gallant boys of ours who fought there and who rever­ ence the memory of those who laid down their lives there, and I greatly regret that the lady collectors who undertook to raise the funds for the purchase of that historic field did not meet with a greater measure of suc­ cess. I trust, however, that they will meet with more ready response dur­ ing their present efforts.

Reference is made in the Speech from the Throne to the increased sur­ plus Qf the past year. This must be extremely gratifying to the Leader of the Opposition, Sir M. P. Cashin, to whose exceptional qualifications as a financier as well as to his unques-

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 37 .. living. Old Age Pensions was an­ other catch-cry us.ed by our oppQn­ errte, and one which proved good bai~. Old age pensions were to be increaa· ed to meet all cases of the aged poor and these promises even went to the extent of including women . as well as men, but still I tSee no mention of that now in the Speech from the Thron·e · , nor do I see any provi1ia11 whatever for our poor old worn-ot~t fishermen. Nevertheless there seems to be no scarcity of money. Apparent­ ly there is money to burn.

We are able to bring auditors fro·m the United States to go over the public accounts because we do not consider our own auditor general competent, but Mr. Speaker, when the accounts of these men are finished we will find that tbe cost of bringing them here has been astounding, and it will be seen that the amount expended for this purpos.e will have been sufficient to meet the demands of several more old age pen­ sioners. Is this the way in which Mr. Squires is going to carry out his promises as to the saving the peoples money. What have these men found out that would justify their having been brought here.

I say, Sir, that it is not fair to the auditor general. Then there is the matter of Educa­ tion: I tell you, Mr. Speaker, there are places in this Island home of ours where there are from thirty of forty childr 1en who could go to school if they had a school to go to, but we find nothing to indicate that there is any intention of doing· anything to improve the matter in this regard. This is not what peopl ~ had expected. The same may be said of the high cost of living. I have yet to see what the . government has done to lower prices or in any way make things . easy for the people to whom they promised so much.

We have flour up to eighteen dollars a barrel, molasses two dollors a gallon, and coal nine- teen ~ollars, when we can get it, and it is rationed out to you in very small lots at that.

Prohibition, I would like to ask if it is the intention of the Prime Min­ ister to bring in a bill to amend the present prohibition law as promised by him in his manifesto; the law as it now stands is not impartial, the man with the money and the pull ean get all the liquor he requires, but the poor man must be content with Es­ sence of Vanilla, Wood Alcohol, con­ coctions of Tanlac, Copper Paint and two in one Shoe Polish; would it not be much better t~ give the people an opportunity of drinking decent beer, good whis~ey, rum, or gin, tl1an drink­ ing the dope as they are now doing.

I hope to deal more extensively with this matter at a later date on the floor of this bouse. I notice that an attempt is b1eing made to settle the Labrador bound­ ary. I hope our interests will be well looked after and that everything will be done to see that there is no ter­ ritory taken from Newfoundland and handed over to Canada.

I am glad to note that it· is the in~ tention of the Government to wind up th~ Department of Militia and the IJepartment of Shipping at an early date, it should be quite feasable now to let tl1e Pay Office and Pensions Board handle everything in connec­ tion with the Militia Department, th1e sooner the the Department of Militia is wound up the more money will be saved by the taxpayers. The reorgan­ ization of th·e Department of Marine and Fisheries will have the support of all who have the best inter ·ests of the country at heart.

The creation of . an Inform,ation Bureau and Scientific Research Department should, if properly organized, be of financial benefit to the country. " With reference to the problems of Coastal Service, this is a matter of

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 39 ~ ' tt election as Speaker of this House. I assure you that you will receive no trouble from the junior m1ember for Ferryland. I must also extend my sincere congratulations to the mover and seconder of the Address in Reply· to His Excellency's Speech. These gentl ,emen, I feel sure, ougbt to be proud of the position they occupy in this Assembly on its opening, and • those who were associated with tl1·em overseas must also feel .delighted with the able and creditable manner i11 which they have acquitted thems ·elves today. 1 ~ Mr.

Speaker, the Speech from the Throne, to my mind, and I have had an experience of twelve y 1 ears in tl1is House, is the most inflated balloon that ever went up in this House. It was ma11ufactured in the Executive Council and brought up and handed to the Governor to be read on open­ ing day. In his speech there is a paragraph that has appeared in ev·ery speech during my time in the Assemb­ ly. That paragraph has reference to the boundary lin• e at Labrador.

In other respects, it differs from any Speech read in this House, as it is "much ado about nothing." In the first paragraph of the Speech His Excellency says that he is very thankful that the great war is over and the Government is about to do something for those who took

part in it; but, Mr. S'peaker, when we look ~ .. rou11d the House, we can see for ourselves the positio11s that bave been filled in the past few weeks, and will sl1ow you what they intend to do for the soldiers and sailors who parti- ' cipated in the great war. The sergeant-at-arms, who is a personal friend of miµe, and who is a pensioner, has taken the place of a man who sent three sons overseas.

Why not increase bis pension and give this position to a return ·ed sol­ dier, many of whom, though maimed, ' could fill this position, and who, on coming into this House, would remind us of the great sacrifices that were m,ade. Take the position of Mr. Winter, the solicitor of this House. There was an application made to the I Government from a man who served three years in the war, but it was turned down. This man was rejected because Mr: Winter had a pull with the Minister of Justic 1e and therefore got the position. Mr.

Carter, another particular friend of minie, was one whom we all realize went overseas with the Blue J?uttees and for this reason got tl1e position which he de­ serves. The supervisor of debates i11 this House and the supervisor in the Upper House, were appointed because of their great war services, and yet we are told that the Government is working in the interest of returned soldiers and sailors. You might say, why did not your government do it wh1en they were in?

I will say, in all sincerity, that any position that came before the Governm ·ent for a position to b1e filled by a returned soldier, was acceded to as far as possible. Take the position today in the Custom House, a position roadie vacant by an old friend of mine, tl1e late H. Brod­ erick. That position was also filled by a returned soldier who was de­ feated in St. John's West. There is another gentleman who met his Waterloo in that District, who, as a prominent supporter of the Govern­ ment, received every consideration and recognition of his services.

The Government used every means, legiti­ mat€ and illegitimate, to provide him with a seat, but failed, and, as a last ' resort, placed him in the Legislative Council, where today he holds the position of Minister of Agriculture and Mines. We were expecting that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries who, in his public career, has claimed to be consistent, would have raised

40 HOUSE Of ASSEMBLY · PROCEBDINGS am objection to the holding of this position by a member of the Upper House. I would ask the Minister of Marine and Fisheries to look back over the last eight years; I would ask him to look to the time when he defeated Mr. Blandford in the good old District of Bonavista. My friends, Mr. Winsor and Mr. Abbott, will re­ member that he held forth from this side of the House with all the in­ tensity that he could muster, and we are all aware of his ability as speaker. He condemned the illegal­ ity of Mr.

Blandford holding tbe position of Minister of Agriculture . and Mines while occupying a seat in the Upper House, after he had been defeated by the el~ctors of Bonavista Bay. If the position that the Min~ · ister of Marine and Fisheries then took is sound, I think you will admit that the arguments he then used against Mr. Blandford would in like measure apply to the case of Dr. Campbell. I think the Hon. Minister of Marine and Fisheries will be fair enough to admit that this argument . is sound. Dr. Campbell has never been elected in St.

John's West, and probably never will be elected for a constituency in this country. We ar,e told in the Speech from the Throne that we are to have three or four warships come over here, and that through the instrumentality of certain members of the Government, those warships were being made a present to us by the Imperial Gov­ ernment. Both Leaders of the Gov­ ern,rn.ent have claimed credit for · his success in providing those ships.

The Minister of Marine and Fisheries proclaimed in The Advocate after bis arrival that he had secured this great boon from the Imperial Government, and after it, we are informed that the matter was brought about through the instrumentality of the Prime Minis- ter. It looks as if these gentlemen might yet quarrel over this very trifiing matter as to whom tbe real credit belongs. In my opinion, the late government should claim t.9e credit for the securing of those ship&, as the matter was brought to the at,. tention of the Imperial Government long before their resignation.

If the members of the preoent Executive Council had been down on the Lab­ rador and never saw the House of Assembly, those ships would come over. In my opinion, those who really deserve the credit for the consider­ ation given us by the Impe al Go~~ ernm ent in providing those ships for public service in this Colony, ar_~ those boys in blue who fought for ipe, for Mr. Archibald and other gentle­ men like him who donned the khaki ot the cloth of those who move• for a select committee.

These are the men who deserve really the credit of bringing those warships to New­ foundland, and · not those who con· stitute the Executive Government. Mr. Speaker, with your permission I beg to refer for a few minutes to an incident that happened in this House on opening day. I have al­ ways been an admirer of the Prime Minister in this House, as I sat with him on the Government side for four years when he was member for Trinity.

I have always admired his debating vower, his ftuency and great ability, but I am sorry that he saw fit on the occasion I refer to, to use language which may be charac­ terized as rough-house stuff, in this chamber, which neither does credit to himself or the standing of Parlia­ ment. I will not refer to his utter­ ance, but will leave it to more able hands than mine, beyond telling him that he has lost cast and has lost tr.· ends by the way he replied to the Leader of the Opposition. The con­ duct of the Prime Minister with re-

42 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS if he can do these things he should act and act quickly, because I can assure him that the people are not going to allow themselves to be so heavily burdened with th1e high cost of living much longer and an upris­ ing will likely be the result. When people were earning three or four shillings a day years ago, they were better off than they are today. The Prime Minister, in his mani­ festo, blamed Sir P. T. McGrath, chairman of the food control board, for the higl1 cost of living, and stated that Sir M. P. Cashin was the friend of the profiteers.

If that was the case then it is only logical that the pres­ ent Premier is the friend of the profiteers now. Things generally and particularly the ordinary necessities of lif·e have soar·ed higher within the past few months than ever before. There is a paragraph in His Ex~ cellency's Speech which reads as fol­ lows: "My Ministers appreciate the dona­ "tfon by the British Admiralty to "Newfoundland of two ships hitherto "used for naval purposes.

Th·ese two "ships, together with a third ship "purchased from the British Admir­ "alty by the Governll!en t are now ('being prepared at Chatham for their "voyage to Newfoundland. It is pos­ "sible that one of these ships will be ''used as a coastal boat: anotber as "a supply ship in conection with the "lighthouse department, and the third "for emergency and rescue purposes." It is all very fine, as a previous speaker has said, to fe·el elate.d over the idea that any man representing the Government in this Colony were responsible for the securing pf those ships.

However, there seems to be a diversity of opinion as to which man got them. When the Hon. Mr. Coaker arrived here from his trip abroad, • and I hope that his trip will bear fruit for this Colony, The Evening Advocate sounded the praises of Mr. Coaker and said that he had secured two ships and bought one. The next night The Daily Star retaliated and said that the Prime Minister had got them.

I contend that these two men a~e likely to fall out over the matter and that the Prime Minister will ap­ peal to the Minister of Justice and he will be "warrin." Another paragraph in tbe Speech f ram the Throne reads : "An effort is being made by the "Government to wind up the Depart­ "ment of Militia and the Department "of Shipping at the earliest possible "moment. The Newfoundland. Pay "and Record Office in London has al­ "ready been closed.

The work of the "Civil Re-Establishment Committee "will, it is hoped, during the year, be •'brought practically to an end, and "the matter of medical treatment of "returned soldiers and sailors will be "concentrated in one h·ospital build­ ''ing so as to give greater efficiency of "service at a very greater reduced ex­ "periditure of public funds. If the "burden of expenditure resulting from "the war may seem a heavy one let "us remember that it represents the "least that we can do for those who "enabled Newfoundland to take her "stand in the forefront of 11umanity's "great battle." I think, Mr.

Speaker, that that paragraph is downright hypocrisy, especially when we remember that a Goveniment paper, controlled by the Prime Minister, put into print the r.ecords of some of tho·se young men who went out on the battlefields and -did their bit for their country. Fur- thermore I think it is a disgrace and a crying shame that the records ' and characters of these young heroes were besmeared and blackened as they were by the newspaper referred to, and scattered broadcast through ­ out the length and breadth of the

44 . HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS that a law was passed last year whereby no pere .on could raise tl1ie rent, wl1ich they are doing today, but the tenants cannot complain as tbey will be put on the street. Mr. Ander­ son is going to build twenty or thirty houses, b11t before the next session is over I hope there will be one hun­ dred houses built. Now, Sir, on Wednesday some of my colleagues who addressed the chair said it was th· e first time that they spoke from this side of the House.

I can assure you, Sir, it is also my first time; but I hope and trust the day will . come when I shall make an address from the other side of the House. I assure you, Sir, that while you occupy th. e position you now hold you will find that I will cause you no trouble, and that you will not have to order me out of the House. I read in last night's Star that Councillor Nix did not speak on Wednesday, but that I was wise.

That is no news for the public, for th1e public well known that all wise people come from the East, and it was wise- men that elected us here, and I hope and trust will do credit to our constituency, and when we go back to our District we will be ablie to say we fought your battles well. I will leave other remarks for a and no person has been able to swear tl1at I have attempted to bribe him, but the same cannot be said for him. The fact that this House has endors­ ed his action in coming here ,has given me tl1e right to stand here to­ night apart from my personalincli-, nations in the matter.

I offer you sincere congratulations on your elevation to the position of first commoner. While I do not pose as a authority in such matter I ·am sure the older m·embers of this As­ sembly will agree that your calmness and ·dignity on taking up ·your posi­ tion indicate that you will maintain the highest traditions . of the office, with myself and the other juniors who will unwillingly trangress the rules I am sure you will d•eal gently with the erring.

I also take this op­ portunity to tender my congratula­ tions to the historic town of Carbon­ ear which has given to many of her sons to high positions in both church and state in the honour done her by your appointment, while · ·I have not had the good fortune to have been born in that town, associations of kindred .and otherwise ~ake it pleas­ ing to me to pay this small tribute.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 45 111e111bers of outport districts will agree 'vit11 me vvl1en I say tl1at a great deal more attention is paid to tl1e Speecl1 whe11 it appears in the i1evv-spapers a11d read in the outports tl1a11 you can imagine. Reading mat­ ter is scarce in tl1e outports and every letter and advertiseme11t tl1at appears in tl1e city press is eagerly read by our outport people.

It is cus­ tomary to outline i11 tl1e S'peech from the Tl1rone any ne\v legislatio11 tl1at is to be introdl1ced by tl1e Go,rer11ment ai1d as a rule 'vhen a Government has bee11 in po,ver for some years t11e Speech from the Throne is somewhat u11interesti11g, but ,·vhen a new Gov­ er11ment comes into power we expect something interiesting a11d something i1e,~t, and \Vatch the papers for its first a11nounce1nent. Disappointment is u11necessary because after scan11ing tl1e Speccl1 from top to bottom I fail to see anytl1ing in it that 'vould ap­ peal to our people at home.

Regarding tl1at paragrapl1 of H i!=5 Excellency'c speecl1 dealing Vlit11 the gift of the tvlo ships by the British Excellency's Speech dealing "rith the preciate the ge11erous donation, as a sn1all recognition of N-ewfoundland's participation in the great war. As to the Labrador boundr)r, I n1ay say tl1at tl1at question has been in abeyance for man)r years. No doubt it is being given great co11sid­ eration and I hope that it will be set tled to the satisfaction of t11e coun­ try. I am g"lad to know that the depart­ me11t of militia is to be wound up.

As far as the outports are concerned tl1e)r 'vere under tl1e impression that tl1e '¥ar was over two years ago, tho' in tl1~ city to day 011e can see many soldiers still going about in khaki. It is very satisfactory to know that tl1e revenue last year exceeded the estimates, due 110 doubt to tl1e l1igh costs of goods on which we levied an advalore1n duty.

But, after all tl1e time has come whe11 we must make our clothes according to tl1e cloth and make our expenditure fit the revenue; and we must prepare for the falling off in revenue which must come later '\rl1en a fall takes place i11 the cost of goods imported and make conditions correspond witl1 tl1ese changes. Regarding the department of ag­ rict1l ture, I n1ay say tl1at this is a de­ partment in 'vl1ich I take particular i11terest. Hr. Main is more or less an agricultural district and its people are i11terested in everytl1ing tl1at tends to i111prove the state of agriculture. The ne\v minister, Hon. Dr.

Ca1npbell is a inan full of energy, there is no dis­ proving that fact, I hope that l1e will display that energy in reorganizing that department and that l1e will i11troduce some new ideas so that good results will accrue. At tl1e same ti1ne the question of reorganization is a inatter that ought to receiv-e great consideration and no dot1bt, it will wl1en tl1e mattercomes up at a later date in detail. We have been dickering with this agricultural problem for years and years but with very little results .

To-day it· is impossible to get a lJarrel of good potatoes or a ton of 11ay anything after the rate in thu col1ntry. That is really a reproach to the country. If there is any produce that can be raised in Newfoundland, certainly it should be hay and potatoes. As far as the department of mar­ in~ and fisheries is concerned it is 11ot for me to say very much further tl1an to make a commentary on tl1e fish regulations that were enforced last year.

Tl1ey 11ave practically par­ alized fisl1ing activities in my district and alarming reports of tl1e curtail­ ment of supplies and the falling off of prices of fish have scared the '\\1 its out of those 'vho supply and who prosecute the fishery. The result is, that hundreds of our fishermen have •

I 46 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS gone away out of the country per­ haps never to return. Thirty years ago there were from fifteen to twenty schooners prosecuting the Labrador fishery and many western schooners from every harbor in the head of the bay. To-day there are not five scbooners in the head of the bay, and none of them for the .western fishery.

Within the last few years owing to the l1igh cost of outfitting the fleet has dwindled down and it has been Labra­ dor fishermen mainly that have been keeping up the reputation of the place as a fishing district, bu.t this year I regret to say, there is no interest taken at all, as prospects are so gloomy and tl1e cost of salt, lines and provisions necessary for the prosecution of the voyage are so high. Whether or not conditions will improve by the pro­ posed reorganization of the Marine and Fisheries Department remains to ·be seen.

I partict1larly noticed that the Ad­ dress from the Throne did not contain ... anything about the pre-election prom­ ises of thie Prime Minister. I do not suppose there is any man who comes into any more · daily contact with the poor all over the country with the ex-, ception of the clergymen than does the doctor. No one knows better than he their wants or how difficult it is for them to live. The pauper relief that they get, which is at the rate that they were paid thirty years ago, it is utterly I impossible for them 'Gri live on.

The small increase that ttiey were given during all that period has been prac­ tically negligible. There was an in­ creast in old age pensions promised by the Prime Minister, and I had hoped to see some reference to it in the Governor's speech, but unfortun­ ately it was not mentioned. There are also many old men who were qualified to receive the pension, and who have now their application in for some time but have not received it as the grant is so small.

Quite recently I was forcibly struck in a couple of instances wl1ere I came across a few old age pensioners who had been in receipt of this pension for a year or two then died, and their wives w~re left with no provision at all for them. And it 'vas only after tl1e greatest difficulty that these old aged widows got any assistance, miserable pittance tb.at it is, from the Poor Department. Every­ l)ody realises what a great hardship it must be on these poor people to live.

After the wjfe of a pensioner h.as en­ joyed the pension for a short time her • • husband dies and the pension ceases, and she is left on the verge of star­ vation. It is only those who come into daily contact with these cases who can properly appreciate 'vhat they are like. "'ith regard to prohibition. . This st1bjec~ affects the 'vhole Island and is one which I have a personal kno,v­ J edge of. There are many ways of looking at the prohibition question and • • some of them are in a manner preJu- dicial. There are men anxious to get liquor selling back again, and there are those who do not 'vant it.

In my district I find that the present prohi­ bition act is a farce and nothing bet­ ter. By depriving our people of the use of liquor it has driven them to drink concoctions of all sorts that are not fit for 11uman consumption, and . which are destroying the constitution of men. Some years ago we had the license system in our district and there was qndoubtedly excfssive drinking. Then through the exertions of the clergy­ men a local option act was put in force by the voice of the people. Conditions greatly improved as the boys grew up with little or no acquaintance with liquor.

Unless somebody brought liquor from St. John's the boys never saw it. Then when the prohibition came in force the older people who could not adopt themselves to the circum­ stances took to the making of moon-

.. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 47 shine. In the district of Harbor Main tl1ere is no monopoly · of this manu­ facture but it is made all over New­ foundland. It is not hard to get or even to make it. The boys are again learning to drink and are being de­ stroyed by this preparation. This much I 'vill say that I do not believe in going back to the open saloons. But I believ e that the prohibition law should be so regulated that there would be no hardship in procuring liquor and that it could be got in an limited quantity for drinking purposes and I think it would better matters all round.

As a medical practitioner I know of the hardships created under . the present law when a person only wishes to get a small quantity for medical purposes. The ordinary poo1 person who is sick does not want to buy an eight or ten oz. bottl.e. In my district to send for a small quantity to St. John's and get it takes a long time and with a probability of being lost in transit. Tho I never drink my­ self I am not a crank on temperance and take this occasion to state that I would not be the man to withhold spirits from any person who needed them for a medicine.

There is no provision in the prohibition act as to supply spirits at local centres. While our ·district is in actual contract with St. John's when liquor is required for medicine valuable time is often lost in the case of an emergency in obtain­ ing it, but what must it be in the re­ mote parts of the country. There should be some provision made so that large or sm.all quantities could be procured as desired.

On tbe train a few days ago I met a man who belonged to the bottom of Bonavista Bay and he said it is al-• most impossible to get liquor as even when a prescription is secured to get it, it may not reach him over the rail­ road as liquor shipments disappear en route or the person who needed it may be dead before it arrived. I would like to see something don·e to alleviate the present situation and have the prohibition question discuss­ ed here.

There are many important issues involved and it would require careful consideration and pains to provide a system whereby the neces­ sary medicine could be provided con­ veniently. I call it medicine for I use it always as medicine. We of the District of Harbor Main are of course interested in the coun­ try's transportation facilities and the problems confronting the country generally. The people of Harbor Main built the railroad in the old days and they regret to see its con­ dition today.

But it is a problem which requires the consideration of the House fully and when the matter comes up everybody should giv·e it serious thougbt, as to how its condi­ tion is to be bettered. As we all know the war threw new burdens on the railway and some people thought now that the war is over, these tre­ mendous burdens would be removed and the road be expected to carry out its pre-war traffic; but the road ie worn out and the burden is increased instead of diminisl1ed. The pulp mills and other industries as well as the branch lines have given it a traffic for which it was never intended.

The supply of shipping along the coast would lessen the load of the railroad, but we are short of ships and are no nearer getting th~m than two years ago. We depend on the railroad to do that for which it was never intended. Today we find the branch roads in actual distress because of th·e exces­ sive dem~nds (partly on account of the fortunes of war) thrown upon them and if we go back to ten years ago we find they were in far superior condition. The matter of communication is of serious moment and we should take it

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 49 withholdin ·g to this date all informa­ tion as to its i11tention in this matte\\ alJ infor~ation as to the scope of he bill, all inf·ormation as to tb• e duties of the Minister of Education is noth­ ing short of criminal. A bill to cre­ ate a Deartment of Education may effect the education of the whole country. The educational principles therein involved require a thorough investigation and consideration.

I presume the House will be asked to rush through this bill without giving it the consideration which it ought to receive and such consideration I hope it will receive from every member of the House. I have had some connec­ tion, Sir, with this matter both as a tea;cher for seven years in this coun­ try and for four years with the De~ partment of Education, Roman Cath­ olic Schools. And I know there will be grave problems to be adjusted.

And I feel that the Government long ago should have given us that data which may be necessary for us to consider if this bill is to be consider­ ed in an intelligent and reasonable manner. I presume, Sir, that the work of this department will be more than than which is now done by the clerk at the Colonial Secretary's Depart­ ment. I presume something in the nature of the reorganization of the education of the country will be ef­ fected.

And, Sir, with all respect to the members on the other side of the House, and particularly thos . e of the Cabinet, that while giving them all the credit which is their due and that we give them credit for their ability which is theirs, I say that there are those of us who are much interested in all that appertains to education and I think that tbe House should take notice tor future reference that up to the present we have all been kept in the dark despite the protests of the press and the platform and the requests of those in authority, for in- formation on this point.

And that when th· e time comes and when this bill is attempted to be rushed thru the• House the blame for an im.per­ fect bill and its workings will b1e plac­ ed upon the right shoulders. The re­ sponsibility of this measure will be placed upon the members of the Gov­ ernment in particular.

Those on this side of the House will, a.s I think I speak their mind along with myself, give every assistance in such a mat- . ter of grave importance, but I wish to intimate that we will not be rushed and we will not allow as far a:s we can a bill of this nature to be rushed through the House without having thoroly and carefully considered and thrashed out every particular of it. I shall have more to say on this matter as regards this point in the Speech from the Throne when , get my information from the Minister of Education on the day whien the Bill is introdu ·eed.

And I also notice that another De- \ partment wbich will be remodeled is the Deartment of Agriculture and Mines. ·I take it that the first step in remodelling this department is that the head of this department should not be a member of this House. I do not know what sin the members of this House are responsible for that the Minister of Agriculture and Min1es cannot sit among us. It is rather a · round about way to get information when one has to depend upon some otl1er member to transmit it to him. The Minister may, because of his absence, be able to pursue his way far from the madding crowd's ig­ noble strife.

We will all await with anxiety for the good tidings from the absent departmental head. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak of another matter, it is the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. Whether the creation . of such a department ,is wise or unwise, I would not like to say

• • 50 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS just now, but this much is true that . since the Hon. W. W. Halfyard ha~ taken charge of this department, there have been many things which the ub­ lic generally have not approved of. Nobody expects him to work wonders In a short time, but I will call atten­ tion to the fact that the delivery of mails in this country has never been worse. There are obstacles, nobody will deny that. I would point out that until such time as proper in.spectors are appointed for the far removed sec­ tions of the country we will have trou­ ble. All is not we~l merely because a head is appointed.

We must consider other parts than St. John's. The various needs must be met in their own peculiar way. It is not enough to pattern the service of the country after the system in St. John's. There is something - wrong ! with the system here in St. John's. Charges have been made that eveu registered letters have not been deliv­ ered. The Minister of Posts and Tele­ graphs has many serious duties and all possible assistance should be given him. There iEJ another matter Mr. Speaker to which I would like to refer, namely transportation. It should have been given more consideration in the Speech from the Throne.

Branch railroads are not mentioned at all. Those of us who live in the remote sections of the country would like to see it given its just consideration. Communication is like the blood in the arteries of the body. I am going to speak from the standpoint of the district which I .re­ present. Governments of the past have had an excellent policy for the construction of branch railroads. The people all over the country have been taxed to build them. They have had to stand their share of taxation. St. George's has had to bear its part of the burden, although we have been utterly ignored.

Perhaps it is because there is a story about St. George's that . has not been told. Take the Peninsula of Port au Port, and the only com­ munication the people have with the railway is over a delapidated road built badly about twenty years ago. While other districts have had branch railways, we tCOuld not even get a de­ cent highway. A branch line is abso­ lt1tel)7 necessary, starting at Stephen­ ville Crossing and right round thrt1 Stephenville and right round the Port au Port Peninsula. The population in this area is about 3,000 and these peo­ I1le have absolutely no communication by rail.

The people have been com­ pelled to bring the necessities of life over a road eighteen miles, badly built in the beginning, and which has never received adeqt1ate repairs. Special grants are an unknown quantity in the district of St. George's. Th.e coastal service has become ,,vorse instead of better. There is now no port of call in Bay St. George. There were two ports of call, b11f the wise men, ·usually taken from this city, decided that it wasn't necessary to have Sandy Point and Port au Port ports of call. We were told we had a daily train service.

There is a story in connection with this, and I am going to tell it. I can remember in this connection a good story of one time when the returning officer for the district during a certain campaign submitted his expense account in con­ nection with the carrying of the bal­ lot boxes in from the various settle­ ments. An official of the Government took exce»f,ion to the amount expend­ ed for this purpose and wanted to know why, when he had a daily train, the men could not call at the stations and put the boxes on board the train.

Imagine men walking thirty miles to the train but this man did not know but the train dtopped at every hamlet in the district. When we have men like ~his in responsible positions, and I might say that this man still holds •

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 51 a Government appointment, what can we expect' I confidently look to the Government to take some steps to make up in the future for the negligence that the dis­ trict of Bay St. George has suffered from in the past because of absolute ignorance of this kind. Now, Sir, as I believe that any mention of branch lines would have not been omitted from the Speech from the Throne if the Government really intended doing anything.

I would ask that if a rail­ way line cannot be considered, these important settlements of Port au Port and Sandy Point be at least made ports of call for the coastal steamers • so· that they can be connected up with the regular bay service. The manner 111 which the contract for the bay ser­ vice was made bears out my statement as to the ignorance of those respon­ sible for that contract of the condi­ tions as they exist in the district of St. George. We have a steamer on that run and a time table was drawn up for her to run by. She was to ar­ rive at a fixed time and leav at a fixed time. The

schedule was for the boat to leave St. GeQrge on Monday and get back there on Friday, aad If this was not done the reason for such failure could not be understood. What was the result? On the whole of the peninsula of Port au Port there is not a harbor where a vessel can put up during stormy weather from the time she leaves St. George's till she gets back there _again. Perhaps by the time the steamer was ready to get away a north west gale would have sprung up making it impossible for her to call at many of the nearest ports, and the same thing applied on the outside shore in a southerly breeze.

If the people who drew up the con­ tract . knew anything about the con­ ditions to be oontended with, they would have left it to the captain to regulate his own schedule. If he found he could not do this work on the south sf de of the peninsula he could go to the north side and attend to the ports of call there. This contract, I understand is still running. I do not know if the government has the power to re-model it, but if they have I would respectfully submit that they get to­ gether and reconstruct the whole thing, and I should be glad to do any­ thing in my power to assist them.

The matters I have ref erred to are of very grave consequence, although my re­ marks may not have been interesting to many of the honorable members of thE. House. I will show in a very few moments why this matter is of im­ portance when I tell tltis House that the result of the neglect of govern­ ment after government for the inter­ ests of the district of St. George's has been to drive the trade of the sec on toHalifax, Sydney and other Canadian centres, and n t alone the trade but the sympathies of the people tending towards Canada.

If the present -0-overnment desires • to have this continue, they have enly to follow in the steps of previous ad­ ministrations.. This, Mr. Speaker, is not the story of my district alone. There are at least two other members of this Assembly whose districts havtt suffered in the same way and particu­ larly is this so of the member for St. Barbe, the western

section of which ls similarly situated. This condition of affairs, to my mind, demands that . . something be done immediately to remedy it, and I am prepared in all these matters to give every support and my best advice to the Govern­ ment in removing the existing evils. When you cons\der, Sir, that in the various sections of that district there are settlements only three miles dis­ tant from each other and still abso­ lutely unconnected by even an at­ tempt at a road, you must admit that conditions are pretty serious. There are dozens of places in the Bay of Islands section, around the arms, that

52 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDIN~ are ·only four or five illiles apart wi~ · out either roads or schools. It is im­ possible to place schools there under present conditions but if ther~ were roads the problem could be soived by putting one school where it would serve two or three places.

I think, Sir, and I am sure that every member of this House will " agrM with me, that every man, no J'batter what his standing, has the same right to participate in th~ bene­ fits and advantages of civilization as any other man, and I feel sure that when all these matters are. placed be­ fore the House in the form of peti­ tions, some of whi•ch I now have bere, I am confident that the House will loOk them squarely in the face and ve the people of St. George's their fair sbare of the revenue which they I!'<> largely contribute to, for expendi­ ture in the public improvements.

There is another grant of which my district should get a larger por­ tion than it has in the past. I refer now to the maMne grant. The west­ ern side of the island has never re­ ceived · the share of this that it is entitled to. There is the thriving settlement of Codroy where on many occasions last year the Captain of the Portia absolutely refused to call be­ cause there was no light on Codroy Island. He held that it was not safe to call there except in fair weather.

Now, Sir, if this was a small village I could understand this neglect, altho I should not attempt to justify it, but Codroy is a busy to•n' and in being cut off entirely fro111 any connedtion with any adequate service, is up a'atnst dtftlculties which In Its case should not exist. The only communication Codroy has with the railway is by means of ten or twelve miles from Little River station and this road is cut in two by th~ moutll of Grand River. In Connection with the ferry service . across thls river I presented a peti- tion today which I trust will receive the attentiton its urgency demands. Now.

S'ir, I am sure honorable mem­ bers will see that when all supplies needed by the people of this busy town who are perhaps the largest exporters of frsh .fish on the west coast, for the carrying on ~of their business are ferried across from one side to another- and then brought five or six niiles on horses and carte; when all these supplies are carried • five miles by cart, then by water, and another five by cart to a settle- • ment, a remedy must be found and found at once.

In this connection, Sir, if the conditioes are known to members of the Government, the Speech from the Throne should cdn­ tairi some remedies tor inland trans­ portation. Ample time was given. The House could have met and business been done long ago. The Speech from the Throne seems to ·have bf:\Sn causej by other . things which have more seri­ ously affected certain members of the • Government. The Speech from the Throne was forgotten altogether, and that may account for the patchy way it was put together. I hope, Sir, that this is not an indic8<tion of the way work shall be done in this Assembly.

We have been promised some very wonderful . things; I myself, have promised some very wonderful things and therefore I regret that the Speech from the Throne has been so clumsily put together. I am glad to see the Department of Marine and Fisheries is going to receive some remodelling. I presume tllat tbe famous or infamous fish reg­ ulations (just as you please) will • come up for consideratioii, and · in connection wf th this I should like .to speak of some of the phases of the regulations, and how they will ef­ fect some of the people in my di•-

• • trict. Year after Yev w• aYe ~ drJfthl1 I to l>us ness With C.naaa and thi tate . Flab merchants buy their ft on behalf of Caaadl-n and America ftnns. They buy and sell direct Q o conimtsslon. I wonder if the lness of the people on the west co Is to be hung Up until a permit can be obtained from St .. John's to export their fish. Supposin", as It is quite likely to hap"n, tJJ,e buyers of fish will not ~ve them the information, whlch they must give in order to eecu:re Pe~lts. I can quite und stand.

C-nadiail or other 1irms having v.,.i-y seri9Ua ob-. jectiO!lS to gfvtng 3way their trade secrets, and ap ~ tly tb.eY must give ~way som of em before they can tnty. ...... ____ , coast this means that some o! e in the fish bus esa will Rve to chanse their busi~ess or get out of t alto-tber it the reguJa;­ tfons co ID.Ujt, aad consequently I can see that tlle number of actual ftshe~n will ~eatly dee ease Al­ ready a ~ lfmnber of them hate gone to Canada aad the United States_ ,lt m~ be th~t we have too many me~ in the Celtntry.

I hop., that the ¥lnt.., er of Marine and Fish­ eries Will consider t~e waeuliar methods of thoae connected witd. tl1e fish bu.sines on th$ west coc..st tn compartson with those on. thio .. :tJ a ot the Isla:oJL

HOUSE OP ASSEMBLY PROCI!!DINGi when the people decided th