.. PROCEEDINGS OF THE . HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY . DURING THE ·FIFTH SESSION OF THE • OF NEWFOUND .LAND 1928 ' 1\IANNING & RABBITT.S, Printers, Prescott Street, St . John's, N-ewfoundland, 1929. ' ' •

"' PROCEEDINGS 0 f the House of Assembly of ·Newfoundland SESSION 1928. Begun and holden at St. John's in tlle said Island this second day of May, Anno Domini, One Thousand Nine Hundre~J and Twenty Eight, bei·ng in tile Eighteenth year of th· e Reign of His Majesty, Our Sovereign Lord. George V. by the Grace of God, of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, I\:ing, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. WEDNESDAY, May 2nd, 1928.

His Excellency the Administrator having fixed the hour at which he proposed to open the present Session of the Legislature at three o'clock in the afternoon of this Wednesday, ti1e second day of May instant, the Members of the House of Assembly met in the Assembly Room at a quar­ ter to three in the afternoon, when Mr. Speaker took the Chair. At three of the clock a message from His Excellency the Administra­ tor was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, commanding tl1e immediate attendance of Mr. Speaker and the IIouse in the Legis­ lative Council Chamber. vVhereupon Mr.

Speaker and the House attended His Excellency in the Council C'hamber; and being returned to the Assembly Rooms, Mr. Speaker informed the House that when in at­ tendance upon His Excellency in the Council Chamber, His Excellency had been pleased to make a gracious .speech to both Branches of the Legis- lature, a copy of which for greater · accuracy he had obtained, and then read to the House as follows: Mr. President ·a,nd Honout•a,ble G·entle­ men of the Legisla .tive Council: Mr.

Sp·eake1· and Gentlemen of the Honoura ,ble Honse of Assembly: I welcome you at the commence­ ment of this, the last sessi0n of the present General Assembly, and I trust that the Session may prove fruit­ ful in legislation of much public ben·e­ fit and advantage. I congratulate you upon the mark .. ed progress the country has made during the Legislative term now ending, and especially upon the ad­ vancement during the present year. The prosecution of our fisheries during 1927 resulted in better returns to many of those directly interested.

Shore Codfish sold at r·emunerative prices and stocks remaining over are smaller than for many years past thus creating a healthy, market cor1diticn for future operations. The Seal Fishery just concluding will show a larger catch . than th· e previous year and the increased de­ mand for Sealskins has permitted the , payment of higher prices with pro­ portionate benefit to those ·engaged in this hazardous industry. The Pulp and Paper Industry show­ ed an expansion and the activities in connection with our mineral wealth give promise of marked development.

The legislation enacted at the last Session, rendering it possible for

4 HOUSE! Oli' ASSIJl\TBLY PROCEEDINGS • new interests to acquire the paper­ making enterprise at Corner Brook, resulted in the transfer of the prop­ erty to other ownership early in the present year, and the new proprietors are taking the initial steps towards the advances therein contemplated. On the other hand, the Act designed to facilitate the construction of a mill in the Gander Valley has not been brought into operation, though it is possible that this step may be taken at a later date.

It is very desirable that a mill may be established there, and the owners of the property are hopeful of bringing about this result. The visit of the Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress to the Island last Autumn was in itself an evi­ dence of the increasing interest of the outside world in our mining pos­ sibilities, and was followed by much discussion and activity at home and abroad in relation to our mining areas, stimulated by the development now in progress at Buchans River.

The American Institute of Mining Engineers have expressed their in­ t·ention of sending a deputation of representatives here next September. It is felt that as a . result of the great interest which is being shown in our mineral possibilities a revision of our mining laws 'is now essential and you will be invited to consider a measure for bringing these laws into conformity with the trend of similar legislation in other parts of the Em­ pire .

Operations at Bell Island have lat­ terly been more regular and sustain­ ed, with consequent stability of em­ ployment for those engaged there; but an increase in the wage rates is desirable. My Ministers have opened negotiations with the owners of the miPes to secure some advantages for the iron miners in this Colony corres­ ponding to tho se recently secured for the coal miners in Nova Scotia ·em­ ployed by the same corporation. Mr.

Speaker and Gentlemen of the Honourable 1 House of Assembly: The Estimates for the coming fiscal year will be submitted at an early date and you will be invited to make the customary provision for the needs of the public service • I am pleased to inform you that the Government was able to negotiate the loan authoris ·ed at the last Session on better terms than late issues, a .fact which indicates the high credit enjoyed by the Colony in the financial world • Within a few weeks the War Loan authorised in 1918 will mature and steps must be taken for the raising of money to meet this obligation, retir­ ing the bonds of that loan, which bear interest at 61h% and replacing them with securities to carry a lower rate of interest.

Therefore a Loan Bill including this amount which is slightly in excess of $7,500,000, with other items, will be submitted to you at an early date. The financial operations for the current fiscal year will show a small deficit. There has been a decided in­ crease in the customs revenue, ap­ proaching $750,000. The operations of the Railroad have resulted in bringing the receipts within $300,000 of the Expenditure , a reduction in the deficit by $300,000 compared with last year, and giving promise of the early approach of the day when the great public utility will be self- supporting.

The difficulty and expense of oper­ ating a Winter servie over the Rail­ way Line has in a large measure been due to combating snow drifts ·on the central plateau known as the Topsails, where the rail rises to 1500 feet above sea level. My Ministers

HOUSE OF., ASSEl\1IJLY PROCEEDINGS 5 are con vinced that a diversion of thi s l ine can be made so as to bring the main line to the town of Buchans and at the same time reduce the line's elevatio n by 400 feet, and that this alt erati on will repay the cost of this new construction within a compara­ tively short time. You will be invited to cons ider the provision of funds for this purpose. l'Ir. Pre\sident and Honourable G 1entle , . men of the Legislative Council: Mr.

Speake~r and G~ ent1emen of the Honourable House of Assembly: Bil ls respecting various have been prepared by the matters · Depart- men ts concerned and will be submit­ ted to you. In t he near future a General Elec­ tion w ill require to be held under the Re-dis tribution Act passed in the Ses- Tl1is is the fifth and final session of this Assembly and it is the second one to be opened by the Administrator. On tl1e last occasion His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Allardyce, was away from th· e country on a health trip; this y·ear, I regret to say, he has left the country to go into re­ tirement.

I tl1ink, Sir, that everyone whJ has the country's interests at heart will regret exceedingly the de­ par t llr e from our shores of Sir Will­ ian and Lady Allardyce. Sir William, if I may use the term, made himself ve r y popu~ar by his kindly and tact­ ful manner; Lady Allardyce had en­ deared herself to thousands of men, women and children throughout the length and breadth of this Island by the industry, energy, tact and good­ will she displayed on every occasion.

She has left a work that will endure, sion of 1925, when the principle of · and if it does not, well, it will be a sin gle -membered constituencies will poor comentary upon the character of prev ail almost entirely, and women, the people of Newfoundland. I refer to as well as men, will exercise the the work of NONIA, which she insti­ fran chise thruout the Colony. tuted, developed and encouraged and The Government have taken the ne- succeed ·ed in putting on such a sound cessar y steps to compile the new anj substantial basis that its future voter' s iists and to provide for all the success is assured.

Knowledge of the cont ingencies which the creation of the n ew constituencies will occasion, in or der that the election may be carried out with the greatest facil­ ities for the ·electorate. I t rust the Almighty may gllide your counsels and endeavours for the promotion of the true interests of the Count ry .. MOTION FOR ADDRESS IN REPLY. l\1R. BROWNE. - Mr.

Speaker, I wish to move that an Address of th ank s b· e presented to His Excellency the Administrator in reply to the grac ious Speech with which he has opene d this session of the Legislature this afternoon and that a Committee of this House b· e appointed to draft tl1is Address in Reply. estab lishment and existence of this institution has spread over a great part of the world, and today NONIA • products of the most excellent qual- ity can be seen upon Kings, Queens and their · children.

Durin . g the past four years of Mon­ roe admi11istration I submit, Sir, the country has witnessed a period of s ::; und, ste ady and consistent progress. Coming into power at a time when the affairs of this country were in a state of chaos and administrative de­ moralization, the Monroa Government have succeeded in restoring order where there was disorde r,. h a nes ~ y v 1I1ere tl1ere was dishonesty, faith "ul and sound administration "\Vl1ere ma l­ administration obtain ed so long ba­ for e ; th<~ deb t s and cust oms duties of

\ 6 I-IOUSE OF ASSJ~~vTBLY PROCEEDINGS this Colony have been collected with a firm hand and laws have been ad­ ministered and enforced with equity and justice. Take the progress of the past year alone, as shown in the de­ velopment and expansion of the Pulp and Paper Industry. It is but a year ago when we were asked here to con­ sider the passing over of the mills at Corner Brook into the hands of an Am·erican concern, and since that time the production of these mills has daily increased.

We have also seen the rise and growth of a new in­ dustry at Buchans Mine within the past year; and we have seen a devel­ opment in the tourist trade beyond all expectation. I am assured that the accommodation on the passenger steamers coming into this country is not sufficient to take care of the bookings for passages here next sum~ mer. ·into the sea each year of this waste while we witness the .anomaly ' of hav­ ing to import meal from other coun­ tries to feed our horses and our cattle, ·etc.

This problem should be grappled with and the waste utilized to yield profitable returns to the peo­ ple of this country and help make fish­ ing a more paying occupation. An­ other point that I thought worth while mentioning this afternoon is the remarkable difference between the exports frcm this country to these places where our fish is bought and the imports from the same countri 8s here.

Looking over statistics for the year 1925-26 I was astounded to find that we exported ten and a half mil­ lion dollars worth of fish to Spain, Portugal, Brazil , Italy, Costa Rica, etc., and from those same countries we did not import more than a half million dollars worth. Now those countries produce what we need in this country and I think it will be a pity if we do not establish direct trade But good times in this country de­ pend mainly on our fisheries. Good or bad times come from good or bad with those countries, because if we fisheries.

Last year, although the to- don't, other countries who are buying tal catch of fish was not large, good · priees wer· e maintained, and those who were fortunate enough to hold on to their catches did very well. Now this industry has its sidelines in the way of production of codliver oil and fish meal.

Within the past four years the codliver oil industry has increas-ed from an annual export of from 30,000 to 40,000 gallons per year at 80 cents a gallon to 500,000 gallons for 1927 at $1.25 a gallon, and if a quintal of codfish is equiv­ alent to a gallon of codliver oil, I look forward to the day when this codliver oil industry will reach one millions gallons per year. At the present time everything points to the fact that there is a big trade possible for the by..:products of our fisheries. Take the matter of the utilization of the waste or offal of our fish.

Hundreds of tons are thrown back from them and who are competitors of ours will take a way our trade. Mr. Speaker, it is another fortun­ ate thing this year that the price of fat from the sealfishery is high, and it is a question whether that is the re­ sult of the demand for seal oil, or the result of the demand for furs, which the ladies wear. The furs, it is true, are more valuable and it is regrettable that that value cannot be regulated in a way that would be a greater benefit to the men engaged in the prosecution of that industry. Personally, I am inclined to agr·ee with an

article that appeared in the press recently stating that the aux­ ilial y type of schooner, such as the "Young Harp," is the type that should be utilized for the sealfishery. The crew of the "Young Harp" made a bill this Spring of $196.00 per man, whilst

IIOPSFJ OF ASSliJl\IBL Y PROCEEDINGS 7 the crews of the large steamers made from $50 to $60 a n1an. It seems to me that there are large overhead ex­ penses to be borne in connection with the outfitting of the big steam­ ers like the "Ungava," "Nascopie" or "Beothic" and which are bound to militate against the crews making good bils. Besides, the range of the crews on these larger steamers is no greater than the range of the crews of the smaller vessels.

I am sure, Sir, we all regret that the Speech from the Throne this year is not able to announce that the Gan­ der project we all have heard so much about the past four years is not an accomplished fact. How·ever, I do not think that any blame can be laid on the shoulders of the present Govern­ Inent for this, because if honorable members will turn their minds back to last year they will recollect that only three members sitting on the opposite side of the House voted either pro or con on this measure last year. The Government did all they could to facilitate the erection of a mill on the Gander River.

I think it would be better to have · a mill built on the Gander than that a some­ what larger mill should 1be estab­ lished at Corner Brook because it would mean a better distribution of labour and a great benefit for the people throughout the whole country. I would like to see a number of mills established in different parts of the country, and such an arrangement will give more general prosp ·erity than the concentration involved in one very large plant.

Last year we had a hurried visit of the Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress and I belfeve that credit for the presence in this country of this Congress is almost entirely due to the Minister of Agriculture and Mines. I believe that his early experience in mining matters has given him a knowledge and sympathy towards the development of our mining areas that not every Minister of that department . could possess.

Since those people were here articles have appeared in leading journals throughout the wor}d commenting upon the gr·eat mineral possibilities of this country, and the resultant publicity generally of their visit has been the means of stimulating interest in Nev;foundland besides bringing about the formation and organization of mining companies with millions of dollars capital. Due to the discovery of Buchans, the out ... look is very rosy indeed.

It is very refreshing to hear that the Govern­ ment intends to deviate the Main Line of the Railroad through the Buchans Mine settlement and I suppose that the $750,000.00 voted here last year for the building of a railroad along the Gander will be us·ed for the building of this rail way through this great mining town, and hand in hand with that development I think that at .. tention should be given at this ses­ sion of the Legislature to the revision of the mining laws of the country. Little attention need be given to see that the bona fide miner and pros­ pector is not given a fair show in this country.

At present if John Jones goes out and discovers a mine on his properity and John Smith his neigh­ bour hears of it and he may deprive John Jones of the benefit of his ex­ penditure of labour and capital. Large areas have already been taken up. I doubt if the Minister can tell me now if there is any available and if I dis­ covered a mineral if I could get a claim. I know that just at present I could not as they are not being grant­ ed, but I doubt if there is any likely part of the country upon which a claim hasn't been taken out except probably the hintherland. ' .

Everybody too I am sure is pleased of the change of affairs at Bell Is- •

• 8 HOUSE OF A·SfiEJ.\1Bl.JY PROCEEDINGS land. Year after year the Government has been faced with great problems because of happenings over there and it seems that at last some important change has taken plaee in connection 'vith the Besco concern; that new financial interests will be taking hold. I believe Messrs.

Wocd-Gundy and Sir Herbert Holt, two of the greatest financial institutions of the Dominion of Canada have b·ecome interested in this concern and that evidence of their organizing ability and financial knowledge are being seen in the good results of the arrangement they have made with the miners in Nova Scotia. I believe that a reorganisation has been made on a profit sharing basis and I am sure if that system were applied to Bell Island the lot of the Bell Island miner would be a hap­ pier one by far. Last y·ear the Finance Minister was successful in raising a loan beyond all expection.

I was of opinon at the time that New York would be a good place to float the loan and I don't know whether it was a coincidence or not that the International Paper Com­ pany was present in the country at the time; whether or not the coming of the Company into the country af­ fected favorably the attitude investors showed toward this country.

How­ ever, it is significant to remark that the common stock of the Internation­ al Paper Company has risen 20 points in the past year and if investors in the United States have confidence in the International Paper Company, I feel sure th·ey are going to have confidence in this country. We have this year to consider the question of the war loan of 1918 of over seven and a half mil­ lions which was raised in a critical time in the life of this Empire and of this country.

It was raised at 61;2% and as money can now be had at a much lower rate we will save some­ thing over one hundred thousand a year on this lean in interest. It is a pity I think we do not give more con­ sideration here to the question of re­ funding our loans by establishing a sinking fund. I notice this year from the budget of Mr. Cht1rchill the Chan­ cellor of the Exchequer of Great Britain that he is providing the great sum of $350,000,000 for the paying off in 50 years of the public debt of that country.

Then, too, we learn from the speech this afternoon that the finan­ cial outlook of the country is not so dark after all. The Finance Minister told us last y·ear that we were to have probably a deficit of $850.000, but that he did not think it necessary to ·put on an increased taxation.

We were all very glad to hear that and now I am sure vve are gratified to find that his best expectations have been ful­ filled and the revenue has increased so much that the deficit is going to be very small and not near the eight hundred thousand mark at all. ~hen when we hear too that the railway is almost paying I think the country has reason to congratulate itself . This · is particularly fortunate for the Government because this year is elec­ tion year. The Government must go to the country this year.

Rumors have reached us here, borne on the icy winds of the north, that some people wanted an election this spring , but I hold that would not be the wish of the people if the disadvantages of a spring election had been put before them, as forcibly put before them as the advantages of spring election were put before them. In 1861 thos · e in this House passed a resolution against the holding of elections in the spring of the year and from that time to this there have only been three elections in the spring and one of these, the one held in 1923, was the only one uneces­ sary.

That was an extravagance which th· e country could ill afford at that time. In 1909 it was compulsory.

I-lOt~SE OF .i\. SE~FJl\iBLY PROCEEDING · S 9 It was com pulsory in 1924. But it is not compu ls ory this year while there is a Gove rnm ent in power as capable · ar1d efficient as the Monroe Adminis- tration . Loo king at it from the con­ .stitlltiona l p oint of view, which issue has been raise d by som· s honorable 1nembers sitti ng opposite, I might say tl1at this issue was thrashed out ID 1912 betwe en the Acting Leader of the Opposit ion, Mr. J. M. Kent, now the Honora ble Mr. Justice Kent, and Sir Edward Mor ris, now the Rt. Hon:.

Lord Morr is, and Sir Edward Morris tl1en pointe d out tha t constitutionally the ·H ous e of Assembly was elected for four yea rs; and it is the same no,v, for th is Government was elected on the 4th of June and this House ope11ed on the 9th of July and there­ fore the t erm does not expire until the 9th of July, 1928, and therefore a11y Gover nment which is worth its salt vvould not abdicate at the mur­ n1urings of any

section of the people. I am sure my honorabl · e friends must remembe r what has happened in Eng­ land in recent years. Take the time when Ramsa y MacDonald was Prime lVIinister for several months when he didn't hav e a majorit y in the House a t all, and those honorable gentlemen who may be histori cally inclined may turn the ir minds back to the days of the you nge r Pitt who suffered defeat after defea t in the Hous · e of Commons and went to the country inflicting a crushing a nd overwhelming defeat , on his oppo n ents as the Monroe Admin­ istration will do next fall.

There have been two outst anding acl1iev· em ents in addition to those men­ tio:o.ed. I refer to the establishment of sing le constitu encies and the pass­ ing of the wom en's fr a n chise. Sir, the Prim e Minister came into the gover nment of this country somewhat agains t his will, like myself even; he was a ve ry tyro in political affairs when h e be came a memb er of this • House and Prime Minister of this country. I believe he will leave it a poorer man by far, because he has made a greater sacrifices than any of his predecessors.

He took no honors, though open to him, and I feel sure that the honorable gentleman sittting in the Prime Minister's chair should realise that he need have no fear if he should wish to place his splendid personal and Government re­ co rd before tl1e people of the country. MR. POWER.-Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members, in rising to sec­ ond the motion before the Chair, I would simply repeat what I have said last year that I do so reluctantly in a way because I feel that there are other members, other private members of the Government ranks who are better able to grace this occa­ sion.

It seems strange to me that on the sam~ occasion last year I was placed in the same position as I find myself today and stranger still

t) find this privilege was given to me just a fe'v hours before the session opened. It affords me great pleas ­ ure, Mr. Speaker, to offer my sin- cere congratulations to the honorable ·mover of the motion before the House for the able manner for which he has covered practi cally all the items con­ tained in the Speech. I particularly thank him because he has taken over altog ether the weight from my should­ ers, as h e has left but little indeed for me to r efer to. I fully concur with the honorable member in the refer­ ences he has made to the Governor and Lady Allardyce.

I think it is a pity, a regrettable fact, that people of the type of the Governor and Lady Allardyce should be removed from this country just about the tim e when they ha ve fully entered into the hearts and affections of the people. I think I feel safe in saying that ev­ ery class of citizen in the cou ntry to­ day realizes that the going of the

10 I-IOUSE OF .ASSEl\.JBLY PROCEEDINGS Governor and Lady Allardyce is a distinct loss. My honorable friend the proposer of the motion has made ref­ erence to our fisheries and there are just one of two points in connection with this that I would like to refer to. It may be recalled that on the occasion of the session last year a kind of gloomy picture was painted for the then coming season and the markets looked very poor. How­ ever today the aspect is much bright­ er. There is more optimism abroad. Some new blood as well as new cap­ ital is being introduced into the country.

I particularly refer to the advent of the Hudso~'s Bay Company whose ,coming in and investing largely in the country's resources lend a stimulus to our fisheries. This com­ pany with such vast w·ealth and vast resources must have a good effect with us. Again we have the re-open­ ing of the lobster fishery which has been closed for the past three years, and with regard to this there is one matter in particular that I would like to refer to and that is in connec­ tion with the fixing prices of canned lobster. For some time rumors were going around that the prices of lob­ sters were very bad.

It was said that other kinds of fish had taken the place of Newfoundland lobster in foreign markets. These rumors scat­ tered thru the country and many fishermen hesitated to go to the fish­ ery at all. I am very glad to be in a position to say that I have gathered from a very reliable source the fact that Newfoundland Lobster will be in good demand and the price for packed lob­ ster will be not less than $22 per tierce. Besides that two very independent firms of St.

John's have been spending a good deal of time and gone to a good deal of expense in finding out if it were possible to market our lobster in a live state in Canadian and Amer­ ican markets. I feel, as I und erstand from the in~· formation that they have gathered, that the proposition is both a practical and profitable one and I have been told by the proprietor of one of those firms that he was just about ready to give this matter a practical try-out. Should this be a success, which I feel every reason to believe that it will, it will revolutionize the whole lobster fishery.

It will eliminate the time lost in packing. Reference is made in the Speech from the Throne to the deviation of our railroad from the much-dreaded Topsails down through the Buchans country. It it also contemplated. I understand, by the Railway Commis­ sion, to re-rail the western division . As far as the deviation of the road from over the Topsails goes, I feel safe in saying that the Railway Com­ mission could not make a more pop­ ular move. I think it will be admit­ ted by all who have the least con­ ception of the conditions on these hills, that it is a move in the right direction.

Every rail way offical will tell you that from the point of view of economy that having the railway re­ moved from the Topsails and deviated down to the other side will repay the country within a few short years. Not alone is it a good move from a financial point of view but from a humane point of view also. Only those who have had actual experie nce on thos · e hills can fully realize the hardships experienced there. To my mind it is beyond discussion .

By deviating it down the other way we will place on the main line the new and promising town of Buchans, as well as run the railroad through the more promising country than over the Topsails. I understand that consideration has

HOTTSE OF A~3SEl\1BJ~ Y PROCEEDINGS 11 been given also to the idea of re-rail­ ing the ,vestern division. r think this idea has been given con­ sideration because of the fact that the International Power & Paper Com­ pany, Ltd. are seriously considering ti1e erection of a large pier and ware­ houses at Port aux Basques. If this is accomplished there will be probably no less than two trains running from Corner Brook to Port aux Basques.

The position with the Corner Brook people today is that practically from the early part of January to late in April or the early part of May the whole Bay is tied up .and consequently all the winter's out­ ·put is tied up. This not alone interferes with the summer output but ties up a lot of paper that would otherv·;ise be on th· e market.

Should this happen I would like to point out to the Prime Minister as Chairman of the Railway Commis­ sion, and other members of the Com­ mission, that when the re-railing of the western division takes place that particular attention be given to two places, namely Crow Gulch and Mount Moriah, these two most dangerous sections on the line. It is true that we have had so far no fatal accidents at Crow Gulch, but that is not true of Mou11t Moriah, and I would like them to bear in mind now because I am sure that if some improvement was made there it would tend greatly to the safety of the railroad.

My honorable friend has made ref­ €rence to the paper industries and na­ turally the vast enterprise at Corner Brook, being in the district I have the honor to represent, is of more than passing interest to me. As it will be remembered, when this House met last year a kind of dual control was going on at Corner Brook, namely, the Nfid. Power & Paper Company and the International Paper Company.

It is not necessary for me to dwell on what happened prior to the taking over of Corner Brook by the new company because every phase of the Corner Brook deal was much over­ hauled in this House, when the hon­ orable members discussed the Corner Brook deal. While I admit, Mr. Speaker, that it little profits for one to form any opinion yet as to how we are to fare with the new American company, yet from those who have watched so far the operations there it appears that this country will have no regrets as regards the deal we have made there. Unforttlnately the manager, Mr.

Charlton, has been compelled to be away practically ever sinc · e the deal went through in January last and he has had very little ·time to attend to the claims at Corner Brook. How­ ever, he is back now and will be able within a few short weeks to let us se-e signs of his action. I understand that the Company has planned for the extension of the town­ site as well as its plant but to what extent that will take place largely de­ pends on the paper markets. The Company has, I know of my own knowledge, made every effort to operate a feeling of good feeling and good fellowship amongst its employ­ ees.

It is doing everything that is humanly possible to make their em .. ployees contented and happy. Just now they are erecting some houses and those houses will be erect­ ed at the cost that will suit the earn­ ings of the parties that will have to occupy them. Whilst I see no reference, Mr. Speaker, to any highroads policy for the coming season, I understand that some consideration will be given to it. It is, Mr. Speaker, time that they be given roads on the West Coast.

HO"C"SE OF ASSElVfBLY PROCEEDINGS The old situation has so changed in the district of St. George's and in the adjoining districts that it can be no longer left without some kind of d-e­ cent roadways. Whether this road policy will be­ gin this year or next it certainly must come soon. The position up there can no longer be viewed from the point of view that has been expressed for many years, that is a place s_ome hundred miles removed f·rom John's with a handful of people. five St.

We have, as the honorable members know, during the last fe\v years industrial developments there and we have other most promising developments which are sure to take place in the near fu­ ture. We have valuable deposits of gypsum, valuable deposits of iron and coal. We also have numerous and fam­ ous salmon rivers, and the day is com­ ing when the Government of this country will have to . give some con·· sideration to it. It can be no longer viewed as it has been viewed before. This is a question to my mind that should be viewed in the broad sense.

It should be viewed from the stand­ point as to how it affects the country. It is to my mind a national question. I have much pleasure in seconding the Motion for the appointment of a con1mittee to draft an Address in Re­ ply to the Speech which I-Iis Excel­ lency the AdminiGtrator -vvas pleased to make. MR. HICKMAN.-Mr. Sp·eaker, as it is customary for the leader of the Op­ position to make some remarks in reference to the Speech from the Throne, I intend to say just a few hrief words.

I first must congratulate the Government and the Prime Minis­ ter on selecting two such able men to move and second the motion for the Address in Reply. They have select­ ed two of the most long-winded ora­ tors on that side of the House, and they have also selected a lawyer, as they knew they wanted somebody to make a good case out of nothing-the Speech from the Throne. We have come around again to the opening of parliament for the despatch of the country's business and it is a most unusual occurance for the House to meet in the m~nth of l\iay. It is not only unusual but detrimental to the country's interests.

In this country we have only one session in the year, and during that session the whole business of the country is conducted and finalized. In Britain and the other Dominions they have sessions throughout the seasons, which is quite different. This is the season of the year when the members who are interested in the trade of the country should not be in St. John's; they should be at their homes looking after their business and the country's in­ terests. I expected that the Speech from the Throne would give us a full outline of the legislation that is to come before the House.

I understand that there is no contentious legislation to co-me up. It is simply a matter of putting through the necessary busjness of the House so tl1at tho country's business can go on until next session .:titer the next ;eueral election. The Governn1ent and the country have lost very much tin1e by this imnroper procedure and the ~ountry is very anxious to know \vhat is going to hap-pf)n. Son1e of our peo­ nle thrc-ughout the country no\V are wanting to see the atn1o::;phere clear­ c·d and they want to know what are the prospects for the coming session.

To the opening of parliament by the present Government at this session there is no legal objection. r.rhis is the fifth sesion of this House during the terrr1 of office of this Governrnent and usually there are only four ses­ sions. While there is no legal objec­ tion, there is a 1noral objection and

I-IOUSlil Oli ... .BJ:. sr~~l\IBL Y PROCEEDINGS 13 also a constitutional objection. Tl1e prac tice l1as always been i11 England and the other Dominions, when the Government has riot a suffi.cent majo­ rity to enact the legislation in the in­ tere sts of the cot1ntry, for the G -overn­ men t to resign their office. At the pre­ sen t session we are in equal numbers and we could, if we wanted to, defeat any le giglation that \vould be brought forward by this Government. That Government has not a sufficient to enact the legislation in the interests of the country, for that Governm·ent to r esign their office.

At the present session we are in equal numbers, and we could, if we wanted to, defeat any legis lation that would be brought for­ war d by this Government. · That, however, is not my inte11tion. I do 11ot want to do anything that would pr ecipitate the country into a turmoil and general election at this season of the year when trade is just beginning. We have passed through two or three years of very bad trading in New­ foundland.

Both the fishermen and the merchants, and particularly the sma ll outport merchants, have suf­ fer ed severely in their trade, and I th ink it would be very detrimental to the m if, at this time, we were to throw a m onkey wrench into the works of the Government. The Prime Minister, I un derstand, is responsible for the House opening at this late date. His position is one of great import­ anc e. It is an exalted office. The pow ers of the Prime Minister are very great. His functions and duties are very i1nportant.

He is not only the lea der of the House and the Gov·ern­ ment, but he is the spokesman of the country; he is also the custodian of the people's rights. His actions sho uld be well weighed in connection with anything in the int erests of the country. I do not want to be mis ... quoted, but I would lik e to repe at that I do n ot think that tl1e present ses·sion of this parliament shows faithfulness to the Crown, to our people, or to the Government tl1emselves.

It is a. mat­ ter of necessity that we preserve the rights \vhich our ancestors obtained after long struggles. · The present Gavernment will be going out of of­ fice, and I would lik·en them today to a polar bear on an iceberg drifting to\vards the Gulf Stream. In the reference to the Speech from the Throne there are many prospects and negotiations. Prospects and negotiations do not satisfy me. What we want is something tangible in the way of labour. The visit of the Empire l\1ining and Metallurgical Congress I attribute to the good work of the Min­ ister of Agriculture and Mlnes.

I believe it was through his ·efforts that these people came here last year, and their visit was certainly of great im­ portance to Newfoundland. The refereneef to the raising o money on cheaper terms than hitherto is only a coincidence, because money is cheaper all over the world to-day. In Canada and United States big corp .. orations like insurance companies are looking for investments to-day and there is no trouble to sell good sec­ urities. If a loan is about to be raised in this country I trust that it will not go over four and a half per cent for vvl1ich the Government should get very · near par.

The re-railing of the road and the diverting of the line is no doubt in the interests of the country .but can we afford it. The present Government have not since they have been in pow .. ·er balanced their budget one year, and this year we are told in the Sp-4. eech from the Throne there is a fur .. ther deficit. I want to inform the House for the benefit of the House, that th·ere has been a strik!e in the Liberal ·Party. I will read for the bene fit of the House the letter which was addressed to the Hon. the Speak-

.- 14 IIOUSE OF ASSI~Jl\,IBL Y PROCEEDINGS er of the House of Assembly;- The Honourable Cyril J. Fox, Speaker of the House of As­ sembly. Sir, We have the honour 'to inform you that we have organized a Lib­ eral Legislative group for the more efficient conduct of public business at this session of the Legislafure. We support the policy of Liberalism as distinct from Conservatism and propose to work for the liberal cause un­ der the leadership of Sir Richard Squires. We have elected as House • • Leader for the coming session Mr. W. W. Halfyard, senior mem­ ber of the Liberal group.

We would b· e obliged if you would notify His E'xcellency the Administrator and the Honourable Prime Minister accordingly. We have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servants, W. W. Halfyard, I. R. Randell, E. J. Godd·en, J. H. Scammell, K. M. Brown, G. F. Grimes, R. Hibbs, F. G. Bradley, H. M. Mosdell. I want to notify you, Mr. Speaker, and this House of Assembly that these gentlemen are not now associated with me and the Liberal Party and that any utterances of theirs we will not be responsible for. I think that I have got out of it pretty well.

I want to tell the House this, that I have no intention whatever of vacat­ ing my seat as leader of the Opposi­ tion in this Assembly and I have no intention whatever of resigning my seat as Leader of the Liberal Party. I would make some further remarks in reference to one of the honorable members who was associated with me, but who has sent a circular thru­ out his district in which my name was mentioned not in my interest, but as his name is associated with those on this notice, then I will refrain from making any further remarks. MR. HALFYARD.-M)r.

Speaker, first, before I inadvertently omit it, I must thank Mr. Hickman for his cour­ teous advertisement of the action of what he called the Liberal group on the Opposition side of the House with­ in the last twenty-four hours. His­ tory has been made, I presume. I do not know whether we have any precedent for such doc11ment as has been read by Mr. Hickman. But it was not my intention to speak on this phase of political activity.

Rather I would say that everybody kno,vs our attitude now and that is why I a111 speaking this afternoon to the motion that is before the Chair for a Com­ mittee to be formed to draft an Ad­ dress in Reply to the Administrator's gracious Speech. We hope that nothing will inter­ fere with our personal relations, no matter what person's banner we are under. It has always been my policy since I came into public life in 1913 that what I have had to say to any public ~ man in a public position was in a public way and had nothing to do with our personal relations, and I am sure that Mr.

Hickman and myself are as one with regard to our attitude to­ wards the present Gov·ernment. lVIr. Hickman has very clearly and very lucidly this afternoon pointed out the maladministration of the Monroe Gov~ ernment and has prophesied their fate. They are drifting to their doom. I hop· e my remarks will be brief nov;, as there will be ample opportunity be­ tween now and the time the House closes-as we cannot be here any longer than July 9th when the term of office of tl1e Government automat-

HOlTSE OF ~\S8El\~[BL Y PROCEEDINGS 15 ically expires-to discuss any· Irteas­ ures brought forward by the Goverl1- ment . However much I may differ from the concltlsions and deductions drawn by Mr. Browne and Mr. Power from the Speech from the Throne, it is not my intention this afternoon to undu ly criticise the statements they have ma de, as it is not considered prope r form to discuss the ·Speech on openi ng day, but any measures that are br ought in in Bills and Resolu­ tions will be debated by us in due cours e.

With regard to the proposer and sec onder of the Motion for an Add r ess in Reply and their associa­ ti ons with the Monroe Government, no doubt their action may be consid­ ere d by them politically as a good on·e, beca u se in 1924 they were younger and inexperienced men and were im­ bued with the idea that they could serve themselves and their ·country best by identifying themselves with the M onroe Party, considering the prais eworthy document that was put into their hands to present to their cons tituents.

I do not criticise them for their action, rather do I sympath­ ise with them, because they are sup­ por ting the Monroe Government. Some of us make up our minds to go under one person's banner and then we go tlnder the banner of somebody else! and, of course, that is what these two ge ntlemen will do in a few weeks time.

I am inclined to refer to one or two outs tanding statements contained in that wonderful m=tnif.esto of the pres­ ent Prime Minister four years ago, state ments which no doubt were a de­ lu sion and a snare to 95 per cent of those who supported and voted for the Monroe Party at the last general elec tion. However, the proposer and sec on der of the Speech today have been with that party so long now that it is hardly worth while for them to cause any semblance or disloyalty to the ir leader at this juncture.

We are here today not at the will of the Prime Minister, and when this House pro­ rogues in a few weeks' time, and the Prime Minister resigns, and no appeal to the electorate is made, irrespon­ sible people -vvill be running this country until next fall, such pro­ cedure, Mr. Speaker, I submit is not good enough. Mr. Hickman has described the Gov­ ernment as a poor outcast polar bear on a pan of ice drifting towards the Gulf Stream. It seems to me to be like the funeral obsequies of the Mon­ roe Administration.

Perhaps it would be more correct if I described the Government as a corpse and the corpse has got to be buried at the pub­ Jic expense, because there is absolute­ ly nothing to be gained by holding this session of the Legislature. We are here to pass estimates and vote ourselves our sessional pay and th· e session will cost the Colony some sixty thousand dollars. The Speech from the Throne for·eshadows noth­ ing. It contains only a suggestion and a hope. Therefore we are here to bury a Government at the public ex­ pense.

The Prime Minister intimated through the public press that it was not his intention to lead a party, either in this House or at the polls this year. Then why are we here to­ day? We are not here at the wish of the Prime Minister or at the will of those who have the best interests of the country at heart. Rather are we here . at the behest of opportunists who want to hold on to positions of emolument, rightly or wrongly, and then to continue in office until Nov- ember next.

During the last session of the House the Prime Minister made a pronouncement that there was great necessity for the enactment of dras­ tic legislation. but his ranks were so depleted he could not put through that legislation. He anticipated that som·ething would ha ppen within the • .....

16 HOUS:D.~ OF ASSI~MBLY PROCEEDINGS next twelve months that would strengthen his Government and enable him to come to this ·House and put thru the necessary legislature. Still the member for St. John's West today said that this Government would go on record for progress that was sound steady and consistent within the past years. The Honourable Member by his supe 'rior education has a gift of language by saying things that would make it difficult for the ordinary lay­ man to understand . It bordered on sarcasm, but I would say that the pro­ gress he talks of brought death, dif­ ficulty and disaster in its train.

MR. SPEAKER; In noticing the countenance of the members of the Government since this House has been opened this afternoon it has been like the phases of the moon, some­ times full, sometimes waning. There was the idea '~\ve are here another six months, and that will help us to get a little more fat and sleek than we are now, and we are fairly well as it is," and then the thought came that the patrimony we now enjoy will end with the d·ecease of the present Gov­ ernment. The Government, rightly or w:rongly, has been trying to hold on to office. I need not repeat that; everybody knows that.

The Govern­ ment, rightly or wrongly, has been trying to hold on to office. What for? Well; to departmental heads it means the loss of $300 or $400 a month, and then to -the beloved army of followers in patronage receiv ·ed goodness knows how much it means. I sympathize with the Prime Minister to a cetrtain extent; I can blame him from another point of view. As I told him last year, I would not be here to be the gQat for a crowd that wants to remain on in office.

I would not do it, .and I wish I was as independent of men and means as he, and I would tell them to go to . where they would not want the nec- essities of life. In reference to the industrial sit­ uation and labour giving industries of .. this country, we can go back to the operation in Corner Brook and we can talce our minds baclr for a few years a11d turn up the files of the newspap­ ers and find criticism made against those vvho were trying to introdtlce those industries who were to bring into being those mills at CoTner Brook.

Why, it has been the salvatio11 of this country; and it was tl1ougl1t last year that possibly another mill would be in operation on tl1e Gander. We regret that that has fallen thrQu gh btlt we hope tl1at the next Govern­ ment will bring the matter to a suc­ cessful issue. I don't suppose it will be done now b·efore the general elec­ tion. But the present Government can­ not take any credit for any indust­ rial activities in tl1e country at the present time.

It was brought about in spite of some of the members and fol­ lowers of the present Government and it \Vas the irony of fate that some of those men 'vho had opposed the pro­ position were there at the opening of the mills . . Can the present Governn1ent point to any great labour giving in­ dustry? I am glad to hear the Fill- ance Minister hopes to have a small deficit. We shall see more about that later. We all kno\v that things can be covered up easily, especially when a Government is going Otlt and tl1ey only have to let the other people talre care of the trouble after tl1ey have covered things up.

Anyway we aTe all glad to hear that the financial stand­ ing of the country is a little better than anticipated. When the present Government took charge in 1924 they said with regard to the seal-fish ery and codfishery. (Reads Extract) What brought abou . t this very de­ sirable state of affairs? Was it be­ cause the Monroe Government was

1-IOUSE 0~"' .I\.SSIT1M.I~LY PROCE ·EDINGS 1.7 in office six or seven weeks it led to e!nployment? Absolutely not. The tide had beep. running adversely and they came in on the tidal wave of what ap­ peared to be future prosperity when it tu~ rned for a while. That lasted for the next year; but wl1at happened . then? Since then look at the huge price you had to pay to keep the people from getting the dole.

Since 1924 you 11ad to build the dock at a cost of two millions; spe11d two and a quarter millions on highroads, tourist roads, and a hotel; all visionary under­ takings; which in a great many cases are a liability and a tax on the earn- . ings of the country. Can this Govern­ ment point to any one unde~ rtaking during its regime which means in­ creased earning power to the people. You have increased the public dept several millions and have't been able to put the Gander on the map. J\1:r. Speaker; I think it is better for me to stop as I may ,continue here and weary the ladies.

I have no re­ gard for the feelings of the gentlemen but I hope if God gives me strength that I will be out asking the ladies for their vote in a few . weeks and I will not weary them with any further re­ marks on the subject matter before the chair. Now Mr. Browne the Mem­ ber fo-r St. John's West was very good. Of course he was inclined to get out of his depth a little when ho talked about the sealfishery and codliver oil, talking about having a million gallons of cod oil exported; but he did very W 'ell; he has superior knowledge and education fbut lnot having practical knowledge of these things.

The seal- fishery it is said brought remuner­ ative results to the men. I cannot con­ cur vvith that. It has brought very un­ satisfactory results to the men pro­ secuting it this year. Do we ·ever hear talk of an arrangement between two parties enteri11g into a commerical un­ dertaking whereby both. parties ,get returns frorr1 that undertaking ancl what they receive depends on what . the undertakint; produces?

Here we have the seal fisl1ing industr)r and the n1en sign up for one third of the catch • It is _ generally regarded as actually one third of the catch and that the ·men can demand one-third of the seals to do what they want with them. This year the value of the cargo brought to St. John's from the icefields does not depend so much on the quantity of the fat as the quality of the skin because the value of the cargo de­ pends more than it did on the value of the fur which is more in demand.

Now the seal~rs before they went to the icefields wanted to know what price they would get for fat before then went out and the men -interested in the sealfishery said "alright, we will pay you five dollars for fat"; but do you think that they would have so . readily consented to offer $5.00 for fat if they did not know that they could anticipate getting 3 seal skins for that amount of fat and these would possibly be worth $4.00 each or $12.00 for the - three without any .value at all on the fat.

I don't think you are going to find men to go to the ice next spring without arranging their share as the fair value of the cargo. It will require some book­ keeping but the merchants should get down to it, and place their cards on the table and give a statement of the gross earnings and expenses. That is the trouble; none of us are honest;. as I have told some of my constituents asking for things I couldll't possibly get. I said if politicians and con­ stituents were honest it would be a different world altogether. And we have to be if we vvant to get the con­ fidence of the people. I apologise Mr.

Speaker and I thank you for your gracious indul-

18 I-IOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS gence for I have spoken not in a set speech but just as things came to my mind; just the general point of view and that is what we are all interested in. At any rate now that we are here, put your legislation on the table to­ morrow. Bring it in and let us get through as quickly as possible.

We should not be here; but now let us get through quickly. l\IR CASHIN: Mr . .Speaker; I did not intend to make any remarks here this afternoon but recent political events have forced me to the position that I have to take the opportunity this afternoon of making one or two per­ sonal explanations. Other speakers made reference to the Speech from the Throne that has been read by His Excellency the Administrator in the other Chamber and which was read by you Mr. Speaker to this House just a short time ago.

With regard to the contents of that Speech I do not at the present time propose to deal with, but at some future date I propose to make a few casual remarks in reference thereto. It has been cus­ tomary in the past that the annual political drama takes place in the Legislature and men on both sides of the House play their specific parts. This year the motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne was moved my friend Mr. W. J. Browne and seconded by Mr. Power the Honourable Member for St. George's and they were replied to in customary manner by the Leader of the Opposition and he was followed by Mr.

Halfyard who assumed a new leaderhisp during the past few hours. • And first while it has been customary for individuals to cong~· atulate the yarious Members performing in the various reoles. I regret that I feel that those individuals were placed in those positions to play their

part in those roles and that there was no sincerity bshind them. I will pass f:rom that matter for the present and I wish to refer to a circular letter is sued by Mr. Hibbs the Member for Fogo a short while ago and with your permission I will just read one shdrt paragraph which has personal reference to me. I might say Mr.

Speaker that this let~ ter was in the form of a manifesto it seems, but to be brief this afternoon I shall not deal with the contents of that famous document but shall refer to it later on in the Session, but for the benefit of the Members of the House and those outside the House some of whom probably may have a ce'rtain amount of confidence in me, especialy the people I represent in F·erryland District, I feel it behooves me to make this explanation this afternoon. (Reads Extract) from circular letter referred to above Mr.

Speaker, if I could be permitted he·re this afternoon I would put a con­ struction on that paragraph which I regr ·et to say would not be pleasing to the spectators who thought it worth 'vhile to come here and witness this annual drama. I think that members on both sides of the House and people outside of the House will recognize the fact that if any man has fought the pres­ ent administration fearlessly, if I must say so myself, honestly and straightforwardly, with neither back­ biting nor dagger drawing, it was Peter J.

Cashin, member for Ferry­ land, and I say her· e today that no member of the Opposition side of this House has used his efforts any better than I have done to defeat the present administration. I have used my time and personal influence and I have fought a by-elec­ tion, helped to fight them, and spent :rp.y own n1oney on it and feel that I can use my mind and that it is pri-

1-T t)USE 0}~ ASf3ElVIBL Y PROCEEDINGS 19 vilege not to have to first apply to Mr. Hibbs or to any one else to ask_ them ,vhat I should or should not do. I thank God that up to the present time I don't belong to either liberal party or tory party, because local political parties are so much non- .. sense, and we have to say here that you belong to one of these two pa.rties, sometimes liberal and sometimes tory. ~here is not a member in the House ,vho has not been on either side at one time or another, \Vho has not been eitl1er Liberal or Tory, Tory if it suits them; Liberal if it suits them.

And there is really no L~ibe-ral party in Newfoundland becaus·e there is no strict policy of liberalism in this country. I was always opposed to a spring election, but I think that if the dif- \ ferent departments of the House will remember last summer and those who want to take the trouble to look up the Hansard, will find that I was strongly in favour of bringing about an election last fall.

I mentioned there then that the Monroe Administration ' had not the confidence of the people arid I say again today that they have not got · the confidence of the people, and as the Opposition members last year op- posed the M·onroe Administration to­ day they come in here as memb ·ers of Liberal and conserative parties and I 'viii · be doing my share in the House to fight the Government just as well as Mr. Hibbs or any other member of There is no Liberal party in this the Opposition, whether Liberal or country. It is a case of every man for him­ self. Mr.

Hibbs, the writer .of that cir­ ·cular; knows that its contents as far as I am concerned, is an absolute fab­ rication. Those persons who associated them ... selves with me and with Mr. Brophy in connection with the by-election in St. John's East to defeat the present Government, know that I used every effort to beat the Government and · that I helped to beat them, and Mr. Hibbs issued papers fo.r which I paid for personally. And behind my back he writes a base fabrication to his constituents in Fogo.

I will take the necessary steps with­ in the next two weeks to prove my position and I am prepared to spend more dollars to tell why that circular "1'as issued. I have had my own opinions as re­ gards the spring election and I dont tl1ink that is anyone's business. Tory, and when the time arrives I can side-step to either of these, and that time is not going to be very long • coming. I _ have failed to hear any gentle .. man on this or the other side of th· e 'House give any consistent reason why there should be a spring election. I agree that for political reasons it might be best for Mr.

Hibbs to have a spring election. At the present juncture I a. m in bus­ iness in this country and all my in ... terests are tied ·up in that business, and it is my duty to protect my bus­ iness. I feel that a spring election does not look out for trade or ' commerce in this country because the spring of th· e year is the time when everybody is preparing for the season's business and cannot be taken from his business for political doings of any kind. But at this particular juncture that is the particular reason why I do not favour a spring election, and I re-

20 I!OUSIG OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS alize that the Members of the Monroe Administration want to stay here in office in order to draw their monthly pay as long as they can. We see in the Speech from the Throne that we have got to raise a loan to pay the seven and a half mil­ lions coming due on the 30th of June. Supposing for the sake of argument that we. were having a spring election tomorrow. It was around this time that we had it three or four years ago. Supposing a spring election took place within the next two weeks no Govern­ ment, Liberal or Tory could get into office before the first of June.

The L2gislature could not open until the J Oth. Could the necessary funds be raised and placed to the credit of the Colony in the Bank of Montreal by the 30th of June in order to meet the demand for the seven and a half millions due on that date? What would . happen them? We would have people knocking down the doors of Customs House looking for their money and no money to pay them. Would the ·credit of the country be impaired. would. Certainly it Members of this House who ad· vocate a spring election have not got the interests of this Country at heart. That is one of the reasons why I op­ pose a spring election.

I oppose it now and I am not supporting the Gov­ ernment and I am not a member of either the Liberal or Tory party. Neither one matters a snap of the finger to me. I would like during the course of this Session for Mr. Hibbs to ex­ plain why he thought fit to use my nam. e in his Fogo manifesto without • • my permiSSion. I think I am entitled to some .re­ cognition in this House. I have never been approached by any member on the opposite side of the House to find out if I would sup­ port the Monroe Government and tolcl them I did not want a spring election.

And if it com·es down to brasstacks, when discussing various matters with the members of the Government, I told them that I was opposed to a a spring electio~1, I told them vYhy they wanted to get rid of jt, "\Vrtd h~­ cause they wanted to hold on to office. I do not want a job in the Govern­ ment, but I was opposed to it on principle, and I am prepa.red to stand up here until six o'clock and show Mr. Hibbs that I fought the Government harder than he ever fought it and ever could fight it and that when the elec­ tion comes around I will fight it hard­ er than he will. Mr.

Speaker I have to o·ffer my apologies to the House and to those who took the trouble to come here to witness our annual drama for having to express myself in such a manner . but I feel that in offering an explan­ attion to the people you will realize that in view of the facts, there was no other course open to me, as one who has fought the Government consis­ tently during the past three years. I want to tell the House, Mr. Speak­ er ,that while the famous note said "Cashin and Moore left the Govern­ ment two years ago" that the writer's memory lapsed because Cashin left one year before Moore.

I came across here first and 1\'Ioore followed the next year. And Mr. Speaker the writer may be able to turn to the records of the House and find out if the statements ;

I!OTJSE OF l\SSI~~ JVTBL Y PROCEEDINGS 21 tl1at I made are correct or incorrect .. I left the Government in 1925 on policy. I went with the Govern­ l113nt in 1924 pledged to certan con­ ditions which they failed to carry out. vVl1en I had driven them as hard as I could, \vitl1out avail I left them. I am not ashamed to say so today.

The Monroe Administration knows tha t I did it with the best of inten­ tions and members of the Opposition will agree and back me up when I Sf"Y tl1at from the time I crossed the t1oor s of the House up to the present mon1ent that Cashin fought consis ... tently and that he will yet tell the Monroe administration where they get off before the present session closes. We have heard several references made to the polar bear on a pan of ice but I think that I have coined an il­ lustration of public life in this coun­ try as we have it today.

While there are many who go to the seal fisl1ery once a year have a belt a nd sheath on for fi"ve or six weeks in order to help them with their seal fsh·ery, there are soma of the politi­ cia ns who carry a belt and sheath the wl1ole yea. r around and draw the J;rnife when they are not noticed to d:l in jury to a public man. I wo uld like to kno\v whether Mr. Hibbs has attempted to do me a poli­ ica l or a private injury. It is of no interest to Mr. Hibbs \Vl1ether I support the Government or n et. No, he has another reason and be~ o r e the Legislature closes I will te ll h ~ n1 the r eason. But l\1r.

Hibbs has to explain why he arrived at such a position that he ha s brought my name into his mani­ fe sto and I \vant him to tell me right here and now that that document is incorrect and if he states that it is correct and what he put in there is trtle, then he lies wilfully. And I d·e­ mand right here in this Legislature tl1at he proves the statements or take it back before this House and I ask yo u, Mr. Spealrer, who are noted for your fairness to both ·sides to see that it is done. MR. HIBBS. Mr. Speaker, with your permission I desire to reply to the . Hon ourable gentleman who has just tal-ren his seat.

While I scarcely ex­ pected that such an honour as becom­ ing the subject of so much attention frcm my honourable friend would be thrust upon me this evening, I may say that it is not altogther a surprise to me . Though the medium of various telephon · e calls, and otherwise, I was i11formed this morning that Mr. Cash­ in had taken exception to a statement in a letter which I had recently sent through the mail to certain constitu­ ents of mine in the District of Fogo, and that h· e proposed coming into tJhe House this ·evening to attack me with regard to the matter.

I wish to say at the outset that I have no apology to · make to Mr. Cashin or any other per­ son because I wrote that letter. That was purely my own business. I re­ present an extern district and a nurn .... ber of intelligent electors of the Dis­ trict are anxious to be informed as to the trend of political developments, and it will not be disputed, I am sure, that it is part of my duty, among other things, to supply them with reliable information, and I "' shall continue to do so from time to time. Enquiries have often been made by then1 as to where Messrs. Cashin and lVIoore stood politically. Mr.

Speaker, before replying fur­ ther to Mr. Casl1in's remarks here this evening. I desire to call the attention of the Minister of Posts and ~J,ele- I

• 22 B.OUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS graphs to the fact that the letter from that statement, and I again challenge which Mr. Cashin has read a para- him to make an affidavit. '\Ve are graph, was stolen from the mail and brought to the Daily News Office, and there garbled for political purposes, and extracts from same published in yesterday morning's News, I repeat~ iSir, that the

article printed in the Daily News and purporting to have been sent to Fogo was manufactured in that office and the writer did not hesitate to stoop to the depth of mak­ ing a sectarian appeal for the purpose of injuring me. Had the author of this infamous transaction been clever enough to wait for a few days more until a return mail would have tir~e to come from Fogo, then he may not have been caught redhanded. No per­ son in Fogo, either friend or foe, would think of writing such a letter as appeared in yesterday's News, and furthermore at the moment when this scheme was being hatched in the Daily News office that lying

article was being written, the m1-H carrying my letters had not even reached Fogo, not to speak of a reply coming back. Mr. Speaker, I assert here this even­ ing that His Majesty's mail was tanl­ pared with and one at least of the letters, which I had posted in the regular way, has been stolen and that the Daily News knew of that fact when that garbled report was written and, Sir, a gentlemen who represents that newspaper is holding a seat op­ posite me in this House, and I chal­ lenge him to make an affidavit that what I have said here this evening is not correct. MR.

PUDDE ·STER.-I do not want to make an affidavit; it i_s absol;Jte­ ly incorrect. MR. HIBBS.-Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my knowledge of the incid­ ent and the gentleman in question, makes it impossible for me to accept now come to the position Country when even His Mail is not safe. in this Majesty's MR. CASHIN.-! suppose that the honorable member does not mean to insinuate that I was a party to breaking into the post office and steal­ ing the document. MR.

HIBBS.-! made no such state­ ment, but I do most emphatically state that the letter or circular, it you like, was stolen from the Mail and brought to the Daily News office, and I must ask the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs to take due notice of this fact . • Mr. Speaker, I am standing behind every word and syllable in that ctrcu~ lar letter from the first to the last word. It contains no statement that was not -correct, and I shall be glad to present every gentleman in this House with a copy, if they so desire.

It will not do the government mem­ bers any harm if they have a copy of that letter, as it contains a state­ ment of my opinion of the Govern­ ment's policy, an opinion which is shared by the people of the Country, and it gives expression to my own views as plainly as I can, and will, express them on the floors of this House during the Session. With respect to the particular state­ ment complained of by Mr. Cashin and Mr.

Moore, although the latter has not yet spoken, it is hardly neces­ sary for me to read the paragraph, as Major Cashin has done so, and I am sure that every person in this chamber has had an opportunity of hearing it, as he possesses a very good voice. Now, Sir, if I were to make a statement in a letter with reference to Mr. Cashin, or any other person that •

HOUSE OF 1\SfJEl\iBL Y PROCEEDINGS 23 v;as not correct, I would not hesitate to withdravv it. I would be sorry to n1isinterpret anyone's attitude, but vvith reference to the incident in ques tion, I want to ask Major Cashin if h e remembers -vvalking down Water Street with me some time in Janu­ ary, an d in discussing tl1e political situation, making the statement to me that he intended to support the Gove rnment as against the Opposition in order to keep the Government in power until the Fall of the year. I now ask Major Cashin if he will deny this statem ·ent.

MAJOR CASHIN .-! might have said that, but I am opposed to a Spring eletion. MR. HIBBS.-! again ask Major Cashin if it is correct that he stated t o a prominent public man, whose wor d I am prepared to accept, when leaving his presen ce som· e time the past Winter, that l1e was then going down to see Mr. Monroe to offer him his support against the Opposition, in or(ler that the Monroe Government may carry on till the Fall of the year. I have had the pleasure of a con­ versation with Mr. Cashin in his of­ fice on two occasions recently, and we, in a friend ly way, discussed the political situation.

We disagreed on some questions, and Mr. Cashin at least conveyed to me the impression tha t he would not be supporting tl1e Opposition. The statement in my let­ ter to Fogo consti t uents stated the fac ts as I underst ood them from Mr. Cas hin himself. With regard to Mr. l\ioore, it is 've il k novvn that h e l1as repeatedly made similar statements during the last fevv m onths, and I am sure that there ar e htln dr eds -vvithin the SJUll d of m y voice this aft ernoon who real­ ise that the honorable ge ntleman had offer ed to support the Governm ent and to keep it in office until the Fall of the year.

I will go further, Mr. Speaker, and say right here that if a resolution was moved this evening by the Op­ position retaining office after their legitimate time expires that Major Cashin and Mr. Moore would support the Government as against th· e Oppos­ ition. That, I think, confirms all that was said in the circular letter co111 ~ plained of . The writer in the News endeavored to raise the sectarian issue because I mentioned only the names of lVIr Cashin and Mr. Moore. No person in Ne,vfoundland w·ho knows Hibbs ! would associate my name with a sec­ tarian appeal.

No person in this country has ever known m· e to bring th e question of religion into my poli­ tics. I have never done so, and I never 'viii. If one wishes to find sec ... tarian fire bugs, you have only to go to the newspaper office from whieh that letter was published. The object of this low down attack was to cause strife because Mr. Cash­ in, Mr. Moore and myself do not hap­ pen to worship at the same shrine . Those contemptible tactics are too well known to have much effect.

With regard to a Spring election, I am strongly in favor of an election in the early Spring, and it is sheer n~nsense to talk about upsetting tra de, but I do not think that I should discuss this qu·estion at this juncture , but will expresss myself in this con­ nection later on. With regard to Mr. Cashin's state­ ment that he would take up this sub­ ject later in the Session, I assure him that he will find me quite willing to deb a te the question when the occasion arises, and I think it will be proven to his satisfaction that the paragraph in tl1at letter was correct and con- •

24 IIOUSE OF .ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS tained no suggestion of a sectarian tinge. MR. CASHIN.-I did not say that anything sectarian was meant. MR. HIBBS.-Well the same cannot be said of the Daily News, as that object was deliberately planned. In concluding, I may say, ::Vlr. Speaker, that two prominent gentle~ men in a telephone conversation this morning, stated that they were pre­ pared to prove that the honourable gentleman for Ferryland, Mr.

Moore, had stated to them within the last few days that he was going to support the Governm ·ent in the event of any vote that would interfere with tbeir remaining in office until next Fall. MR. MOORE.-Nan1e them? MR. HIBBS.-That has been com~ mon knowledge through the City for som· e time past and for that reason, • Mr.

Speaker, I am standing behind street with him and tell him that I . was going to support the Government in any way, and I want to make the statement now that no member of the Government and no supporter of the Government ever asked me to sup­ port them in any measure that was coming !lefore this <";hamber. It is a case of making a hunt of the poor bay1nan again. That is the meaning of that paragraph there. He knew very well that Major Cashin and myself never intended to support the Gov­ ernment. I left the Government and came over here for certain reasons.

I owe no allegiance to av.y man in this House, except the party ~hat sent me to represent them and t:he p8ople of this country. When any legislatio::1 co1nes down here for the betterment of this country, I intend to support it, irrespective of any party. If I am privilged to go to the polls during the next election, I hope that I will go in a party that this country can look up to and _respect I want to • every word in that circular and have state that the paragraph in that epis- no apologies to make to any man. tie that· was sent to F'ogo District by MR. MOORE.-Mr.

Speaker, this seems to me to be the afternoon for testifying and I hope and trust thn.t you will give me the privilege that you have given my colleague :1nd the honorable member for Fogo, Mr. Hibbs. I must first congratulate Mr. Brown and Mr. Power. I think that their speeches this afternoon crt-a.te a different atmosphere from what they did last year, and I heartily con­ gratulate these two gentlemen. I must also congratulate the leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hickman, upon his efforts this afternoon.

But no" to ref·er to what brought me to my feet, in connection with this circular is­ sued to the electorate of the district of Fogo, by my honorable friend, Mr. Hibbs. Mr. Hibbs did not have my permission to use my name in that connection. I did not walk down the Mr. Hibbs is false. And I am going to take the first opportunity that I pos­ sibly can to contradict that statement in the district of Fogo. And I win tell them something possibly that they would like to hear. I - thank you, Mr. Speaker, for granting me permission to make this contradiction. MR. ASHBOURNE.-Mr.

Speaker, it is not my intention at the present time to discuss the Speech from the Throne. Early this year an editorial appeared in the Evening Telegram with regard to having prayer offered at the opening of the session. I had hopes that the editorial would have been considered by the Government and that some prayer would have been offered up to Almighty God at the opening of this session. I deem it

HOlJSE OF ASSEl\1BL Y PROCEEDINGS 25 n1y duty to ·bring t o the attention of of the Prime Minister and the Inen1- b3rs of tl1is Hou se the fact that no prov is ion ·has been made in this par­ liam ent for a prayer to Almighty God and I would suggest that each day that the House is open that a pas­ sage of the Scripture should be read and th e Lord's Prayer repeated.

We have just recently taken a new coat of a rms on which are the words in Lat in: "Quaerite prime regnum Dei" '\Vhich means "Seek ye first the King ... dom of God.'' We are told that if we seel{ first t he Kingdom of God and His Right­ eousness that ail other things will be added unto us, and I believe that if we ac:;nowledge Him in all our ways that he will direct our paths. MR. GRIMES.-Mr. Sr~aker, in ref­ er ence to the remarks just made by Mr. Ashbourne, i would ·like to sup­ port the suggestion made by him. It i s not anything new that he has sug­ g ested.

It is a daily occurrence in the Congress of the United States to have some representative of one de­ nomination or another to open the proceedings of parliament with a short prayer and it must have some i nfluence in the House in having de­ bates conducted along the proper lines, and I trust that the Government will co11sider the suggestion that has been made. HON. TlHE PRIME MINISTER.­ Mr. Speaker, we have listened to many addresses this afternoon, but I am not quite sure whether every mem­ ber who has spoken represents a dif­ fer ent party.

We had a great many parties at last session, but they were n ot so well defined as they are this year. I would like, Sir, to congratu~ la te Mr. Browne and Mr. Power on t he very excellent addresses they made this afternoon, and I particular­ ly congratulate the official Leader of the Opposition, Inasmuch as he had the hardihood to stand by the posi­ tion he asu1ned v1hen this .P.l..ssembly first came into being. It seems to me that it was very absurd, very unkind and very rude for members of the Op­ position to try and throw aside Mr.

Hicl\:man at tl1is last session of the Assembly after he had been good enougl1 to act as their leader for four years. I can see no possible sense in that ridiculous statement that was forwarded to me this morning through the Speaker. The statement has been read to this House by the Leader of the Opposition this afternoon and it sets out that there is going to be created a Liberal Legislative group.

As far as we are concerned we only know a Government and an Opposition'JI We have no Sir Richard Squires in this House, and there is no sense in having any distinct and separate lead­ er representing his political group. For that reason I say that when Mr. Halfyard referred to Mr. Browne and Mr. Power supporting a Leader in the House this year because it ~as hardly worth their while to change, so do I say to him that it was hardly worth his while and others to change at this late hour, after being four years in office under the. leadership of Mr. Hickman. v\Tith regard to the Manif ,esto that Mr.

Hibbs saw fit to send out to his constituents in Fogo district, I think that the memb ·er for Ferryland has a great deal of justification in feeling injured. Why should I receive the first notification of the fact that Mr. Cashin and Mr. Moore were going to support me in this House through the Manifesto of the member for Fogo. Neither Mr. Cashin nor Mr. Moore has ever approached me with even a suggestion that they were going to support me in this House, and ,. if

26 HOUSE Oli, i\Sf)EMBL Y PROCEEDINGS they had, I would have been inclined, as has been suggested by Mr. Half..: yard, to tell them that it was hardly worth while to bother about it now. We have our ninteen membrs a.S we had at last session and we are quite prepared to carry through the legis­ lation necessary.

It is perfectly true that our ranks being depleted some­ what made it difficult for us the past few years to put through legislation tl1at we would have liked to have en­ acted, but we have carried on a usual, and I hav-e no regrets to ex­ press and no reason to feel in any way ashamed of anything we have done. We will go out of office at the end of our term, feeling quite satis­ fed that we have done our best and feeling that no other body of mer1 would have done better.

Refer ·ence has been made to the ab~ sence of a spring election, and we are told that we should not have carried on into this s·ession of the Legislature, but we tl1en pointed out that if it had been found desirable to hold an election last Fall it would have been · impossible to hold it in the light of the multitude of detail work that was brought about by the Re-distribution Bill and Women's Franchise Bill.

However, I called the party together in the early Spring of the year and I told them that I was in no way de­ sirous of holding on to office and I wanted th·em to decide · if th·ere shott!d be a Spring election. The members of my party unanimously decidefl that , speaking for their constituents and not for themselves, they did not want a Spring election . Mr.

Browne called attention this afternoon to the fact tl1at away back in 1861 the merrtlJers sitting in the Legislature at tl1at time decided that there was to be 110 more Spring ·elections, as they were not jr1 the best interests of the cour1try. \Veil, I had experience of only· three elections in my life, t\vo of them in the Spring, and I have no desire to gfJ through any more Spring elections.

Not only is a Spring election incon­ venient for members getting around this cou11try to their constituents, ow­ ing to conditions in the Spring which makes it impossible for people to see their constituents, but what is the good of holding a general election un-. less the electorate is informed of what is going a11d can know the true condition of things.

Now there would be no talk of a Spring election at all if in 1923 th.e Squires administration had finished their term and given an account of thier stewardship for their four years of office; but, instead they went to the country in 1923 and shouted "Humber," "Humber," when there was no need of holding a gen­ eral election and when the entire leg­ islature were agreed to the Humber deal. The whole country at that time was perfectly agreed on the Humber business, but the Squires adm~nistra­ tion brought about the Spring elec­ tion for the reason I have mentioned.

A great deal has been said about the Speech from the Throne this af­ ternoon and I do not propose to dwell on it at any ·length, because I know that some of the ladies here this after­ noon are already tired from listening to "wordy" parliamentarians; but I would like to refer to one remark n1ade b· y Mr. Halfyard in which he said tlhat we were not able to put through the Gander proposition.

I think this requires a little explana­ tion, b·ecause I deplore the fact that there is not in the immediate future the labor-giving operations for our peop~ e tl1at I 'Yould like to see coming and it is for that reason that the Government is trying as soon as pos­ sible to make provision for the diver­ sions of the railway tJhrough Buchans Mine and around Howley. The Gov­ ernment felt it necessary to suggest this because it 'vas evident that there

I-IOUSF OF ASSEM .BL Y PROCEEDINGS 27 is no immediate work in view for our people on a large scale and that is to some extent due to the fact that the Gander is not coming into being, but it is through no fault of the Govern- ment that it is not con1ing into being. in December 27th last I communi­ cated with the I. P. & P. Company to k11ow if t1here was any progress being made with the Gander proposition and I got this reply back from Mr. Head. Th· e correspondence that ex­ changed between us is as follows: (Copy.) December 21, 1927. Neil C.

Head, International Paper Co., Pershing Building, Park Ave. & 42nd St., New York. A matter in connection with pos~ sible sale of a quantity of rails at Glenwood is reason for asking you again when we may expect a decision regarding Gander development. (Sgd.) W. S. MONROE. (Copy.) New York, December 27, 1927. Hon. · Walter S. Monroe, St. John's, Nfld. Charlton's figures on Gander pro­ position practically complete and they show construction at Gander impos­ sible and only solution is four addi­ tional machines at Corner Brook. Suggest you appoint Engineer to re­ present you and verify our fig·ures.

This requires Engineer familiar not only with water power but aJso paper mill construction and cost of produc­ tion. Outstanding men in country· are Hardy, Ferguson and George F·. Hardy. Fer,guson n1ade up Reid fig­ ures, W 'hich eliminates him, so I would suggest George Hardy as best man obtainable. He is not employed b y or connected with us. His ad- dress is 309 Broad'\vay, Ne'v l'"'orl~ City. As Charlton must leave l1ere Jan11ary lOth at latest for St. John's would appreciate prompt appoint­ ment your Engineer. This ans\vers your wire of December 21st. (Copy.) • (Sgd.) N. C. HEAD. St.

John's, Nfld., December, 29, 1927. Neil C. Head, Esq., International Paper Co., Pershing Building, New York. Government extremely disappoint­ ed. As I understood Reid's Engineers were getting together with yours and failing an agreement with them a third party was to be called in to de­ cide if scheme could be economically carried . out. What object is t1here in our having figures checked if under any circumstance you have decided not to build mill on Gander. (Sgd.) W. S. MONROE. (Copy.) New York, December 30, 1927. Hon. Walter S. Monroe, St. John's.

We are in practical agreement with Reid Engineers on amo-q.nt of water power available Gander and cost of development power. We differ with Reids on amount of power required to produce ton of paper and conse­ quently size dam required is greatly in excess that proposed by Reids. This high cost dam makes cost of pro­ ducing paper at Gander prohibitive. We are willing to go forward with all conditions Gander charter if allowed build two Gander machines at Cor­ ner Brook which would mean four ad­ ditional machines at Corner Brook by 1928 with minimum expenditures starting 1929 as provided in charter.

28 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS If our figures are correct no one can build at Gander which justifies Gov­ ernment removing requirement mill be located on Gander. . If our figures are wrong will be glad to be shown by your engineers. We assumed Government would prefer check our figures independently before taking any actio11 based on them. (Sgd.) NEIL C. HEAD. (Copy.) December 31, 1927. N. C. Head, International Paper Co., Pershing Building, New York.

Government does not feel under ex­ isting circumstances that it should take any definite action s·eeing nothing has been heard from Gander Valley Company with whom contract was made. (Sgd.) W. S. 1\tiONROE. That is the policy we adopted last winter and that is the policy we ad­ opted this spring when the I. P. & P. Company and the Reids came along with an agreement that had been sign­ ed between them. We said to the In­ ternational p·eople "let you both come together with your proposition and let us know what you want and then we will -listen to you." The Gander Valley & Power Company refused to come.

I understand the Reids feel confident that they can get somebody to come to build a mill on the Gander and I am glad if they can, but if a mill is not to be built on the Gander it might be more advantageous to have additional units at Corner Brook together with another glori­ fied Hampden. We have a mill on which we guar­ anteed ten millions at Corner Brook and naturally we don't want to see it fail. . I d~n't think it is going to fail. If there were added four additional units so that the mill were doubled up, I don't think there is any ques­ tion at all about it now.

If we had an assurance that they were going to build at the Gander or Corner Brook there would be immediately develop­ ment and some labor given. if they are going to build four additional units at Corner Brook there would unques­ tionably be other work building a $600,000.00 pier at Port aux Basques which W. I. Bishop has made plans for. The International Paper Com­ pany have taken over the interests of Mr. Crowe in Bay D'Espoir water power and there are ten millions or somewhere thereabouts to be spent in developing a power which that Com­ pany will probably sell.

The Govern ... m·ent has at present the amount of $130,000.00 on deposit for the security of the development of that water power within five years, and we all know the International Paper Com-­ pany has as much interest in the de ... velopment of power as in the sale of paper. Their business is the develop ... ment of power as vvell as paper manu~ facturing and they have plants where they develop power for the purpose of selling to other industries.

When that industry is developed there will be another great big industry somewhere in the neighborhood of Bay D'Espoir These are matters of importance, but they don't give immediate relief. The mine at Buchans is an important de­ velopment, an enormously valuable thing fc.r the country. I look for­ ward to the time when the returns to the Government from that industry are going to pay at least half the in-. terest on the public Dept. I am per- fectly satisfied that is coming about; but in the meantime even Buchan's Mine is not going to give us any very enormous labour relief.

The working of a mine as you can understand may be compared in this respect to the dis ..

HOUSE OF ASSJ<~l.\IBLY PROCEEDINGS 29 cha rging of a schooner load of fish. While working in the hatch only a few men are required but when half the car go is out you can put a large staff of men out to d:) a lot of work, Buch­ an s 1\iine now is the "hatch ways" stage .

Th r e3 hundred men is as much pro b a b ~ y as will be required; and so the Government is considerably con­ cerned as to the labour situation, and and that is one of the reasons why we bring forward this proposition to g 2t wo rk by doing something that will eve ntually be a saving to the country that is putting the railway around in a nother direction. It shou:d have been done in my opinion long ago and the fa ct that Buchan's Mine is on the main line of the deviation nec-essary, is all th e more inducement for the doing of it now. I hc.pe, Mr.

Speaker, that this ses ... sion of the legislature is going to be a pleasent one, in spite of some par­ tie s that are going probably to have a little bit of a fling at one another in the opposition ranks. I have no reason to suppose that the gentlemen sitting opposite are not as desirous of getting out of this House as we are ourselves, and they c-ertainly will have all the opportunity they want for talking pol itics the next six or eight months; and cons3quently I ask the Members of the various opr:osition parties to do their best not to waste any time. We like to see Mr.

Halfyard get on his feet, but sometimes we like to see him getting off them, because he has a habit sometimes of speaking a little longer than he intended to do. Some of the members of the H ouse may feel it is neces sary again to take out my Mani f·esto \Vhich has been read so strenuously to me the last four years and read it again before I go, but I ask even in respect to that to restrain themselves. There is a group now that have ad­ vertised themselves this afternoon; we don't know who is behind the other groups. Mr.

Hickman has not told us whether ·he controls the rest of the gentlemen in the House on the other side; but Mr. Halfyard appar­ ently has brought his party together and they represent part of the execu­ tive probably of the next Government th at they think is coming into power. All I can say is if they do come in power and have as fine a looking group sitting in their ranks as I see ~itting opposite, I shall feel very much like getting a seat in the Op­ position in order to have a good look at them. I want to congratulate again the gentlemen who moved and seconded the motion for the address in reply .

COMMITTEE ON ADDRESS It was moved by Mr. Browne and seconded by Mr. Pow-er that an Ad­ dress of Thanks be presented to His Excellency the Administrator in Re­ ply to the gracious Speech with which he had been pleased to open the pres­ ent session of the Legislature, and that Select Committee be appointed to draft such an Address in Reply. The Committee to consist of Mr. Browne, Mr. Power, Mr. Puddester, Mr. Ash­ bourne, lVIr. Randall. NOTICE OF QUESTIONS Mr. Halfyard gave notice of ques- tion. Mr. Cashin gave notiee of question. Mr. Grimes gave notice of question. Mr. Moore gave notice of question. Mr.

Brown gave notice of question. Mr. Randall gave notice of question. Mr. Godden gave notice of question. RESOLTION OF SYMPATHY HON. THE PRIME MINISTER.­ Before the House adjourns I would like to make a formal motion that the House place on record an expression

30 IIOUSE OF ASf5IJlVIBL Y PROCEEDIKGS of sympathy to tl1e relatives of the late Honorable Mr. Justice Wa,rren, former member and one time Prime Minister, and the late Hon. Mr. Pow­ er of the Legislative Council. I need not say how Mr. Justice Warren, who was a great personal friend of mine, whilst accepting a seat in this House, was respected as one of those who deports himself well and was considerate of every other man's views in this House. Never was there a member who was more popular that Mr.

Justice War­ ren, and his death, at a very youth­ ful age and when he had just attain­ ed to his position on the Bench, was a tragedy that I think th· e whole com­ munity felt. The Honorable Mr. Power 'Vets the first Chairman of the Municiryal Coun-.... cil, a member of the Legislative Coun­ cil and a man of very high character. He was father of the member for St. George's, who has spoken this after- noon. I beg to move the resolution just read. HON. LEADER OF THE OPPOSI­ TION.-Mr. Speaker, it. is my sad duty to second the resolution of sympathy propos-ed by the Honorable Prime Minister. Hon. Mr.

Justice Warren passed away a few months ago and on his passing has left a vacancy which the Government has apparently found dffficul t to fill. Mr. Warren was connected with this ·House for many years a.nd repres­ ented many districts, the last of which was the district of Fortune, where he was elected as an independent can­ didate, by a very large majority, show­ ing his personal popularity amongst his constituents. • He was known as a courteous gen­ tleman, respected in the social, legal, ·and legislative ranl{S and is sure to be very much missed.

During the last few n1onths of his life he bore the burden of a terrible disease that was upon him and he bore it with all the joy of those who see in death only the s~verance from his strongest ties for only a sl1ort tim·e. I also wish to second the resolution of sympathy to the relatives of Hon. Michael Povver, n1ember of the Upper House. I had known the Hon. Mr. Power for many years. He was one of the first men I knew when I came to St. John's. He was then interested in civic affairs, in the commerce of the city and carried oa a large mercantile cooperage.

The export of packed cod fish was just beginning then and he supplied many of the packages. He was highly respected by ev·ery­ one and I am sure that though his age was great he will be sorely miss­ ed by everyone. I wish to second the resolution of sympathy proposed by the Prime Minister. MR. HALFYARD.-I wish to associ­ ate myself with the Honorable mover and seconder of the vote of condol­ ence before the Chair to the relatives and friends of the Hon. Mr. Justice Warren and the Hon. Mr. Power . I think that it was twenty-four · years ago since I first saw Mr. War­ ren to know him.

That was at a poli­ tical meeting at Carbonear. Dr. Lloyd and Mr. Warren were holding a JOint meeting and I was chairman for them. I enjoyed that meeting very much. Mr. Warren was very young at that time, but very soon after he came

HOUSE OI1, i\Sf5~J~IBL Y PROCEEDINGS 31 I1ere and has pla,yed ma11y parts in t he public and political life of this Colony and with credit to himself and no doubt he used his best talents to the advaneement of the country. I sat with hin1 on the Council board \Vhen h~ 'va s Attorney General dur­ ing th3 most trying time when the country was passing through a dif­ ficult period and l1e was always quick in his decisions as Attorney General. He attained to what I suppose is the .. ambition of most lawy ·ers, to become a judge of the Supreme Court.

His p romising life was cut short and we express our sorro"\v and re.gret. I knew Hon. 1\Ir. Power during the Squi r es Administration and I was led to have the greatest admiration for l1im. I11 the past he has helped make this country what it is and without him it would have been a lot worse. .

Chapter 129 of the Consolidated Statutes (3rd Series) entitled 'Of Crown Lands, Timber, Mines and Minerals.''' RON. THE PRIME MINISTER gave notice that he would on to-morrow move the House into Committee of the Whole to consider certain Resolu­ tions in · relation to the guaranteeing of a Loan for the Directors of the Church of England College. MINISTER MARINE AND FISH­ ERIE 'S gave notice that he would on tomorrow move the House into Com­ mittee of the Whole to consider cer­ tain Resolutions relating to Harbor Regulations and Pilotage for the Port of St. John's. HON.

MINISTER OF JUSTICE gave notice that he would on tomorrow ask leave to introduc · e a Bill entitled "An .Act to Amend the Law Society Act.'' It was moved and seconded that I am glad ~ to associate myself in when the House rises it adjourn until t his motion. tomorrow afternoon at three of the clock. Hon. the Prime Minister moved and Mr. Hickman seconded the following The House then adjotlrned accord- Resolution: ingly. RESOLVED - That this House place on record an expression of its sym­ pathy with the relatives of the late Ron. Mr.

Justice Warren, a former Me mber of this House and one time P rime Minister of the Colony, and of the late Hon. Michael Power, lately a Memb er of the Legislative Council, NOTICE OF MOTION H ON. MINISTER FINANCE · AND CUSTOMS gave notice that he . would on tomorrow move tl1at Supply be gra nted to His Majesty. I H ON. MINISTER AGRICULTURE AND MINES gave notice that he would 011 tomor r ow ask leave to introduce a Bill entitl ed "An Act to Amend THURSDAY, May 3rd, 1928. The House met at three of the clock in the afternoon, pursuant to adjournment. Petitions were presented by Mr.

Ashbourne, from Mor~ eton's Harbor, re Telephones; Mr. Hibbs, from Noggin Cove, re Coastal Steamer. REPORTS TABLED HON. COLONIAL SECRET ·ARY tabled the follo\ving statistics relating to the St. John's Municipal Council: Revenue for the year 1927.

32 HOUSE OF ASSJ~J\TBL Y PROCEEDINGS Expenditure for the year 1927. Balance Sheet for the year 1927. Estimated Revenue for the year 1928. Estimated Expenditure for the year 1928. HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE AND CUSTOMS.-tabled Report of the Board of Liquor Control for the year ended January 31st, 1928. REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE MR.

BROWN on behalf of the Se­ lect Committee appointed to draft a Reply to His Excellency the Admin­ istrator's Sp·eech, presented the report of the Seleet Committee, which was on motion received and read, as fol­ lows: "To His Excellency Sir William Henry Horwood, Knight, Adminis­ trator and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Newfound­ land: "We, the Commons of Newfoundland in Legislative Session assembled, beg to thank Your Excellency for the Gracious Speech which Your Excel­ lency has addressed to both branches of the Legislature. Signed, W. J. BROWNE, THOS. J. POWER J. C. PUDDESTER, T. W. G.

ASHBOURNE, I. R. RANDELL Assembly Room, May, 1928." DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY MR. SCAMMELL.-Mr. Speaker, be­ fore the report is formally adopted I would like to avail of the opportun­ ity to say a word or two on the mo­ tion before the Chair. We are pro­ posing by this motion to thank His Excellency the Administrator for the Address which he delivered to us yes- terday.

Of course \Ve all of us know, and it has time and again be·en repeat­ ed from the floors of this House that the Address is, as a matter of fact, the Address of the Government, put in­ to the hands of His ExceUency the Administrator and delivered for the special occasion on the opening day. I feel, Mr. Speaker, that I should say at the start that it is not my intention to speak at any great length to the motion now before the Chair.

Never­ theless, on tb e other hand, I feel that one has a sort of duty to discharge and as a repres ·8ntative of the people, ought to avail of an opportunity like this and not merely to reflect on2's own opinions on such questions as arise, but to reflect what is perhaps the opinion and feeling of the people he happens to represent in this Cham­ ber. We are here witnessing or en­ acting what Mr.

Halfyard ref·erred to yesterday afternoon as the last scene in the last act of the drama of the Monroe adn1inistration, and the evils of this administration and the effe·ct of those evils upon the country are so generally well known now and have become public property to such an extent that it is not really neces­ sary that any of us from this side of the I-Iouse, as strongly as we may be opposed to the Administration, it is scarcely necessary for us to labor them much longer.

The Prime Minis­ ter speaking with a good deal of what I might term effrontery, referred to his Manifesto and said if we were to trot it out again to read he hoped that we would make the operation as short as possible, or ·words to that effect. H· e hoped, I suppose, in order that, as far as he was concerned, it would be less painful. Mr. Speaker, I feel that the Prime Minister ought to have that Manifesto read to him again this s-ession, and 1 don't know but it ought to be read to him every day while this debate on the Address in Reply is on. It may be of interest

• BO L"TSE OF .P.Lf~Sl~ lVIBL Y PROCEEDINGS 33 • tJ him to linow that there are some , people in the country still interest·3d in that Manifesto. Only a few days ago I re0eived a letter from a man asl{in g me if I could procure a ~copy of the Prim8 Minister's Manifesto. I to:d him I was very sorry I could not, as the only copy I had was my own, a nd I had no intention of parting with tl1is doc ument at least for some time to come yet.

It is customary for spea ke r s on this side of the House tu conve y a word of congratulation or .someth ing of that nature to those ful­ filling the onBrous duties of proposer and sec onder of the motion for an .A.d­ dress in Reply to the Administrator. Yeste rday that duty was performed by Mr. Browne, the honorable mem­ be r f or St. John's West, and lVIr. Pow­ er, m e mber for St. George's. I teel that as the member for St. John's West with his scholastic abilities and his great abilities in other directions wa s worthy of a better task than the one which his Government committed to him yestarday.

Nevertheless, he mad e the best of a bad job, and if ther e is one aspect of his remarks, one ~as p e ct more than another, which must have struck members in this chamber and those who were listening, it was the fa ct that the honorable member cou ld not have been speaking from con viction.

As a mater of fact, he had a ha rd job to perform and he did the bas t he could, but n,either by his voice nor his language did he convey a r ing of conviction or a ring of sin­ ceri ty, and if the honorable member was as sincere as he professed to be yeste rday afternoon and had suffi­ cien t feelings within his breast to equa l the spirit that he professed, I am sure his remarks wotlld have car­ rie d a . good deal more conviction tha n they did carry and probably some people might have gone away conv inced that after all there was some good left in the Monroe admin~ istration and after all perhaps they "\Vere not quite so bad as painted from time to time by tl1eir opponents.

But, I repeat that the honorable m·amber's whole attitude and lack of sincerity "\vas such that the majority of people within sound of his voice had no doubt but that he certainly was not speaking from anything like convic ... tion and sincerity. He was especi­ ally weak, I noticed, on the subject of a General Election. He carried us bacl{ to the days of the younger Pitt and from a historical reference tr what happened in those days, tried to establish some sort of precedent for the conduct of the Monroe Govern­ ment in having the effrontery to at­ tempt another session of the Legis­ lature.

He went back again to 1861 in our local history and pointed out that the gentlemen, estimable gentle ... men no doubt in their day and gen­ eration, had made the rule that there be no Spring elections in Newfound­ land. There is one thing that has been repeated here time and again that it is a privilege of the people and that we have no right in certain instances to legislat~ e for future generations, and if the honorable member felt so strongly on the subject of the general election and is so well informed on practice in connection with it, .I sub ... mit he was just as well informed in 1923 and 1924.

Then it is a wonder, with all his knowledge of historical conditions in the country, he was not prevented by these precedents from taking

part in those two elections. The honorable member was not at all restrained by the fact that those peo ... ple in 1861 had said there should be no Spring election and was glad enough in the 1923 and 1924 Spring elections to take part. So I think in that instance, at least, I have proved my contention that tl1e honorable

34 I-JOUSE OF A~~SEl\1BLY PR.OCEEDINGS member could not be speaking from conviction when making those refer­ ences. Now there are some other remarl'·s that were made by the honorable member for St. John's West that I shall refer to later in my remarks this afternoon.

That remark of his in which refer­ ence is mad· e to the icy blast from the North and I also notice that he said that if the people of the country had the issue of a general election placed before them and had been in­ formed of the disadvantages of hav ... ing a Spring election as forcibly as the contrary had been placed before them, they would perhaps have a dif­ ferent opinion today. I feel that the honorable member had me in mind when he made that statement in that connection.

I have done a great deal of travelling dur .. ing th· e past winter, up and down the country and I had something to say here and there on the subject of a general election, but I would tell the honorable member and this House that as I came in contact with the people, it was no creation of mine for the feeling already existed as I have expressed it here this afternoon, that th·ere should have been a general election this sprtng. I am only giv ... ing you that

section of the public opinion that I came into contact with since the last session of the Legis­ lature. The Honorable Member for St. George's is coming on and I shol,.ld judge from his remarks that he is taking a keen interest in those Stlb­ stantial tl1ings in which the majority of the people are interested. ~~Ir. Power, I take it, does not claim to be such a scholar as the member for St.

John's vVest, but he showed in the cot1rse of his remarks that he "ras interested in some features vital­ ly concerning th· e laboring people of this cot1ntry of ours, and I listened with a great deal of interest to those remarks, and trust that I will have a word to say to him as well . He talked. too, very sensibly on 'vort~-,vhile fea. t1rres, particularly the lobster fishery, and I trust that his optimistic views will work out in effect, but I very much fear if lob­ sters are going to r:ay this spring.

If I thought so, and if the honourable member had substantial authority to quote the fieures given to him, and good reason to be obtained. I know many people on the Coasc of New­ foundland "rho vvould be only too glad to obtain $22,00 a case for their lobsters during the miudle of summer. But I am digressing, Mr. Speaker .. We are here on the fifth session of the Monroe Administration and I con­ tend that we ought not to be here to­ G.ay, at least not in the complication that we are. I C8ntend that we are here this year a1~d 've should not be here, because there sh8uld have been an appeal to the country.

I submit, Mr. Speaker, and I say so unhesitatin .gly, that the present mon­ roe ad1nini~tration are here playing false to the p8ople of the country and to the failing to give the electorate and the people that square deal that they promised SJ readily and easily in 1924. We lla,re heard a great deal of tallr as to what effect a general election in tl1e spring would hav· e on the trade of tl1e country, and we are told that the grotlp tha t stan ds on this side of the House today, \vhich was so mucl1

\ HOUSE OF ASSElVCBL Y PROCEEDINGS 35 refe1 ·r€ d to yesterday, wanted a gen­ era l election this spring becauss it was politi cally ex:pedient for them to . have a general election. Mr.

Speaker, I submit that it was politic al expediency, and political ex­ pe dien cy alone, that kept the present Government from having an election in the Spring, and if the present ad­ m inistration found it politically ex­ pedient to have a general election last autumn they would have had it; and if they found it expedient to do so in the spring they would have had it. 'I h ey had some doubt as to the advis­ ab ility, so they started to put their h ouse in order, for the very fact that t hey took the voters' list showed that t hey ·expected something.

If they did ne t contemplate the expediency of having a general election this spring, i f they did not contemplate the situa­ tion, I believe they would not be in su ch a hurry to have the voters' list taken during the middle of winter. You were contemplating an election but for the sake of political exp·edi­ e ncy, you decided not to have it and y ou kept the House closed until the s econd day of May when you knew that it would be too late for a gener­ a l election to be warranted, either politically or financially. That is the way that you are play­ ing false with the people of this coun­ t ry.

Putting aside the question of poli­ t ical ·expediency of your conduct and t he conduct of the group on this side of the House, and puttting aside any h istorical precedents, you know as w ell as I do, that there should have bee n a g e neral election and an appeal t o the people of · the country this s pring. I am not going to spend any time d iscussing the constitutional posi- tion, but I do say the position that you are taking is an outrage to the constitution of this country .

You are not only outraging the wishes and feelings of the people of at least t\vo-thirds of the people of this country, but you are outraging the constitution and creating a situ ... ation in this country that would not be tol erat ed in any other British Dominion. And what have the legal gen t lemen of the other s-=de of the House to say about that. We are creating a new precedent that would not be tolerated under the British flag to-day. We have information from the Prime Minister that it is his intention to retire from public life.

Listening in on the radio when the Pri~me Minister made a rather fine speech from a certain social gather­ ing in town, and I recollect that he promised, in the course of his re­ marks, to some people in Bonavista Bay, a radio receiving set. I thought it was a very generous offer; and he followed it up with the explanation that he did not wish his offer to be construed in a political sense, that he merely wanted to do something for the p·eople of the dis­ trict that put him into office.

He quoted from President Coolidge, that he "did not choose to run" or was not going to run, or something of that sort; but his meaning was absolutely clear. It is plain that the Prime Minister proposes to retire, and he will be re­ tiring before the general election takes place. He has to recommend to His Excellency the Administrator some other gentleman in his ranks, or out of them, to form a Government, That gentleman will undertake the job and form a Government and we •

JIOUSE OF .i\.S[·jEMBL Y PROCEEDINGS will have a Government directing the affairs of this country responsible to nobody, referred to yesterday as an Irresponsible Government. Irrespon­ sible, not in the worst sense of the word, but in the general sense of the word; responsible to nobody, requir­ ing no mandate from the people of the country for any action of theirs, and need never appear before the electorate either for confirmation of authority or condemnation. .

And if you are looking for a preced­ ent, and if you are going back to the time of the younger Pitt and 1861 to establish a precedent for your con­ duct of today, I submit, . that the Gov­ ernment is establishing a precedent here in this House this session, and a very dangerous precedent and one that should not be established as being unfair to the generatio ~n~ that follow us in this Chamber. The people of this country want a general election and want an elec­ tion this spring.

I take the position that you cannot adduce two substantial arguments showing that a general election in the . spring would have interefered with the trade. I would go to the fish exporting business . What would the general election have to do with the business of supplying goods to the fishermen. If the price of Labrador fish is good enough to warrant any fish e}:port­ ing fir m in this country supplying Largely for the fishery or taking on more men, they would do so, a gener­ al ele ction notwithstanding.

The fact that there was a general election in the country this spring 'vould not for one minute interfere with the business of a fish-supplying firm prepared to increase its business rant it in so doing. If a11y fish-ex­ porting firm has found that the marlret conditions seem to warrant them going into the marlcet, the fa ~ t that the general e~ection is on would not cause them to alter their plans. Firms are dropping out this year of the Labrador fishery. Does any one mean to tell me that if there had bee~ a general electio·n they 'vould have been inclined to go ahead and supply.

No firm intending to enlarge its business will b~ interefered with by the fact tl1at tl1ere is a general elec- . tion. Mr. Speaker, as regards the retail stores on the streets in this city. The business of these stores would not be interfered with by the fact that there was a g~neral election; it would not in any sense be interefered with. I have talked with a good many men 'vho have been in contact with the retail business here and only one man that I met put up the argument that an election interferred with his trade. Although he is a very able man, he has no argument after all.

His ar­ gtlment is that he will not sell as much goods. This is no argument, because of their very nature the goods \Vill sell and it w~ll not inter­ fere with l1im if it sold at a different time. The spring is the wrong time and it is in the autumn of the year that most of the bu siness is done. It is in the autumn that the outport people ccme into St. John's and goods are bought by the city people them ­ selves and that is the time \vhen the fi r ms on Water Street will likely show the largest sales.

The argument that a Spring election interferes with trade holds no weight, and I would challenge business men because the market cs nditions war- on either side of the House or with ...

• HO-USE OF, A.S~~E~~BL Y PRCCEEDINGS 37 in the limits of the city to adduce su.frcient arguments showing how a gene r al election this spring inter­ fer es \Vith the trade of the country. This a:·gument was originated by th3 st1pporters and friends of the Govern­ men t themselves, and has been hand­ ed a1 ong by their friends, no doubt in · th e h~· pe that it would accumulate to a large proportion and be considered a de terrent to those agitating for a spri ng election. The people of this cou n try want to sever themselves fro m the Monroe administration.

The y \vant to send the Monroe admin­ ist ration about its business. The peo- ple of this country have found that t he Monroe administration has not played fair with them. The Monroe administration has not done all those thi r1gs is ought to have done, and it h::ts left undone those things which it ought to have done. Not all of those things in the Prime Minister's Manifesto have been done, and many things to whicl1 no reference has been made in the Manifestn -without a man­ da te from th3 people for so doing, and the result has been that the people of t his country have been disgusted.

The people of the country not only \Vanted a general election this spring in order to rid th·emselves of the present administration, but they \Vanted a general electi on this spring in the hope that they would be able to replace it by an administration that would make some ·effort to give better effe ct to their own wishes and desires. This administrati on professed to be the frie nd of the common people of the country in 1924. This admini stra­ tio n conveniently forgot the common pe op le of the country and went and made friends, as it were, with the mamn1 on of iniquity.

Tl1e administra­ tion that sits opposite me to-day has not in a ny sense be en the adminis t ra- tion \Vhich the Prime Minister en­ visaged bef ore the country in . the Manifesto of his in 1924. The admin .. istration which sits here in the Bouse House today against the wishes of the p 3ople of this country is an adminis­ tr ation which has conveniently for­ gott en the common people of the country as soon as they were safely in off ce, and went and mad· e it their business to exercise themselves to the fullest extent on behalf of those in­ dustries that were well able to take care of themselves.

I defy the Prime Minister to bring down on the table of this House the various Acts and Stat11tes which have be·en passed since this administration came into power and show this Legislature and the country where, throughout the five sessions of this administr~tion, it has tabled any one Act which in any way tends to improv · e or ameliorate the conditions under which the average man has got to live in this country.

On the other hand, he can bring down all the Statutes that have been passed during the last five years and it would be no difficttlt matter for this House and the public to discover there its great solicitude for what I term the big business of the country.

I do not make this statement because I am averse to your doing all that is lawful and n·ecessary and that ought to be done to settle the business of tl1is country by giving a helping l1and to industries when they require it, but I do say that in your eagerness to do all you can to advance tb e big inter­ ests, so to speak, in this country. your bigg est crime is this, that you have forgotten to do anything for the common people to whom you were pledged in 1924. That is another reas­ on why the electorate of this country want to dispens e with your services.

Apparently you are not as anxious to retire as the electorate are to retire you. I am reminded of Brig