• • PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE of ASSEMBLY During the Fourth Session of the Twenty-Sixth General Assembly of Newfoundland 1927 • • ST. JOHN'S, N.F. The Evening Telegram. Ltd .. 1928 ~--------------~~~------~' '

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• Proceedings of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland SESSION 1927 Begun and holden at St. John's in the said Isla .nd this eleventh day of May, Anno Domini, One Thou.sand Nine Hundred and Twenty-Seven, be­ ing in the Seventeenth year of the Reign of His Majesty, Our Sovereign Lord, George, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain an. d Ireland a.nd of the British Do­ minions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. WEDNESDAY, May 11th, 1927.

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 thi.s Wednesday, the eleventh day of May instant, the Members of the House of Assembly met in the Assembly Room at a quart­ er to three in the afternoon, when Mr. Speaker took the Chair. Messrs. W. McKay Cham 1bers, Har­ ris M. Mosdell, and William E. Brophy, Members newly elected and returned for the Districts of Burgeo & La Poile, Fortune Bay and Saint .John's East, respectively, were intro­ duced to Mr.

Speaker, having first been duly sworn in in the Legislative Council Chamber by the Honourables Sir Patrick T. McGrath, Robert K. Bishop and J. Alexander Robinson, His Excellency's Commissioners duly appointed for that purpose, and ha· v ... ing signed the Roll of this House ~ At three of the clock a message from His Excellency the Administrat­ or was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, commanding the immediate attendancH of Mr. Speaker and the House in the Legis­ lative Council Chamber. Whereupon Mr.

Speaker and the House attended His Excellency in the Council Chamber; and, being re­ turned to the Assembly Room, Mr. Speaker informed the House that when in attendance upon His Excel­ lency in the Council Chamber, His Excellency had been pleased to make a gracious Speech to both Branches of the Legislature, a copy of which for greater accuracy he had obtained and then read to the House as follows:- SPEECH FROlll THE THRONE lllr. President and Hono·urable 1 Gentle­ men o. f the Legislative Coun.cil: ]Ir.

Speaker a.nd Gentlemen of The Honoura 1ble House of Asesmbly: Since you were last in Session the long existing dispute between the Dominion of Ca.nada and Newfound­ land as to the boundary between re­ spective territories of the two coun­ tries on the Labrador has been brought before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for adjudication, and has resulted in a judgment for this Colony. Newfoundland now has her right authoritatively recognized to the disputed territory of 110,000 squ.are miles, rich in timber resources and

• I 4 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS water powers with unexplored possi­ bilities of mineral wealth. The country can now enter upon the unrestricted development of these assets and the confirmation of our title to this vast area cannot fail to materially improve the financial standing of the Colony and enhance our prestige at home and abroad. The codfishing industry in 1926 suf­ fered considerably through decreased prices prevailing in foreign markets. While the shore fishery was, in point of catch, well up to the average, the Labrador catch was unusually small.

The seal fishery, just concluded, has been above the average of recent years, but the lower values for oil have resulted in poor returns to those who undergo the hardships of this precarious work. The development of the pa.per mak­ ing industry shows a marked progress, and the Newfoundland Power and Paper Company has reached the large output capacity of four hundred and ten tons per day. The Anglo-New- • foundland Development Company has added another paper machine to its plant, reaching the satisfactory capac­ ity of three hundred tons per day.

In the months of October and No­ vember the Prime Minister and his asosciates attended the Imperial Con­ ference held in London, at whicl1 the status of component parts of the Em­ pire was determin.ed and other im­ portant matters of Imperial inter ,3st were discussed. Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of The Honoul'!a\ble House of Assen1bly: There will be a deficit on current account for the financial year 1926-27, owing, largely, to decreased impo!'t­ ations and the reduced value of those imports of which cotton is a large constituent.

While consumers, there­ fore, have been getting cheaper goods and paying small duties, the Consoli­ dated Revenue Fund has suffered. The conditions referred to are largely transitory, and do not seem to call for immediate action. The Govern­ ment considers it would be wiser to a wait the movements of trade in this Colony before suggesting any drastic remedial measure. Part of the deficit is .attributable to the increased sum required to meet interest on the public debt , and another part to the loss incurred in operating the railway system. The latter deficit will be considerably less than in 1925-26.

With a view to avoiding a. possible future deficit you will be asked to re­ enact, in amended . form, the Income Tax Act repealed in 1924. Estimates for 1927-28 will be sub­ mitted to you in due course. lllr. President and Honourable Gentle­ men of the Legislative Co,uncil: lllr.

Speaker and Gentlemen of The Honourable House of Assembly: In view of the difficulties that have since occurred in connection with the affairs of the British Empire Steel Corporation, it seems fortunate that the Governm .ent concluded an Agree­ ment in January for the continuation of work at Bell Island during the current year, and providing for the employment of at least twelve hun­ dred men per day to the end of No­ vem'ber. Several Bills for the promotion of important industrial developments will be placed before you.

The first of these seeks the ratification of an agreement nlade between the Govern­ ment and the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, Limited, with respect to prospecting and miuing operations and a proposed mining and ore treating industry in the Red I11- dian Lake district and for the admis­ sion free of duty into the Colony for the period of twenty years provided by the said contract of certain goods and articles therein specified for use in connection with the proposed in­ dustry. A Bill will also have to be intro­ duced in connection with the develop~ ment of the Gander timber la.nds It

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 5 appears that the owners have recently entered into an agreement with a cor­ poration in the United States of America, which contemplates the ac­ quisition of the property by this cor­ poration. The parties will need spe­ cial legislation during the Session to implement this agreement. My Ministers propose to submit for your consideration, a. Bill providing that applicants for timber or water rights in Labrador should be required in every instance to present their ap­ plication to the Legislature and that grants should not issue without the approval of the Legislature.

In leaving you to the discharge of your duties, I p-ray that your delib­ erations may be blessed by Divine guidance. RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY THE HONORABLE THE PRIME MINISTER-Since this House was last in session two gentlemen who were very closely identified with the Legislature for many years - two gentlemen who occupied the position of Prime Minister of this Colony­ ha ve passed to the Great Beyond. Sir Michael Cashin died at his residence in St. John's just shortly after the session closed last year, and a couple of months ago the Right. Honorable Sir Robert Bond was also called to another world.

Sir Michael was a man of 'big heart and generous spirit and one who always took a very deep and active interest in the wel­ fare of this country. He was a man of ripe experience. For thirty years consecutively he represented the very important district of Ferryland a.nd I think he almost holds a record in that respect; and I think that had Sir Michael Cashin lived for another twenty years he would have been elected for that district continuously by merely putting himself in nomin­ ation. Sir Robert Bond was an outstanding statesman, who, we all know, will never be forgotten in this country.

He was Prime Minister for nine years and was a man of rare gifts. His engaging personality, his gift of oratory and his very pleasing manner would have done grace to a.ny Parlia­ ment in the world. I remember when Mr. Warren failed to form a Govern­ ment some time ago that I was among those who very urgently sought Sir Robert Bond to come back into public life and take charge of a Party, but he was in failing health and found he could not undertake the important duties of public life again and so had to refuse.

He showed his great public mind and great public spirit by the Will he left, in which he bequeathed to this country a Model Farm in the shape of his residence at Whitb ·ourne where he had spent the declining years of his life and where he had devoted his entire life to the creation and improvement of that particular property. Correspondence which has passed between His Excellency the Governor and the Executor of Sir Robert Bond's Estate I propose to table in this House, and I propose to move the House into Committee of the Whole to discuss as to whether this bequest can be accepted or not by the country.

We do not under­ stand the value of this gift but it is left to the counttry in perpetuity, and before we can accept the gift an endowment fund is necessary in order to ensure perpetuity. I just merely in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, move the following Resolu­ tions:

WHEREAS since the last session of this House there have passed away the Right Honorable Sir Robert Bond, P.C., K.C.M.G., Ll.D., for many years a Member of this House and for nearly nine years Prime Minister; and Sir Michael Cashin, K.B.E., Ll.D., also a Member of this House for many years, and for a period Prime Minister.

BE IT RESOLVED, that this House places on record its sense of regret at the demise of these gentlemen,

I • 6 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS and that a copy of this Resolution be sent to their · families. MR. HICKMAN-Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty this afternoon to second these Resolutions of regret in the passing of two great public men of this country in the persons of Sir Robert Bond and Sir Michael Cashin. They both filled the chair now occl1- pied by the Prime Minister and they both occupied the chair now filled by myself. Sir Robert Bond was looked upon throughout the whole country as a great statesman. Sir Michael Cashin was also a great statesman and a good citizen.

Scarcely a ses­ sion of this House passes without the Prime Minister is called upon to· move Resolutions of this nature, and in the present instance we all · very much regret the passing of two great men. Sir Robert Bond lived a very quiet and retired life during his later years but he was respected by all who had known him. He did great work for the Colony in many conferences and he had the distinct honour of being appointed by Her Majesty's Govern­ ment as a delegate in connection with a fishery conference in the United States many years ago.

Sir Michael Cashin was a mercantile man and one who had made a success of his busi­ ness. He also made a success in political life. He occupied the posi­ tion of Minister of Finance and Cus­ toms for about ten years and during that period he had no deficits and when he vacated the department of Finance and Customs he left a surplus of four million dollars in the Bank of Montreal, which he had saved, and which was put by to offset any con­ tingencies that might arise in con­ nection with the future administration of the affairs of the Colony.

Both Sir Robert Bond and Sir Michael On motion of the Hon. the Prime Minister, seconded by Mr. Hickma .n, the following Resolution was passed unanimously: RESOLVED,

whereas since the last session of this House there have passed away the Right Honourable Sir Robert Bond, P.C., K.C.M.G., Ll.D., for many years a Member of this House and for nearly nine years Prime Minister; and the Honoura .ble Sir Michael Cashin, K.B.E., Ll.D., also a l\1em'ber of this House for many years, and for a. period Prime Min­ ister.

BE IT RESOLVED, that this House places on record its sense of regret at the demise of these gentlemen, and that a copy of this Resolution be sent to their families. MOTION FOR ADDRESS IN REPLY MR. CAHILL-Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of proposing that a committee of this House be nominated to draft an address in reply to the gracious speech from the Throne which has just been read, but before offering a formal motion I should like to make some brief comments on the various items referred to in this speech.

A few months ago the country hailed with universal de­ light our magnificent victory in the Labra .dor boundary dispute whereby as a result of the decision of the Privy Council the colony was confirm­ ed in absolute possession of an im­ mense territory comprising over 110,000 square miles. From all infor­ mation to hand this great territory is rich in timber resources and water . powers, with every hope also that proper survey, investigation and de­ velopment will disclose great mineral wealth.

In fact it was not until the Labrador boundary case had a.ctually come to trial that most people in this Cashin will be sorely missed. I join country at least began to have an ap- with the Prime Minister in his ex­ pressions of sympathy and second the Resolution which has been moved by him. proximate idea of its immense poten­ tial value, this possibility being brought home to those directly inter­ ested in the case through being made

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 7 aware of the immense amount of mon­ ey which had been expended by the Canadian government in exploring and surveying the Labrador territory. It would have been very easy you will agree with me, I am sure, for the Government to have ma.de a false step in this matter and even, perhaps, to have concluded some bargain 'lr arrangement with Canada which, ha.v­ ing in mind the final result of the case, would have been a betrayal of the rights of Newfoundland and the selling of our birthright fo. r a mess of pottage.

It was indeed fortunate then to have in power men w'ith full confidence in the justice of our cause and the validity of our claim backed by a firm determinatio · n to fight to the end for our full and! complete rights. Great credit is undoubtedly due tl1e government and in particular the Department of Justice for the prompt and businesslike manner in which this great and importa .nt case was handled and brought to a final conclusion, with a sp·ecial meed of praise to the Minister of Justice, Hon. W. J'. Higgins, K.C., who was in charge of the Colony's case whilst it was actually before the Privy Council.

The Minister's reputation as an un­ usually powerful and successful advo­ cate in the courts of Newfoundla .nd has now been extended to higher plains and wtder fields, and all patri­ otic Newfoundlanders may well tend­ er to him their sincere congratula­ tions. In connection with our success in this case also it would be unfa.ir not to mention the great work of Sir Patrick T. McGrath, whose industry and expert information and advice were invaluable in the preparation of Newfoundland's case.

That the acqui­ sition of this immense and valuruble territory has enhanced the credit of the colony and greatly improved con­ ditio11s financially and otherwise is admitted by all, and by reason of our success the gen.era! outlook which might otherwise have seemed some- what gloomy has been turned into one of great hope and promise.

The announcement in the Speech from the Throne that applicants for timber or water rights in La.brador shall obtain such . gr.ants only thro .ugh the Legislature will, I am sure, be hailed with relief and satisfaction by all, and is one more piece of evidence that the Government is most vigilant in its guardianship of the rights of the people and is determined that during its regime there will in no case be permitted the shameless dissipa­ tion of public assets which formerly prevailed.

Whatever benefits, fina .n­ cial and otherwise, result from the Labrador shall be for the people of Newfoundland and their descendants, the rightful owners, and not for in­ dividual speculators. The poor returns from the codfish­ ery last year was a cause of co·ncern to all interested in the welfare of the colony.

Whilst calling for the best thought and consideration of those dlirectly in'terested in this ind.ustry and of the Government itself with a view of exploring all possible meth­ ods of improvement, the present state of affairs in the codfishery aga,in em­ phasizes the necessity for and devel­ opment of and encouragement of other wage-earning industries in Newfound­ land. That both these phases of the question are engaging the active and earnest attention of the Government is a matter of record· in the Sp·eech from the Throne.

According to the old saying troubles never come singly and it is particularly unfortunate that following the poor returns from the codfishery, the sealfishery also, though above the average of late years in numbers, should, owing to the low price of oil, have yielded poor returns to those engaged. The Speech from the Throne refers to the great developments in recent years of the paper making industry, and naturally Newfoundland with her large untouched forests of timber has •

' 8 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS benefited greatly by this development. On the West coast we now have, where was formerly the untrodden and virgin forests, the immense plant of the New­ foundland Power and Paper Company • and the thriving town of Corner Brook. Here thousan .d.s of Newfound­ landers have found remunerative work in the land of their birth, a great proportion of whom would otherwise in all proba .bility have migrated to the United States.

Again it is worthy of note that the Anglo N ewfoundla .nd Development Co. after years of successful operation at Grand Falls has only lately increased its plant by the addition of another paper machine, thus showing that this Company has absolute confidence in the future of the paper making industry in Newfoundla .nd.

A further important development of this Com­ pany's business is also referred to in the Speech from . the Throne when it is announced that this House will be asked to ratify an a.greement between the Government and the compa .ny with respect to prospecting and min­ 'ing operations and a proposed mining and o:r:e treating industry in the Red Indian Lake District. This refers to what is po.pularly known as Buchan's Mine, at which several hundred men are already employed, and from ~II accounts this industry bids fair to J)e of great value and lasting benefit to the country.

Aside from the number of our workmen which it will employ it is interesting and extremely grati­ fying to learn that under the original grant to the Company of the mineral rights of their properties a royalty of five per cent. on the nett profits of any such operation has to be paid directly to the Government. Develop­ ments such as this would seem . to show the great benefit likely to result to Newfoundland from the introduc­ tion of foreign capital, more especial­ ly when such capital is in the· hands of large and wealthy corporations of unimpeachable character and stand- ing.

It also must bring still more sharply to our attention the, wonderful potential value of our great dep ·end­ ency of Labrador and the immense possibilities which the future may hold for us in connection therewith. Still another important industrial development which the Government has pleasure in announcing, and in connection with which a bill will be brought before this House, is that o.f the Gander Timber Lands, which it is understood has been acquir ·ed by the International Paper Co. Ltd. of the United States.

Here again there are wonderful possibilities of the de­ velopment of an immense industry, larger in volume probably than that of Corner Brook, and providing that much to be de.sired employment for thousands of our people. The proceedings of the Imperial Conference held in London during the months of October and No.vember last were followed with great inter­ est all over the British Empire, and perhaps nowhere with more attention than by the citizens of Britain's old­ est colony.

It was indeed a pleasure to note the able manner in which the reputation of Newfoundland was up­ held by the Prime Minister a.nd his Colleagues and how as a result par­ ticularly of the Premier's interviews and speeches the loyalty and devotion of this colony to the empire was fully brought home to the people of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as the visitors from overseas.

At the same time every opportunity was taken advantage of by the Prime Minister and his associate delegates to place before the British public the advant­ ages and attractions of Newfoundland, as a tourist and sporting resort, and also as a most promising field for the investment of British capital. A not altogether pleasant announce­ ment in the speech is that there will be a deficit on current account for the financial year 1926-1927. Under all the circumstances this is not alto-

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 9 gether unexpected to most people, and in vie.w of the wild rumors that have been spread abroad from time to time, more especially during the recent political contest, when the moderate size of that deficit is a.n­ nounced most sensible people will be more relieved than otherwise. It is pointed out in the speech that it is not considered necessary to adopt any drastic remedial measures, sho·wing, happily, that the Government believe that the unfortunate conditions which have brought about this result are only transitory and are bound to im­ prove.

It is further noted that this deficit is caused in part by the in­ creased sum required to meet interest on the public debt and in part by the loss incurred in operating the rail way system. Having at the end o.f its first year turned a deficit of about a mil­ lion and a. half dollars into surplus of several hundred thousand, and hav­ i11g had also a surplus to show at the end of its second year, the Govern­ ment, to my mind, ha.s now no need to be too apologetic for showing a de­ ficit for its third year especially in view of all the surrounding circum­ stances.

Compared with the record of its predecessors, who .showed a deficit each year for four years, total­ ling in all nearly six million dollars, the record of the present Go·vernment seems very bright indeed. Taking prompt steps to avoid a possible fut­ ure deficit the Government announces the reimpo.sition, in amended form, of the Income Tax Act.

Remembering the vociferous oppo.sition to the repeal of this tax by some mem.bers on the opposite side of the House, a.nd their references to it on political platforms, I presume I am entitled to assume that here at least we have one piece of Government legislation which will have the enthusiastic support of the opposition, whether of the first, sec­ ond, or third section. Here at least they will have common ground for uniting together.

In the daily and financial papers of recent months you no doubt ha.ve read of the upsets and difficulti'es in the affairs of the British Empire Steel Corporation, and reading these ac­ counts perhaps wondered what would be the result as far as -0ur mining industry on Bell Island is concerned. It is most pleasing therefore to learn that under an agreement concluded by the Government with the Company in January last at lea.st twelve hun­ dred men per day will be employed on Bell Island till the end of November.

Had the Government been less prompt and attentive to the interests of the miners on Bell Island it might well have meant a serious blow, if not ab­ solute disaster, to the people of that settlement. It was at the .s.econd session of this House, I remember, following the re­ turn of the Monroe Government to power, that I had the honour and privilege of proposing the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne.

On that occasion I also remem 'ber that at the con cl us ion of my rema.rks I voiced an appeal to all mem.bers in the House to forget party politics and personal grievances and to unite to­ gether in earnest and sincere endeav­ our to promote the g·eneral welfa.re and prosperity of the country. And it is with all sincerity and earnest­ ness that I repeat the invitation to­ day, but I must candidly admit, as a result of my past three years' experi­ ence, not with quite the same confi­ dence as on the last occasion.

It is an absolute fact that since its return to power the Monroe Government has made an earnest and determined ef­ fort to live up to its promises, to bring order out of chaos in the public departments, to prevent waste · and sca.ndal, to effect retrenchments wherever possible, and gen.erally to conduct the affairs of Government in an honest, efficient, and economical manner. All its energies had at first to be directed towards a general '

10 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS clean up of the terrible mess in which most of the public departments and the affairs of the country generally had been allo ·wed to lapse, and fol­ lowing this it was able to devote its attention to considerable legislation of a remedial and beneficial nature~ Contending against innumerable ob­ stacles, including, I must point out, the indifference of the public and even the hostility of some sectio ·ns thereof who were directly affected, it has steadfastly continued in the path of . duty, sacrificing possibly its own political ·future a.nd that of its indi­ vidual members in the cause of good government.

As a result of its efforts no longer is heard in the land, except from the lips of the most untrust­ worthy and irresponsible, the whisp­ ers of Government scandals which were altogether too frequent a few short years ago, for these are now things of the past.

Though handi­ capped by the defeGtio · n of five of its own members under circumstances which would seem to admit of )10 justification and which cannot be said to have brought any credit to the malcontents, it has refused to com­ promise with partisan and Ta.mmany Hall political methods and has deter­ mined to stand or fall by the standard of open, honest and clean government. And with that spirit the Government faces the coming session undauntedly, determined to carry out its programme to the very end, and with full con­ fidence in what the final unprejudiced judgment of the great majority of the people will be.

The peo·ple may be mislead temporarily-they may appear to be the natural victims and simple \ tools of the blatant demagogue, of the selfish agitator, of the purveyor of half truths and inuendoes, of the dis­ honest maker of ridiculo ·us and ex­ travagant promises impossible of ful­ filme ·nt, of the sm.ooth retailer of un­ founded accusations and even delib­ erate mis-statement against political opponents, of the busy a.nd unscrupu- lous spreader of unfounded rumours, of the practical exponents of the theory that every man has his price ranging from a dollar or a bottle of rum upwards.

But this is only for a time and does not last. Their victory if it comes at all is a false 0 1ne and only temporary, and like the melo­ drama on the stage, everything co1mes right in the end. True friends are once again recognized and appreciated, and those by whom the people have ben deluded and deceived are rejected with scorn and contempt.

That hon­ esty is the best policy must 'be as true in political as it is in private and business life. ,Newfoundland has many serious problems to face, demanding the very best care and attention of those in charge of Government, who need a.bove all things to be statesmen of broad vision and incorruptible honesty. Heaven defend us, I say, fro · m the man who is prepared to sacrifice his country to see her pro­ gress and the prosperity and happi­ ness of her people retarded for years, perhaps for . ever, in order to pur­ chase his own political advancement or gratify his personal hatred and spleen.

The public, of co1urse, has its own responsibility to the fullest ex­ tent. The people must see and real­ ize that such men are false prophets and not their true leaders, that they will lead them not into the land of promise, but rather into the land of disappointment, and disillusion and despair. The people must see to1 it that such men are relegated to politi­ cal obscurity and that only those are retained in power who have demon­ strated in a practical manner their absolute sincerity of purpose, honesty of conduct, and unselfish devotio 1n to the true interests of the country that gave ·them birth.

That such may be the happy state of affairs which the future holds for New·foundland must be the ardent wish and prayer of every true patriot and . lover of his country. MR. POWER-Mr .. Speaker in -. rising I

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 11 to second the motion before the House I do so reluctantly, fbecause I feel that there are other members who would better grace the occasion than my humble self, being, as I am, one of the silent knights of the House, or one who has only been conspicuous in the Assen1bly because of my silence.

However, though being silent I of­ fer no apology, becau.se while not being heard I have been working quietly and constantly for the District which I have the honour to represent, and whatever the District may think of me or the Government or its pol­ icy, I can go back to them with assur­ ance that I have done all that was honorable to do. It affords me great pleasure, Mr. Speaker, to offer my sincerest co·n­ gratulations to the Hon.

Proposer of the Motion for the able and extensive manner in which he has dealt with various matter.s which the Speech contains; not alone do I co,ngratulate him but I offer him my sincere thanks because he has so intelligently covered the whole programme that it has lifted a weight from my shoulders in not expecting much from me. In a word, the learned and Hon. gentleman has in his address not alone covered what was expected of him but has done it in such a ·manner that there is but little left for me to say. However, Mr.

Speaker, there are a few points that, with your kind in­ dulgence, I would wish to briefly re­ fer to and in so doing I must humbly pray for your kind consideration be­ cause of the fact, that I have had but a few short hours' notice to prepare for this occasion; therefore, I feel that you will not expect of me as much as might be expected had I had more time at my disposal. Mr.

Speaker, I wish to join with my learned friend, the Proposer, in offer­ ing to those who are responsible for the decision which has come to us by the award and the settling of the long and historical dispute of the "Labrador Boundary." I fully concur with the Hon. member in all that he has said regarding it. I know person­ ally that when this Government ca.me into being, that one of its first de­ cisions was to tackle the Labrador Boundary dispute. It wa.s definitely decided to settle it for once and all, regardless of what the outcome would be.

We were guaranteed by the Min­ ister of Justice that during his term of office this question would be final­ ly disposed of whether for good or ill. This question has been one of many year.s standing. It has been one that ha.s had the attention of the most noted "legal lights," not alone of this country but also · Canada and Eng­ land.

Each and every gentleman who assisted in bringing this problem to such a successful issue might well feel proud of themselves and the country generally should well feel proud of them, and those who are not conversant with this historic legal battle need not go further than read the Canadian papers and reports of the Quebec Assembly to realize what a grave loss the Labrador territory has been to Canada, and being of grave importance to Canada it must naturally be of greater importance to us. I do not think, Mr.

Speaker, that the public fully realize · what has been done by this Government, for if they did I am sure that they would be louder in their rejoicing. I feel that the Minister of Justice, Hon. W. J. Higgins, who steered the case through its last lap should feel justly proud of his accomplishment, and, I even if the public do seem ungrate- ful, he has in himself justified the trust that has been placed in him. It's regrettable, Mr. Speaker, that the reference made in the Speech fro1n the Throne with regard to fisheries is not of a more encouraging and cheer­ ful nature.

Poor fisheries and poor prices have 1 been our fate periodically in years gone by and will happen •

12 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS again in years to come. Most every citizen is to-day looking with asking eyes as to what is going to, happen our .staple product, namely our cod­ fish.

I do not propose to dwell on the subject because I feel that I am not an authority on it, but it is quite plain to all of us that we can no longer depend on our fish.eries for a liveli­ hood for all our people, whilst I feel that conditions as they happened in recent years have had a tendncy to discourage our people in pursuing the fishery; yet, I contend that the fact of our fishery being discarded does not altogether lie with poor prices or bad fisheries.

Practically speaking, I might say that even a major portion of our successful fishermen who have reared families, or are rearing them, do not encourage them to· take up and follow along the lines that they pur­ sued. They prefer to see them enter into channels le.ss arduous. One branch of the fishery that I am di­ rectly interested in, and one. in which I have had quite a deal of experience · , is the Herring fishery. To the Marine & Fisheries Department, because of bringing the herring pack to such an e,xcellent standard as we find it to­ day, much credit is due.

We are put­ ting on the market a herring packed by the Scotch style that is second to none in the world. It ha.s gained a foremost place on the American and Canadian markets, that we may well feel proud of. In connection with this particular style of cure, there is one very severe drawback and that is, the duty we are forced to pay o, n every pound of herring entering the States. This duty was put on our fisl1 by the introduction of the Fordney Tariff Bill.

It is not my intentio · n to enter into any long discussion of this Bill, but I would take this opportun­ ity of asking the House to give this matter its most serious consideration. I merely mention it with the hope that this matter may again be taken up and some means devised whereby ar- rangements might be made with the American Government for the recon­ sideration of this barrier to our fish­ eries. To-day, Mr. Speaker, for every barrel of herring that enters the States we are forced to pay one cent per pound on the gross weight.

It is needless for me to remind you of what it means to the shippers of her­ ring. Since it is quite clear, as I have al­ ready stated that some other means must be opened up in order to give employment it is most gratifying to note the reference that has been made to new industries which are be­ ing brought into , the country. The Buchans Mine is one that is looked upon a.s one of the most hopeful and most encouraging ventures of its kind in the history of the country.

Much greater is the assurance that it is going to be s11ccessful is because of the people who are identified in its working as it is generally known that the A. N. D. Co. and the American Smelters are associated in the work­ ing of this mine, and as we know well and have absolute faith in the A. N. D. Co. we also know that though the American Smelters are here for the first time, yet their reputatio , n is world-wide and being, as it is, the largest concern of its kind, we surely bid the corporation a hearty welcome to our shores and wish that all the undertakings m.ay be crowned with success.

Their success is success for us. The initial wor· k o·f- making a be­ ginning for the opening o· f this great development has already begun on the first steps that are being taken in the building of a railroad some twenty-two miles long. Already work has begun at the new townsite and permanent houses of modern type, and other necessary structures, are about to· be erected. Serious consid­ eration is being given to the erection of a large smelting plant which means if it comes that every possible bit of work connected with it, from the.

. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 13 mining to the finished product, is to be done in this country. Newfo ,und­ landers get the benefit of it all. I do not speak authoritatively, but I have the information from reliable sources, that before any actual returns can be had by the development of Buchans Mine an outlay of some millions of dollars will have taken place. It is not very pleasant for the gov­ ernment or any other government 10 come into this House and announce to the country that it is to be faced with a deficit.

My Hono ·rable friend the mover of the motion has dealt flilly with tl1is, but from the present outlook for our railway which has shown such an enormous deficit this year and years passed it looks as if it will during the coming year have a decidedly different and decidedly brighter story to tell, that the whole rrachinery of the railway will be working to its fullest capacity during the next five or six months is a cer­ tainty. Tl1e A. N. D. Co. alone not counting on or taking into co·nsider­ ation its regular work have engaged three thousand cars. By special efforts of tl1e travelling agent of the railway (Mr.

Mosdell) who has personally canvassed all the leading importers and by re-arrange­ ment of freight rates induced the1n to patronize our own means of transport, as a result to-day a fairly large quan­ tity of freight is being daily carried by the Caribou which has been plying back and forth the Gulf the past year practically empty. The Gander proposition tends to be of great assistance in the future de­ velopment of the country in the man­ ner of giving employment to many men and of helping to· bring prosper­ ity. The outlook for the West Coast is much brighter because of the activ­ ity in connection with the St.

Geor­ ge's Coal Fields. Mr. Freeman who has been in charge of the work on be­ half of the company in conjunction with the Minister of Agriculture and Mines have been instrumental in hav­ ing bori11g operations started and the results are of such a nature that they are most gratifying not alone to the Minister and Mr. Freeman and those asociated with 11im but also to the whole country. Mr.

Freem ,an by the assistance given him by this Go,vern­ ment after many years of hard and constant work has proven to the country a11d the world at large that - large deposits of coal are laying a waiting development on the West Coast. It is proof positive we have coal of great commercial value. It is now a question as to what we are to do with it. Owing to the heavy rains and the absence of frost during the month of January, which made it difficult to move heavy machinery across swollen rivers and very rough ground, drill­ ing operations on the St.

George's Coal Fields, Ltd., were not started un­ til late in February. However, we are in a position to announce that, in addition to the estimate made by the late James P. Howley, Esq., F.G.S., two new seams of coal have been located; 011e at a depth of 244 feet, containing about 5 feet of coal, and another at a depth of 660 feet, con­ taining 3 feet of coal. These new finds, when calculated on the basis of 1,500 tons to the acre-foot, will add 7,680,-• 000 tons per mile to the property, that is, for every mile that may be found to underlie. The late James P.

Rowley's esti­ mate which was made from surface measurements of the seams of coal in sight on this property, were about 25,000,000 to 26,000,000 tons of coal to the square mile. Judging from the exploratio · n work carried out by the St. George's Coal Fields, Ltd., and taking into consideration the new dis­ coveries, it is evident, the area con­ tains about 30,000,000 to 35,000,000 tons of coal to the square mile. The first hole put down was o· n a site prospected some years ago by the • •

I 14 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS late James P. Howley, and at a depth of 244 feet a seam of coal about 5 feet in width was located. In the second . hole, which is now at a depth of 850 feet, a 3 foot seam at a depth of 660 feet was located. Meantime, the drill passed through several other seams at various depths, one seam, evidently the Jukes being cut at a depth of 141 feet, containing 9 feet, 2 inches of coal, thus assuring, at the angle at which it was cut, 6 feet to 7 feet seam of coal.

We are also in a position to state that engineers from Mining Companies of internatio ·nal repute will investi­ gate, with a view to working the pro­ perty on an extensive scale, as soon as the drilling operations are com­ pleted. During last \veek I had the pleas­ ure of visiting the Codroy Valley. There I found most active prepara­ tions being made by the farmers for the coming season. One of the best signs of the times in that locality was to see the numberless different farming implements that were daily been put off at the stations along the farming sections.

Through the efforts of the agricultural department con­ nections have been established all over the island and particularly so on the S. W. Coast, where formerly practically every pound of produce was imported from P. E. I. or some part of Nova Scotia. The farmers have had one of the greatest aids handed them when this government gave them a flat rate along the railway and its coastal service which has made it po.ssible to compete with the imported

article and to reach every household­ er's door with a local

article . at a reasonable price. The farmers of the West coast ask from this Governme11t just one more request: they have the land, they are farmers, they are pre­ pared to work, they do not ask for one dollar for their own personal ·benefit. They ask but one thing, that is tbat immediate attention be paid to their road and at least made pass­ able whereby they market their pro­ duce and haul their fertilizer to their lands.

On the whole though things; may not look too bright, yet I feel that with all the new developments . that are within our reach a new era. for the country can be confidently loked for, an era which I most humbly pray and trust will soon be with us. I have much pleasure, Mr. Speaker, in seconding the motion before the House. HON. LEADER OF OPPOSITION­ Mr. Speaker, with your permission I shall make a few remarks regarding the Speech fro · m the Throne, but I shall be brief.

This is not the usual Speech from the Throne that the Monroe administration has presented to us since they came into power; it is usually more elaborate and longer -in fact I remember once making the remark tl1at the Speech from the Throne contained nearly everything. If this document had a black border I would say it was the Government's obituary notice. I must congratulate the mover of the Address in Reply, the junior mem­ ber for Harbor Main, and I must congratulate him for his openness and frankness.

He told us that the Gov­ ernment had "cleaned up," and also tl1at there will be a "modest deficit," which is proof of what he has said. I also congratulate the seconder of the Address, who has indeed made a noble effort-they are both young men, and no doubt have a political future before them. I wish also to congratulate the members who have been elected into this Chamber since we last met­ Mr. Chambers, who has been re­ elected for Burgeo and La Poile; Dr. Mosdell, who carried Fortune Bay against great odds.

The district of Fortune was previously represented by an Independent Member who was returned by a large majority, and who by accepting a position on the Bench

' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 15 was practically purchased by the Government. MR. SPEAKER-I cannot permit the Hon. the Leader of the Opposition to make a statement of that character, nor can I allow it to pass unchal­ lenged or unreproved. Such a com­ ment is manifestly incorrect, ·and is entirely out of order, patricularly in view of the fact that it is a most de­ rogatory and unwarranted reference to one who occupies the eminent position of a Judge of the Supreme Court of this Colony. MR. HICKMAN-I must accept your ruling, Mr. Speaker, but I must say that the member accepted a position from the Government.

MR. SPEAKER-I must ask the Hon. the Leader of the Opposition to refrain from pursuing that subject further. MR. HICKMAN-I must accept your ruling, Mr. Speaker. However the seat was contested and Dr. Mosdell was successful. I congratulate Mr. Brophy on the wonderful election he had in St. John's East. St. John's East is a district which under con­ stitutional rights should have been opened long ago. It should have been opened when Mr. Vinicombe resigned to go into the Liquor Control Bo·ard.

The district, which was won in 1924 by the Government by a large major­ ity, has now given a seat to the Lib­ eral Candidate, which shows the feel­ ing of the people towards the Govern­ ment. Now Mr. Speaker, this Session is opening on May 11th, and it should have been opened and closed long ago. One of the promises made by the Prime Minister was that he would have early sessio ,ns, and I suppose this is the latest session under sim­ ilar circumstances ever.

Now we are here, and we are told by the Speech from the Throne that the country faces a deficit, and we are also told that this administration is about to inaugurate measures for development of the country's reso ·urces. I am here to support, and I think I can safely say that the members on this side are of the same mind, any m.easures for the country's good, and they will have the support of this side if they are such.

I do· not pledge my sup­ port to anything that is not in the interests of the people of this country, or anything that enables speculators to make money out of our people­ any good legislatio · n we welcome. It seems strange, Mr. Speaker, that a Tory Government should introduce developments, because I think if we look at past Legislatures we will find that no such legislation has been in­ troduced by Tory Governments. The Anglo Nfld.

Develo 1pment Co. came in under Sir Robert Bond, and the Hum- 1ber . was effected by a Liberal admin­ istration; in 1923 legislation for the esta .blishment of the enterprise at the Gander was introduced-a .nd so I forecast that when it is put through it will be by a Liberal administration. We are told in the Speech from the Throne that we have a deficit-the member for Harbor Main calls it a "modest" deficit. I haven't any idea what he means by "modest," but we shall see later on. My opinion is that this is not the only year in which there has been a deficit, and that there was one in 1924-25 as well as 26-27.

The Minister of Finance and Customs in his Budget Speech of last session told us the following. This is what is contained in his speech. He also stated: (Reads) And now we find in the· Speech from the Throne there is not a sur­ plus, but what the member for Hr. Main calls a "modest" deficit. Now I don't know whether the Minister of Finance was in earnest last session, and believed what he told us, or whether he was deceiving the House. There was no surplus last year as stated-in fact there was a deficit, which we shall soon discover. Now

16 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS this "modest deficit" will, I under­ stand, prove to be a substantial sum, probably going into millions of dol­ lars-if that is so the present Min­ ister of Finance will hav· e the honour of bringing down the largest deficit since the days o, f R.esponsible Gov­ ernment. I think it is time now for the Prime Minister to give us pla.in speech, and to tell us exactly where we stand, and to put his cards on the ta.ble.

The Prime Minister will no doubt follow me when I have finished and we will appreciate very much a frank and open statement as to· what are the financial co.nditions of the country at the present time, and how he purposes getting over the Govern­ mental difficulties. I notice from the Speech from the Throne that he pur· ­ poses putting on the inco ·me ta. x again, and reference has been made by the Member for Harbor Main that it is likely to have the full support of the Opposition.

As far as I know it will have the full support of the Op·posi­ tion if the Income tax bill is pro.perly worded, whereby it will cover ' all those who are well able to pay income tax. We are prepated if the Govern­ ment need our help to go into it with the Prime Minister and see that a bill will be brought in that will be in the best interests of all concerned. I trust that the Government will carry out everything that they have forecasted in the Speech from the Throne.

The Mover of the Address in Reply elabo ,rates on the fact that the Government has saved the situation in Belle Isle by making an agreem .ent with the Dominion Iron and Steel Company to carry on the work. The fact of the matter is that this agree­ ment expires in December · and must ·be renewed again in January, and so this Government has only done what every Government has done in. the past. I cannot see where the credit comes to the Government for that. There was nothing for the Govern- ment to do if they wanted to keep the people working on Belle Isle.

I find in the beginning of this Speech from the Throne that reference was made to the dispute between the Do­ minion of Canada and Newfoundland on the Boundary question. We now know that the decision has been given in favour of this country. I may say however that this savours of credit to the Government, but ther · e is not much credit due to the present Govern .ment for the settling of this question, that has been so long in dispute.

An agreement was made in 1920, and signed by the Atto ,rney Gen­ eral of Canada, and of Newfoundland, to have this matter placed before the Privy Council, long before this Gov­ ernment came into power. (Reads) The question of status has always been the same. We ha.ve only put into writing the practice and prin­ ciple that has been in force in Ne,v~ f oundland for yea.rs. Newfoundland with its 250,000 people is not sup­ pos~d to have as much influence as Canada for instance with its nine millions.

I notice in the Speech from the Throne that a bill is to be brought in in connection with the Water Rights on Labrador. I agree with that part of the Speech. I think that what we have gained . on Labrador we should hold in the inter­ ests of the country, and not allow it to be made the territory for speculators that might come in here and take what we ha.ve without giving us ade­ quate returns.

We will have an opportunity later in the discussion of the Speech from the Throne, to make .any rem.arks that we think fit, but we would like now to have a frank expression of opinion from the Prime Minister, as to whether in view of the result of the Bye-Election in St. John's East, it is his intention to carry on the Government or to have an election i.n the Fa.II, so that the people may have '

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY . PROCEEDINGS 17 an opportunity of electing proper re­ presentatives to this House of As­ sembly. HON. THE PRIME MINISTER-Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is never expected to throw out bou­ quets to the compiler of the Speech from the Throne. I remember on one occasion, he said the speech was cele­ brated for what it did not contain, the second season that I had occasion to sit in this House, the Leader of the Opposition told us that it con­ tained everything except a reference to the eclipse of the sun. To-day he tells us that it is not elaborate enough.

I am not surprised to find that the Leader of the Oppo.sition is not particularly pleased with the Speech from the Throne. I don't sup­ pose there ever was a Leader of the Opposition in this country or any­ where else who rose to congratulate the Government on the Speech from the Throne. He has to do his

part in that connection. I want to join with the Leader of the Opposition in congratulating the new members of the Ho·use of As­ sembly. I want to congraulate Mr. Chambers on his victory by a large majority, in the bye-election in his district. I want to congratulate Dr. Mosdell on his victory in Fortune, and Mr. Brophy on his return in St. John's East. I hope that everyone of them will make good use of his seat in this House of Assembly, and that they will devote their entire energy to the interests of the country, and if they do that they will be doing a great deal of good for the Co·lony. Mr.

Hickman has said that the Opposition is prepa.red to support wise legislation. We don't pTopose to bring in or have we ever brought in, in my experience, an.ything but what we believed to be wise legislatio ·n, and we don't propose to bring it in in the future. But the legislation that we are ·bringing in in connection with these industries, is we think: quite worthy of the consideration of the House. The income Tax has been referred to this afternoon. It is not, as I said when I made the motion in this House to abolish it, a fair tax in this coun­ try. And so I still believe.

There are numbers of people in this coun­ try who have not paid their ta.xes, and it is a very difficult thing indeed to collect taxes in this country with the same thoroughness, as they are col­ lected in countries where there are a greater number of people and con­ sequently better organisation for the collection of taxes. The tax is also a. n unjust one as th. e trade 1 of the country is very hazardous, an. d some­ times a man who is in the way of doing ' . a large business, ma.kes big profits one year, and the next year perhaps he loses as much again.

We have been giving consideration, in putting that Bill ba.ck on the Statute Book, as to whether we could make it ef­ fective over an average period of three years. But it will be difficult to arrive at any plan in that respect, that could be work satisfactorily. The Leader of the Opposition has said that we ha.ve made no cha.nge in our Status, owing to the Imperial Conference ruling. That is not cor­ rect, for we are now an autonomo ·us community equal in Status with any other Dominion of the British Empire. We did not ask for it, nor did we want it, and we did not throw our hats in the air when we got it.

It is of no value to us. But the important point is this, that should we at any time find that we are incapa .ble of governing ourselves, and should wish to appeal to the King or his Repre­ sentative, to send out a Royal Com­ mission, we might very well be told "Physician, heal thyself." That is the difference in the Status of the Colony to-day. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me to give a statement of the financial conditions of the colony. I

:!.8 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS do not intend to enter into any par­ ticulars this afternoon, but in the regular debate, we will leave that matter to be dealt with by the Finance Minister in his budget. There will be a deficit of somewhere about 1% mil­ lion dollars. People have been . talking about three millions, but a million and a half is wha.t the deficit will be out­ side of the railway, which will lose about $750,000, the same as last year. It has been a natural losing hazard. Nobody can prevent it. But it has as good a chance of coming back as any other Department.

It would only take one or two good industrial proposi­ tions along the rail wa. y line, to turn the railway from a losing venture in­ to a winning one. In the month of December, for example, which is a bad business month for the rail way, we actually made $500 profit. That only goes to show that the railway, put in proper condition, is not going to be a very big and continuo ·us li­ \3,bility to this country. When w· e got the railway, we got a lot of junk. It was not properly ballasted, and a large amount of the cost incurred in connection with the railway has been caused by the necessity of re-ballast­ ing.

When it is fully put in co·ndition, and with Buchan's min.e, and other in­ dustries in full swing along that rail­ way, I predict that the railway will be a paying proposition. I may say that I am not at all happy over finding the country with a deficit. I am not at all satisfied that something might not have been done in the way of further retrenchment, by the party in power. But I would like any man listening to me this after­ noon to be in my position for twelve months, and find the clamour · that is made to the Government for further expenditure of money, and let us see what he would do about it.

It is one thing to criticise, but another thing to construct and clea . n up. I myself talked about "cleaning up" when I came in to power, But • I have not found it quite as easy to clean up as I thought, and that is a great deal the fa.ult of the people of this country. We have spent, we have been obliged to spend in this town during the · past two m.onths be­ tween $80,000 and $90,000 for poor relief. A large number of people ar· e still in need. What is to be done about it, money does not grow on gooseberry bushes.

There are a large number of people of this country who think that the Government chest is a bottomless pit, into which you can dig all day long. Unless people understand that unless we cease to spend in excess of what is coming in, we are going to ·be in trouble. Now don't imagine that our posi­ tion to-da . y is due to anything that the present Government has done, or, to anything that the past Government has done. The War cost this colony $30,000,000.

We insisted on having our own regiment a very fine and patriotic thing to do, but $30,000,000 is what the war cost this colony, and we have got to pay pensions accord . ­ ingly. That is what really brought the condition of affairs that exist to­ day, and it would have been the same no matter what Government had been in power. We were gradually going that way and we had to have a deficit. Unless some big industry is developed, or 've sell tl1e Labrador, it seems that we will be constantly faced with a deficit.

The gentlemen on the other side may say "Put us in and we will fix things up." I would be ·perfectly satisfied to hand over the Government to Mr. Hickman to-morrow if I tho·ught that he could do better than we have done. But I am satisfied th at he could not do a bit better. That is the reason why I say when the L eader of the Opposition asks me if tl1ere is going to be an election in the coming fall, I cannot tell him that. If we are the Government in power in the fall, why we will decide what is

• . HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 19 time we will try to carry on and do the best that we can. But we ack- 11owledge that we are not as powerful to do things that we think ought to be done, as we were before we lost six members to the other side. If we had tl1ose members we would be able to i11troduce drastic measures that we don't feel powerful enough to do ·tt the present time. I want to make that point very clear. You can't run a Government as a private business.

To do so, you would require some­ body to take charge of this country, in the shape of a Mussolini, with an army at his back, to dictate , what had to be done in drastic measures. I don't care what Government you may have, I don't believe that those necessary but drastic measures will ever be carried out by Responsible Government in this country. That ts what I feel. There are minor re­ forms that can be effected, and these we are trying to effect, and we have a great possibility of industrial de­ velopment in this country at the pre­ sent moment. That is our great hope. We have Labrador just given to us.

An immense tract of land. But can this country afford to borrow money to investigate it? · It sems to me that there are only two alternatives open to us, either to sell it as a "pig in a poke," or else to exploit it. Now the first thing required in respect to La­ brador is a legal survey. I was very hopeful that when we got Labrador, we would be finished with lawyers in connection with it, but I am afraid that is not so. We don't know yet whether all the water power rights in La·brador have not been given a way.

There are hundreds of people who have been promised various conces­ sio11s when once the Boundary ques­ tion was settled, by the Government. There are water power rights on the Muskra . t Falls given away to a man named Dickey for thirty dollars per year for 99 years, by the Bond Admin­ istration. In these days these things were considered of no value. Then the first thing is to make a survey of what is on the Labra .dor, and when we find what we own there, then to try and turn it into money. But I don't believe that this country will ever be able to develop it.

In the second place we have very great hopes ·of mineral development in Newfoundland. I consider that the discovery of Buchan's mine is of more importance than what we have gained by the Labrador Boundary award. The Company that has been established at Grand Falls has proved that we are able to turn out the concentrated pro­ duct in this country out of the already proved enormous quantities of zinc and lead in that mine. I cannot say as much for the Ga.n­ der.

There are certain proposals coming before us ,in fact, we delayed the opening of this House in order to get those proposals, and we will have them in a few days. It is very pos­ sible that we will be asked to build a certain number of miles of railway to the Gander, to connect up with the various industries. · If these proposals are worthy of the consideration of this House they will be placed before you to judge as to whether O · r not ~t would be a paying proposition to join up these industries with the main line.

They may also be asking for concessions in connection with the ex­ port of wood in the raw condition, something that I am very much op­ posed to. Careful consideration will have to be given to any proposal along those lines. But I do not want to enter into · any particulars at this tim.e. We are about to enter on this ses­ sion of the Legislature. We ha:ve a majority in the House. As long as it is so I take it that the Opposition will consider that we are the Govern­ ment. We want to put thro ·ugh our legislation as soon as possible and get back to business again. If the Opposition have decided on a policy of

20 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS obstruction of any legislation that we may introduce, then I say that we are able to stay here as long as they are. I suggest to you gentlemen that the Government is still in power and proposes to remain in power unless it is beaten on th. e floors of this House, and then we will hand over the reins to somebody else. In the meantime we propose to carry on to the best of our ability. We hope that the Members of this Legislature will not find it necessary to discuss every

section of the Speech from the Thro·ne. When the various Bills are brought up later on in the session, then it will 'be time enough to discuss them. Why must every member of the Op­ position take pa.rt in a long discus­ sion on a bill that has not even been brought before the Legislature. Last year we listened fo· r hours to opinions expressed by members of the Opposi­ tion concerning an agreement with Besco. And it never came before the House. I only suggest to the Leader · of the Oppositio · n that he organize his forces.

If there are two or three parties in the opposition, then have the leader to speak for each particu­ lar section. That would save a lot of time in this House. I hope that we have befo ·re us a. very pleasant and very a.miable session of this Leg­ islature. MR. CASHIN-Mr. Speaker, I would not have risen this afternoon or ma.de any remarks with regard to the speech from the throne were it not the fact that the Prime Minister who has just sat down has intimated to this House that it is the intention of the present administration to continue in office and to attempt to carry out their term of office until 1928.

I think, Mr. Speaker, that the people of this country and the members of both sides of this Ho·U$e will agree with me that the majority of the people rule. I contend to-day, sir, that the majority of the people of this country are re­ presented by the member~ on the Opposition side of this House. The majority of the people of St. John's East in the recent bye-election held there, told the present administration in so many words that it had fallen down on its job and was not wanted any more. That district three years ago gave the Government a majority of from 4,000 to 5,000 votes.

To-day that majority has been destroyed, and the Opposition candidate has :been re­ turned with a majority of 552. In view of this fact, which expresses in an unmistakable way the attitude of the people of this country towards the present Government, I think that the only course left open to the Prime Minister is to r·esign. The Prime Minister has suggested that the va.rious lea.ders on the Opposition side of the House should rise and on behalf of their various parties tell the House what they intend doing with regard to the various measures that are to come before the Ho·use.

Now I think it would be wise for the various sections on the Government side who ha.ve their ·own leaders to also rise and tell the Opposition what they intend to do during the present session. The Prime Minister stated also that the deficit for 1926-27 will he around 11h million dollars; ·but he did not tell that the deficit for 1925-26 is 011e million dollars, nor is any refer­ ence made to that deficit i11 the Speech from the Throne, and I defy any inember of the House · . to get up and sa. y if what I have stated is not cor-• rect.

Hints ha.ve been thrown out by the proposer of the Motion for an Address in Reply that unfair tactics were employed and wild rumours broadcasted in the· bye-election re­ cently regarding the deficit on cur­ rent account. I tell the House now as I told it last year that the Budget last year was "cooked." A letter ap­ peared in the Government press recently stating that the deficit on current account for 1925-26 was $80,- 000.00 I say that the deficit was one

HOUSE OF "ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 21 million dollars approximately. The Government evidently forgot that the people own the rail way that is op~r­ ated by the Government. Now the loss on the operation of the railway for 1925-26 was over $900,000.00. This added to the $80,000.00 plus the five per cent. interest on the one million dollars borrowed on railway account brings the total deficit for that year up to a million dollars.

Whilst we do not intend to obstruct any legis­ lation o, f a constructive nature, I feel it my duty and it is the duty of every member of the Opposition side to-day to tell the present Government that they are unable to carry on and that we should not allow them to carry on. If they were decent, they would re­ sign because a vote of want of confi­ dence was passed on them by the electors of St. John's East and For- . tune Bay. Still they have the gall to attempt to carry on the administration of the affairs of this country.

The Prime Minister has claimed that, owing to a depletion in his ranks, no other Government could do any bet­ ter than the present one. Now what has caused that depletion? It has been stated in the Government press that members who left the Govern­ ment should have gone back to their districts for approval or disapp-roval of their actions; but it did not state that the man who· left the Opposition side and joined the Government ranks should go back, certainly not, that would be too consistent. I say, Mr.

Speaker, we should all go back to· our districts next Fall, and if I can do· it the Government will be forced to, have a general election next Fall be­ cause they do not enjoy the confidence of the people. We are told in the Speech from the Throne that the Gov­ ernment proposes to put on the Income Tax again and the Prime Min­ ister stated that he is trying to make a law to put the Act back for three • years.

If the Government had not repealed the Act in 1924, or had put it on in 1925, as they were advised to do, they would not be up against it financially as they are to-day, and I defy any financial wizard that the , Prime Minister may have in his Party to,-day to deny that statement. The reason is, of course, that people can only purchase according to, their means and they can buy more when goods are low than when they are high.

Accordingly, the 15 per cent. extra taxation that the· Government put on reduced the purchasing po·wer o.f the people with the result that there was a falling off in the revenue at the Custom House. The Speech from the Throne states that the de­ ficit was created on account of de­ creased importations of cotton goods. This is a most ridiculous state ·ment to try and get any people to swallo,v. I did not intend to get up a.nd speak this afternoon, but the remarks of the Prime Minister made me do so. I in­ tend to make a more lengthy criticism of the Speech from the Thro ,ne later.

With regard to this contract with Besco, Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that before this session i)f the House closes I hope to h. a.ve the privilege of referring to the Prime Minister's speech in connection with that contract and I intend to occupy as much time as the Prime Minister did when he introduced the Resolu­ tions last year. These Reso ,lutions were nro.ught in here a.nd driven out again. They went to a Party meet­ ing of the Government a,nd never came back since.

The Prime Minister said at the time that this contract was one out of ten or twelve that the Government had from Besco and that· this one was the best one. This con­ tract was signed, sealed and deliver­ ed. It was signed on behalf of the Government by the Colonial Secre­ tary and the Minister of Justice. The Executive had entered into an agree­ ment with Besco and were thrown down because the whole Government Party passed a vote of want o· f con- •

22 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS :fidence in the Executive. Now what about the contract with Besco for this year? The present Government had nothing whatever to do with the operations of Besco at Bell Island this year. Besco would . op·erate no matter what Go·vernment was in power because they had o·rders in for one million tons of ore. I agree with the Leader of the Opposition that the Speech fro· m the Throne should have a black border aro-und it, denoting the Government's obituary notice. The obituary notice of the present admin­ istration has been written by the voters of St. John's East and Fortune Bay.

Because they ha.ve o·ne or two members in majority in the House­ men who are getting concessions and jobs out of the Government-the pre­ sent administration is holding on to the reins of power. Mr. Speaker, I serve notice no·w, Sir, that so far as I am able this Go·vernment will not put through any legislation this ses­ sion of the House. I apologize, Mr.

Speaker, for delaying the time of the House this evening, but as this is the opening day, as the curtain is raised on the annual drama and as certain people who only co·me here once a year and who are unaware of t~e doings of the present Government, I hope and trust when they come here again that they will see a different aggregation of politicians guiding the destinies of this our Island ho·me. It was moved 1by Mr. Cahill, and seconded by Mr.

Power, that an Ad­ dress of Thanks be presented to His Excellency the Administrator in Re­ ply to th~ 'ious Speech with which he had been pleased to open the pre­ sent Session of the Legislature, and that a Select Committee be appointed to draft such Address in Reply. The Committee to consist O · f Mr. Cahill, Mr. Pow·er, Mr. Puddister, Dr. Mosdell, Mr. Brop ·hy. The Prime Minister gave notice that he would on to-morrow ask leave to introduce a Bill dealing with the dis- .. position of land, timber and water powers in Labrador.

Tht Hon. the Colonial Secretary laid on the Table of the House State­ ment of Expenditure and Revenue of the St. John's Municipal Council for the year 1926. The Hon. the Prime Minister laid on the Table of the House a copy of the Will of the late Rt. Hon. Sir R. Bond (bequeathing certain lands to the Colony to be used as a Model Farm), together with certain corres­ pondence relating thereto. Mr. Hickman gave notice of ques­ tion. Mr. Scammell gave notice of ques- tion. Mr. Hibbs gave notice of question. Mr. Moore gave notice of questio ·n. Mr. Ashbourne gave notice of ques- tion. Mr.

Godden gave notice of question. Mr. ·Lake gave notice oif question. Mr. Bradley gave notice of questio ·n. Mr. Grimes gave notice of question. Mr. Brophy gave notice of question. Dr. Mosdell gave notice of question. Hon. the Prime Minister moves ad- journment of House. MR. MOORE-Mr. Speaker, rising to support the motion to adjourn, I would like to bring to the notice of the Internal Econo ·mY Co·mmission, through you, the state of th. e rooms occupied by the seventeen members on this side of th. e House. There is no space there, a11d there are only eight chairs for seventeen men.

Might I suggest that there is a roo· m up­ stairs occunied by the Clerk of the House which we could have, and let him move downstairs. At the present time there is no way to get fresh air -if you open the windows .the people in the park can look in. We cot1ld also do much ·better in a room 16 x 16 than in o· n. e ten by ten, a.nd it must be remembered that the room never held seventeen members before. We will take good care of it and return it when the session is over.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEffiNGS 23 It was mo·ved and seconded that when the House rises it adjourn to Monday, the sixteenth instant,, at three of the clock. The House then adjourned accord- ingly. MONDAY, May 16th, 1927. The House met at three of the clock in the afternoon pursuant to adjournment. Petitions were presented by: Mr. Halfyard, from Ireland's Eye, re Roads. Mr. Halfyard, from Caplin Cove, Trinity Bay, re Roads. Mr. Half yard, from Winterton, re Roads. Mr. Halfyard, from Little Heart's Ease, re dismissal of a ferryman. Mr. Hibbs, from Barred Islands, re setting of cod traps. Mr.

Hibbs, from Fo·go, re Roads. A delegation of unemployed persons appeared at the Bar of the House praying leave to present a petition. On motion leave was granted. ~ The petition was then read, asking that employment be provided. On motion the petition was received. The delegation then retired. ADDRESS IN REPLY MR. CAHILL-Mr.

Speaker, I beg leave to report that the Select Com-· mittee formed to draft a reply to the gracious speech with which His Ex­ cellency the Administrator was pleased to open this session has drafted the following reply: To His Excellency, Sir William Henry Horwood, Kt., Administrator of the Government of Newfoundland and its Dependencies. May It Please Your Excellency: We the Commons of Newfoundland in Legislative Session assembled, beg to thank Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excel- lency has addressed to both Houses of the Legislature. Signed: CYRIL J. CAHILL, THOS. J. POWER, J. C. PUDDESTER.

Assembly Room, May 16th, 1927. On motion this report was received. MR. HALFYARD-Mr. S'1pea.ke·r, I wish to make a few remarks on the subject matter now 1befo-re the House. Before considering the speech of His Excellency, I would ma.ke a few references to the personnel of the House since last we met here. We all regret that Mr. Mott, the Clerk of the Assembly, is now undergoing treatment at the General Hospital.

He is a highly esteemed official and we trust that his treatment will be successful, and that, in a little while he will be able to take his place again and that he will be blessed with complete recovery of his usual health and strength. I notice also that Mr. Duff, the Honourable Mem­ ber for Carbonea.r, who possibly con­ sidered some of us so good-looking that he would get from the back benches here to the other side so that he would have a good view of the good-looking chaps on this side of the House.

Now, I trust he is feeling quite comfo-rtable, basking in the sun of the Government ranks, having moved his seat from the cold shades of Op·position. Mr. Duff is now en­ joying the questionable privilege of being a member of His Majesty's Executive Government, but, after all, he must realize that all is not gold that glitters.

I trust the zeal the " honourable member manifested, when he was a member on this ·side of the House, will continue, a.nd that the adding of his strength to the Govern­ ment ranks and his presence there will be a "leaven that will leaven the whole lump." But I fear he has as­ sumed an impossible task. He him­ self is looking in the pink of condi­ tion phy.sically, and we can only say, to use a homely phrase, that he will \

• 24 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS have to put up with all the discomforts in reclining on the bed that he has made for himself. Then, in Fortune District , there has been a bye-election rendered ne­ cessary by the resignation of Mr. Warren, who took a seat on the Bench, made vacant by the retirement of Mr· . Justice Johnson. By the way, I may say that vacancy came as somewhat of a surprise to some of us; for, in answer to a question asked the Prime Minister last session by reference to Hansard the Prime Minister said, "that Mr.

Justice Johnson had. no in­ tention of retiring to the knowledge of the Government, and that the Gov­ ernment had given no consideration to the appointment of his successor." I regret the absence of Mr. Warren from this House. He was one of the oldest members of the House, in point of the number o.f years he was a member. He was an exp·erienced parliamentarian, an expert in consti­ tution practice. If an. y of us had a.ny occasion to ask any questions of Mr. Warren on constitutional usage or the practice of the House, he was al­ ways only too glad to give the inform­ ation.

We regret his absence on that account, and it is to ·be regretted, as the years pass, men of experience are no longer in this Ho·use to legislate or advise the younger members. I congratulate Dr. Mosdell on his victory in Fortune District. Consider­ ing that it was a bye-election and that he had to fight one of the strongest opponents that the Govern­ ment could send to that District at the time, no dou l?t the victory is d.ue, to a great extent, to the personal popularity of Dr. Mosdell and the strenuous campaign he fought. But it was no doubt principally due to the unpopularity of the present Gov­ ernment.

It was impossible for their man to win. Our heartiest congra .tu­ lations are extended to Mr. Brophy, whose victory in St. John's East, was unique in the political history of New- foundland. He and his associates put up a whirlwind campaign, a most strenuous and manly fight against the most influential and powerful odds. That is generally recognized by all in this House and those who happen­ ed to reside in St. John's at the time of the bye-electio ,n. All the Govern­ ment forces were routed, horse, foot and dragoon.

All the artillery at th. e disp ·osal of the Government during the last lay of the fight wa.s brought into requisitio ,n. They even brought the "Big Berthas" into requisition, and there was a regular bomba.rdment in every

section and corner of the Dis­ trict. I do not know whether they received an S.O.S. call or not. Any­ way, some of us were sent to trail after the Go·vernment speakers in the different outlying sectio ·ns. As we were in the game we had to follow suit, so that the constituents of St. John's East would not consider them­ selves neglected by us. So we put in an appearance; I put in an appear­ ance at Pouch Co·ve. The Go·vernment were countin . g on a certain kind of ammunition. So·me people said it was the silent ammunition-the silent vote, but that silent vote was very weak when we consider the results.

Any­ way, our young hero came through unscathed with victory perched on his banner. We welcome Dr. Mosdell and Mr. Brophy to this Assembly. They have a future before them that depends on their own a,ctlion\ . to a great extent as to what .success they will meet, but I trust, like their pre­ decessors in St. John's East, and those who went 1 before them in the District of Fortune, they will tread the straig~t and narrow road so far as the p·olitical road can · be travelled. We cannot expect impossibilities, and no doubt they will then get success and the confidence of the people in those districts.

I trust that when they put on the armour again, to fight an- other election, that they will have similar success. While the bye-..

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 25 election in the District of Burgeo and Le Poile did not make any change in ' the membership o· f this House, I heartily congratulate Mr. Chambers on his return and the increased vote he received in his district. Mr. Cham­ bers won his seat in spite of the un­ popularity of the Government. I had the pleasure of shaking ha.nds with Mr. Chambers on his return from the District, and I gave him my per­ sonal congratulations. It sho·wed his strength in that District. No · doubt, if there were a General Election, Mr.

Chambers would have considered "discretion the better part o.f valor," unless he had gone to the District under a different party. Then he would have had a chan .ce o· f being elected because his personal popular­ ity in that District ca.nnot be denied. According to statements made in the press by some members of the Government during the bye-election in St. John's East, Major Cashin, Mr. Moore, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Little, Mr. Lake, Mr. Russell and Mr. Duff sho·uld resign their seats and appeal to their constituents. I suppose it is too late in the season to do that now.

I draw the attention of the House to these statements. I do not know why they were made. I suppose it was thought they would have some political effect. But, can you imagine a more decept­ ive and hypocritical statement from a Government or the supporters of a Government that ignored one of the fundamental princip1es of constitu­ tjonal government for over two years in connection with the vacancy for St. John's East and when a writ to fill this vacancy was then only issued to save yo·ur Government fro . m further disintegration and ignominous de­ struction.

The writ for an election . was then ·brought about figuratively speaking at the point of the political bayonet of a member of your Govern­ ment. I just mention this to show that these statements are not sincere.

If all those · members who have changed their seats from the Govern­ ment to the Oppositio · n side of the House did resign their seats, what guarantee would they ha,ve that the Districts would be opened that they might appeal to their constituencies for a confirmation or otherwise of their actio ·ns, and th.at they would not have been o·ut in the wilderness with the Government carrying on and laughing at those who had resigned their seats? That is patent to every­ body.

Two years ago numbers of petitions and demands were made that even brought into the matter the representative of the King himself, to have the District o· f St. John's East opened, all with no avail. And then they say that those members should have resigned their seats a.nd gone to their constituencies. I am inclined to think that St. John's East was op·ened because the Government co·uld not meet this House otherwise and that is not news to anybody. The Government did not intimate by word or gesture that the seats would be opened if these honourable members had resigned.

Now, if there is any honesty or sincerity in such state­ ments, how ca. n they contend that the action of Mr. Duff was perfectly alright. Mr. Duff has become a mem­ of the party whose policy he de­ nounced in 1924, in 1925 and right up to the closing hours o· f the session of 1926. They have now taken him to their bosom though he denounced them in the strongest language at his command. If there is any honesty in tho·se statements, the Prime Min­ ister sh.ould have said to Mr. Duff, "Upon principle we cannot take you into our party or into our Council.

We should 1 be very glad to have you, but you must resign your seat. We will open the District of Carbo ·near and you can go back to that district and get the approval or otherwise of your constituents a.s to whether you shall leav:e the party with which you

26 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS were elected and join our ranks." That was not done. These purely political hypocritical statements cannot go unchallenged by me. Members of the Mo·nroe Gov­ ernment were reported as saying O · n a public platform: "that if a member is elected on a certain policy and he decides to leave the party in which he has been elected, th.at he should go back to his constituency to seek re­ election." A Daniel came to judgment. Imagine a member of the Government ranks proclaiming that to his hearers at a public meeting in St. John's East.

He was condemning the action of the Party with which he was connected. Can you wonder that there is disinteg­ ration and dissatisfaction amongst the ranks of the present Government. You could go from Alpha to Omega in their political record . and not find any­ thing but inconsistency there. So much for the political inconsistency of the present Go·vernment. It is the rule on an occasion like this when we are speaking to the motion for a committee to be ap·pointed to draft a reply to the Speech fro · m the Throne, to refer to the remarks made by the proposer and seconder of that motion.

Mr. · Cahill, the Hono ·urable Member for Harbor · Main did very well in his presentation. We have heard Mr. Cahill on a former occasion with great interest and sometimes with · a little irritation, and more often with edifi­ cation. The Government, no doubt, selected him for the part he had to play because he is a lawyer, and in the course of his pr·actice he . some­ times has to defend criminals, and I sympathize with him when he had to plead the case of the Government. He did it well.

It is not an enviable po­ sition fo· r anyone to occupy when his clients are of such a character that he knows they deserve the penalties of the law. Still he has to p·ut up a case for them. He is paid for d.oing it. Whether they are honest or dis­ honest he tries to make out as good a case as he can, and he has made out a good case for the Government, who are political criminals. But I think his speech after all is an echo of a speech made in the recent bye-elec­ tion. It seems to be back-wash of the speech made in the recent bye- . election in St. John's East.

It will be alright for the honourable member when he is contesting the District of Harbor Main or for any district that he may be contesting in the near future, but the arguments that Mr. Cahill has used to ·defend the policy of the present Government, and that jury which is the electorate when it gets an opportunity, that is at the General Election, will record their ballots against the present Govern­ ment. Their verdict will be political oblivion. I must also congratulate Mr. Power on his effort and now that he has broken the ice as a speech­ maker, I trust that we shall hear from him often during the session.

We have been hearing quite a lot for a number of years about coal seams and their probable value to, the country. I hope the . prospecting that is no· w going on will be successful, and that .coal mines will be starting in Newfoundland, which will be o.f great commercial value to us. I trust that coal will be found in commercial quantities, which will .bring to New­ foundland, no doubt, a great blessing, -if we get that industry started in Newfoundland after all the disap­ pointments in connection with coal mining in this country. So,me people are inclined to be a bit pessimistic.

Nevertheless, whether it is successful or not, ·I agree that the Government should spend money on. prospecting for coal and put up with the results. It is better to gamble in that respect than to throw a.way two million dol­ lars on a mad, crazy tourist policy. Mr. Cahill reminded us in the course of his remarks that the honor of pro­ p·osing that a co·mmittee be appointed to draft an Address in Reply to the

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 27 Speech from the Throne fell to his lot also in 1925. I looked up the Hans­ ard and I find that Mr. Cahill said: "that it might be a matter of interest "to Newfoundlanders to know that in "having a Winter session the Govern­ "ment is fallowing the precedent and "reviving the practice of earlier "years, when the House of Assembly "was always convened in February. "month.

Of late years expediency and "opportunism have often dictated "otherw~se and the present Govern­ "ment realizing that a session of the "House in the mo·nths o.f February is "in the best interests of the fisheries "and trade of the co·untry generally, "have reverted to the old and proper custom." Of course, he has made no reference this year to the time the House has been opened, but I feel sure that if he was honest in his observatio ·ns then, as I believe he was, he will admit that expediency and op·portunism is dictating the policy of the Government.

The open­ ing of the House at this late date is inconvenient arid interferes with the avocations of the Members, especially the members in the Outports who have to come in h.ere at this season when they should be attending to their regular business. Mr. Speaker, the Government is condemned by . the wo·rds of its own advocates and supporters. I can't see for the life of me why we are opening the House at this time of the year. In 1917, Sir Edward Morris attended the Imperial Conference.

He did not get back to Newfoundland until late in the season and even then it was said that the House should have been opened while he was away. It is against the best interests O · f · this country for the opening of the House to be delayed to this tiine of the year. There is no excuse for it. The Gov­ ernment know how this House is con­ stituted. They kno· w that the best interests of this country cannot be served as this House is constituted at the present time.

There ts not sufficient strength of numbers on the Government side, and there is no spirit of determination to p·ut through legislation that this country needs, and is languishing for. This Speech from the Throne ,the only thing tang­ ible about it is the paper on which it is written. I have often heard the expression that the speech is remark­ able for what it does not contain. Could anything be more applicable to this Speech. The Lea.der of the Op­ position has said that if it had a black b·order around it, it would be regarded as an obituary notice of the Govern­ ment. Mr.

Speaker, it is ghostly in its nak.edness. There is nothing ma­ terial about it. It is not even pa.dded. It is a most gloomy document. Those who read this speech and especially the part referring to the industries of this country will abandon all hope. The people residing on the coast will ' take to the woods. And then they can't stay there, because there are too· many there already, seeking em­ ployment and finding none.

Of course there are many things in connectio · n with the policy of the Gover ·nm.ent that this Speech from the Throne do not contain and it shall be our privil­ ege to refer to. some of these things later on in the session. There are many things that justify c,r~ticism and time has told that many of the criticisms of the Opposition side of the House during the last few ses­ sions were amply justified. Last year the Finance Minister gave Mr. Pud­ dester a financial statement which set forth the financial condition of the country. This year nothing like that has been done. Mr.

Puddester at that time gave a comparative statement of expenditure for the years 1923-24 and 1924-25. It will be remembered that this Government came into power in 1924 and the House met on July 10th, 1924. In presenting his Budget the Finance Minister stated that he did not have time to make a new Budget \

28 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS but that he had accepted the figures left at his office by Mr. Cave, his predecessor. The expenditure state­ ment for 1924-25 was six hundred thousand dollars less than what it was for 1923-24. But the present Government cannot take any credit for decreasing that expenditu_re · . It was there in black and white for them. On the contrary, every yea.r since this Government came into · pow­ er expenditure has increased.

The Finance Minister's intentions might have been good but he did not have the courage to put them into · pr·ac­ tice We have been going ahead in­ creasing O ·ur expenditure at such a rate that for 1926-27 we actually voted over a million dollars more than what was voted for 1924-25 COMPARAT ·IVE STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE ' 1924-25 1926-27 Increase Decrease Finance Dept. .... .... . ... $3,438, 776.45 $3,801,489.38 $332, 712.93 Colonial Secy. .... .... .... 67 ,179.00 61, 757.00 $5,422.00 Justice Dept. .... .... ...... 341.479.16 372,017.92 30,538. 76 56,625.50 86,899.40 97,402.90 30,970.66 56,491.38 66,173.52 13,235. 75 Education Dept. .... .... 836.351.03 892,977.53 Public Charities .... .... 376,861. 71 463, 761.11 Marine & Fisheries .... 335,589.39 430,992.29 Agric. & Mines .... .... 78,190.00 109,160.66 Public Wo·rks .... .... .... 938,098.57 1,095,039.95 Posts & Telegraphs .... 1,146,397.83 1,213,571.35 Customs Dept. .... .... .... 439,552.25 , 452, 788.00 Assessors Dept. .... .... 14,840.00 15,120.00 280.00 Acct.

Conting. .... .... .... 184,617.00 216,992.00 32,375.00 Pension Bd. Comm. .... 651,766.00 618,550.00 33,216.00 $834,156.80 Decrease .... 38,638.00 $795,518.80 $38,638.00 Interest on New Loan at 5 per cent ................ $250,000.00 Decrease .... .... .... .... .... .... . ....................... $1,045,518.80 Mr. Puddester can put this com- • parative statement of expenditur · e i.n the Daily News to·-morrow for the information o· f its readers. These are the cold, unvarnished facts.

This is the Government, we were told, that was going to reduce expenditure and reduce taxation, and this country was going to be a fishermen's Paradise and fishermen and their families were going to live in pea.ce and content­ ment. This is what Mr. Monroe · cir­ culated thro ·ugho ·ut the length and breadth of this country in 1924 when he signed a document said to be his Manifesto. Instead of a fishermen's Increase in Expenditure in two years.

Paradise, the Monroe Government has made this country a fishermen's Pur­ gatory and every bit of ma.nhood and determination men had for the prose­ cution of the fisheries have been purged out of them. Now if the Daily News wants this comparative state­ ment I have on my desk regarding in­ creased expenditure to print to­ morrow they can have it. Having in mind the conditions of this co·untry, I fail to see that any justification can be given for that expenditure. But the people of this country do not want any newspaper to tell them about the burdens they have to bear,

' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINCTS 29 in the way of increased cost of living, largely due to increased taxation, and increased public expenditure as, a result of the iniquitous policy of the present Government. What is the good for a person who is physically ill, to be told that his condition is serious, u11less a medicine is pTe­ scribed, or a surgical operation is performed, that will eradicate · the d. ? F. roots or ca use of the is ease. igur- atively speaking, this country requires a surgical operation by the applica­ tion of the pruning knife to cut out the cancerous growth of waste and extravagance.

The Prime Minister says: "We need • drastic legislation," 'but his Govern- ment is too weak and cowardly to introduce that legislation. For news­ papers to cajole and apolo .gise for the actions of the Government is abso­ lutely wortl1less, for the people know by sad experience what the conditions are under which they live. And what are we doing about it? What are we doing about it? And then we won­ der-the Honourable Leader of the Government wonders why the· people are dissatisfied-the electors are dis- i satisfied, and the members of his own ~ party are dissatisfied. Is it any won­ der?

It is said that the men who left the ranks of the Government are held up to ridicule. Called traitor.s ! These ; men \Vere elected to this House to · · I support a policy. The members of the Monroe administratio · n were elect­ ed to support a policy; that was al­ right, but did the Government try to put tl1at policy i11 effect? There is a difference in being elected to support a party and being elected to sup·port a policy. They have been elected tC\ support a policy, and that policy has b8en thrown to the four winds of Heaven, and no attempt made to put it i11to effect.

That brings me to the point as to the policy under which the Mo11roe Party was elected. I was in an election campaign in St. John's East also and I have an echo of some­ thing used there. Here are extracts from your Mani­ festo:- "The cost of the public service must be reduced a.nd efficiency in­ creased." "I promise that, if given power I shall cause a careful investigation to be made in the financial methods of the country, and I shall enforce a policy of wise economy and retrench­ ment." "Public expenditure must 1be dras­ tically reduced." Ca. n you wonder at men leaving you, Mr.

Leader of the Government, when you promised that, and when instead of reducing you have in­ creased expenditure by one and a quarter millio ·ns in three short years? And we don't know where the end is yet. "Expenditure must be drastical­ ly reduced,"-and you wo.nder why you are unpopular and why your men are leaving you! "The House of As­ sembly should meet in January or February." This is the wrong time to have the House open, and we are not told why the opening is delayed.

Some people are unkind e_nough to say it was because Captain Winsor went to the Ice, and that he said he didn't ca.re whether they opened the House or not, he was going to the Ice. CAPT. WINSOR-It would be bet­ ter if some members of the Opposi­ tion would go to the Ice and bring some revenue into the country. MR. · HALFYARD-I am tired hear­ ing you get off that trash, as if nobody . but a Winsor could successfully com­ mand a sealing steamer. Now, if all the Winsors and all the Keans and Barbours, and Halfyards, too, were dropped out,: , somebody wo1uld be found to take their places and go on.

Why prolong the agony? It is patent to everyone-the blunders and incon­ sistencies o· f the Government. I wouldn't mind a. man making a bl un. ­ der so·metim .es, ·but the whole lot of - •

30 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS us are suffering for it. We speak of the "Country"-"Save the Country." What do we mean-the hills, trees and rivers? It is nice to live in a coun­ try where there is lovely scenery to inspire~the plains are monotonous. But the man who goes out thro ·ugh the Narrows in his boat to drag the wealth from the ocean, it is no in­ spiration to view the Southside Hills and see its catharacts and streams, if he ca11't market his fish. And what are we doing about it? We are doing i1othing; it is hopeless-but still we are here. Not one of us should be · here!

We should be out of it and giving our places to better men. We are simply hanging on to· get our se~­ sional pay, others to get positions of emolument. The Country is going to the dogs! No beneficial legislation can be brought in, ·owing to the consti­ tution of the Ho·use at the present time, and still we stick to our jobs. But enough of that! Now let us get down to this docll­ ment, which is · very disappointing, having in mind that which affects the welfare of every man, woman and child in the country, that is ,its staple industry.

From that point of view I criticize the Speech, and say that nothing material or promising ls in it. Reference is made in the first paragraph to the settlement of the Labrador Boundary question. We are all delighted that the case before the Privy Council was decided in our favor. The potential value of the La­ brador · may be great; it may run into hundreds of millions, but that is prob­ lematic.

I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I recall that jn 1925, when we were considering the Re-Distribution Bill, I took occasion to refer to the Labrador Boundary question, and by reference to Hans­ ard I find tl1at the statements I made then were practically correct, if not critically so.

I then took the trouble to look up all the data on the ques­ tion from the historic point of view, of the commercial value of the Lab­ rador, and the opinions of learned men as to our claims to that piece of territory. · I said then the areas involved were about 120 .thousand square miles, \Vhich was pretty nearly correct, for it turned out to be 110,000, which allowed for a point of territory given to the Canadians at Blanc Sablon.

It was said then that one third of the area was timber land; well, one-third of say 120,000 square miles i.s 40,000 square miles of tim.ber limits-allowing six cords to the. acre, and there are 640 acres in a square miles, at $1.00 a cord that would be $153,600,000.00. Then as regards water power, I said that the water po.wer was worth $200,000,000, that is com­ pared with the value given for water power in Ireland and other places, where the data is given. Take elec­ tric farming.

In some cases power has been transmitted 800 miles, to places where the climate and soil would yield nothing, have been heat­ ed by electric power. (Reads) Sometimes, you know, in tl1e course of my remarks I take the trouble to repeat something that other people have said that may be of value. Now in 1925, I made some remarks in connection with representation for Labrador. Now we own Labrador and we have no provision for represent­ ation in this Assembly. Therefore you will have to amend the Election Act this session, and give Labrador representation.

Now you have all this trouble because you did not take my advice. And although I say it myself, if you had taken my advice in other matters also, you would be better off than you are to-d,ay. I trust that Labrador will · be of great value to. us. Whether in the years to come conditions will im- • prove ,and we will be able to develop · it ourselves, or whether we will turn it into cash, it is a matter of opinion. I am not here to express an opinion

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS on it. But if we can get a $100,000,- 000 for it I think that we should get clear of it as quickly as possible. (Reads) It is said in the Speech that the Income Tax Act will again be enacted. Now I know the Leader of the Gov­ ernment and more particularly the . Minister of Finance, will give me credit if nobody else does for advo­ cating the continuation of that tax. I think we on this side of the House gave ou· r reasons why it should be continued. Then we were increasing our general tariff, which was incon­ sistent on the part of the Govern­ ment.

Conditions in this country are such that this tax may be an objec­ tionable one. But all taxes are. But when you are leaving the wealthy free from any extra taxation and put­ ting it on those who can least afford to bear it, then I say that that is a very bad and unwise policy. I am sorry to see that conditions in this country are causing you to intimate in th'e- Speech from the Throne, that the Income Tax will again be put on the Statute Book. Last year, a11d this is worth repeating, I a.sked a question of the Assessor as to who paid their income tax.

In reply to that question ' I was told who did, not individuals but those who paid according to their income. I was curious to know whether the tax was paid by men with incomes of one thousand or two thousand dol­ lars or by people or corporations with incomes ranging from six thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. We find that 45 corporations and 1042 individ­ uals paid forty-five thousand dollars on incomes from $1000 to $6000. The total collected for the year, accord­ ing to the statement given me, was $338,000.00, $45,000 paid by 45 cor­ porations and 1042 individuals.

The balance of $292,330.97 was paid by corporations, not ma.ny of them . , and individuals with incomes ranging from $6.000 to $100,000. I advocated then to the Minister of Finance and Customs to take the

schedule of taxes paid jn Canada, and increase the exemptions up to $2,000 for a young man and $3,000 or $4,000 for a married man. I hope that is what he is go·ing to do when 11e brings in the Act. And the sad part of it is that we have lost about one million dollars during the last three years. And it is reported by the Prime Minister that we have a deficit of two and a half million dol­ lars, including the railway. Now I ask yo11 is it right for any individual living in this country under the pre­ sent conditions to be relieved of a legitimate tax, a just tax.

It is just as well to put the money in the Treasury as to have it left as be­ quests in wills, while the laborer and the fishermen, the sick and the dis­ abled are taxed and taxed out of ex­ istence. There is a reference here in the Speech from the Throne to the cod­ fishery. (Reads) Here the fisheries of Newfoundland are dismissed with two short para­ graphs. There is nothing said as to what is going to be done . to try to remedy this condition of things. To­ wards the end of the Speech there is reference to the Gander.

I trust that when the Bill is presented that it will be of such a nature that it will re­ ceive the approval of this House. But we must be very careful. We must not allow slipshod legislation to pass through this House, as it has happen­ ed in the last two or three sessions. This has been a great mista .ke. We must not take anything for granted. I trust that the Minister of Justice will be a little more careful this year, concerning anything co·ming under his Department. It is ridiculous that Bills are brought into this House and tl1en have to be thrown o·ut again.

We come now to the crux of this Speech from the Throne. That is that there will be a deficit on current •

32 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS account for the year 1926-1927. The Prime Minister said the d8ficit on the railway was three-qua.rters of a million, which makes the total deficit two and a quarter millio · n dollars. But, Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in this Speech as to how we are go­ ing to meet this deficit. Major Cashin's statements of some time ago it appears are not far out we will find when accounts are tabled and we get a true statement of re­ ceipts and expenditures. No sugges­ tion is made in the Speech as to how we are going to meet this deficit.

The country was never in such a hop·eless mess; financially and industrially; when we think of our staple indus­ tries, the cod and herring fisheries. There is not a word in the Speech as to how we a.re going to meet this deficit; not a word about reducing ex­ penditure. We can only come to the conclusion that . the Government in­ tends if they stay here long enough, to introduce another loan bill of three or four millions and when they get it to pay off the deficit. How long is this condition of things to last.

If you pursue your present policy of ex­ penditure you will certainly have to meet another deficit next year. We cannot go on borrowing indefinitely. Eleven and a. half million dollar'S in three short years. Now, a prospect of four or five millions. Fifteen millions in three years, with interest of seven hundred and · fifty thousa .nd dollars. That is what this poor, down-trodden country tl1at we are all bleeding for will have to pay.

Unfortunately the producer is being bled, and you are helping to bleed him as a result of paying an extra seven-hundred and fifty thousand dollars interest on pub­ lic debt in three short years, what 11ave you to show? You have rerailed the railway, given us a dock ,and a highroads tourist policy. We ar· e not one cent's worth better off than be­ fore you spent that money, when we • consider the increase in the earning power of the people, not one cent greater income. The dock is operated the same as before. The railway is safer, but has it increased transport­ ation or freight?

I a. m only pointing out co·nditions in the country as com-, pared to conditions in the country when you took charge. Your high­ roads policy of spending two million dollars is creating a liability unless you wish the roads to be torn up· and the money be gone for nothing. You have spent $2,212,000.00 on roads and now have the liability of spending an­ other half million to keep them in re­ pair and still nothing can be done for the staple industries O · f this co·un­ try either by word, a.ct, or gesture, eitl1er by the State or the Exporters.

The Government and 90 per c·ent. of tl1e exporters should be marooned on some desert island and made to exist on mussels and seaweed. The men of the country are leaving its shores. Unfortunately not only are the men leaving but they are taking their fam­ ilies with them and leaving their homes.

The Prime Minister, no doubt, as a result of his three years' experience is a sadder and a wiser man tha. n when he assu .med office and· took control of the Government, and if we could read his thoughts and know his feelings, we would see, I do not doubt, that he would wish that he had never attempted to try and lead a party and lead a government. But he assumed the responsibility and now he has come to the conclusio · n that he ca.n't do anything for the best interests of the country, and he can't get any legislation passed that he knows should be passed, he should re­ sign and let somebody else take charge.

Let the country decide. Get a mandate from the country; then I trust that whatever Government comes back shall be sufficiently strong in numbers and determined in spirit to do somethi11g· for the country by way of legislation. We. have been living

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 33 largely O · n loans for the last three years, for a number of years, and no. w we a.nticipate another one. Is it not time to cry halt? Was it not a mis­ calculation of the Finance Minister last year? He anticipated a surplus, I understand, and now he has to come in and tell us that there is a deficit of one and a half millions. Of course, it is said that only a mem.ber of the Opposition is talking and all he says is only for political purposes. No doubt the Prime Minister was told, "Don't listen to a word that crowd over there sa.y. We are tired listen­ ing to them.

They don't mean a word they say." You don't want to be a philosopher or prophet, you only want ordinary common-sense and some consideration of the conditions and commercial history of the country, r.o know that you are going to have some lean years, and what may be regarded as fat years. In 1924, when you as­ sumed office everything seemed rosy and bright. In those days the p·ro­ poser and seconder of the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne said that there was going to be no more unemployment, and gen­ erally, spoke of bright prospects.

Those things happened when every­ thing looked promising, and it went on so for about twelve months. As a result we got big revenue for 1924- 1925, but what caused that revenue was the good price for fish and con­ struction work at the Humber. There you had a big revenue, but it is only the act of irresponsibles that when you have a good year, you spend every cent of your revenue, and increase your liabilities. That is what you did by a policy of spending over two millions on highroads with no idea of getting returns.

Money was wasted in every department of the Govern­ ment. · A boat was sent down to Low­ er Labrador that was not necessary. The Earl of Devon cost about $16,- 000.00, in 1925. The Watchful last the situation no'v is we do not know, and will not untli we get a financial statement from the ·Minister of Fin­ ance or a report fro · m the Auditor­ General. On Wednesday last the Leader of the Government waxed vir­ tually eloquent in a. n appeal to the members of this side of the House not to talk too long, and suggested that some two or three me'mbers be deput­ ed to present the case for the Oppo­ sition.

Was there ever heard such a suggestion made by a Prime Minister before? My good friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Mines, knows that I am not going to let any.body talk f O · r me any more than he would. I am here to do my duty and to talk for my constituents, and for the country, and I shall do so whether it is July, August or September, or whether it is daylight or dark. If the Opposition are not going to criticize the Govern­ ment, who is going to do it? It is our privilege to represent our griev­ ances, and we are going to do it whether you like it or not.

It is not always very pleasa .nt for us to do so. It is said you cannot have good Gov­ ernment without strong Opposition. Under our party system of Govern­ ment you must have an Opposition, and members on this side are expected to criticise beca .use members of the other side will not. The only criticism that will be m.ade by members on the other side is in the secrecy of the party caucus. I have some little experience and I know what I am talking about. The Hon. the Prime Minister has a mis­ conception of the duties of the mem­ bers of the Opposition.

It is our bounden duty to criticize and one o.f the most ancient privileges of Parlia­ ment even before party Government was introduced into the House of Commons in England, was to make criticisms, present grievances, and ask for redress. The other side o.f the House abandoned that and this year cost about $45,000.00. How g_ra:ve. IDO$t :ancient function of Parliament •

34 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS was left to this side of the House, and it is the bounden duty and privilege of every honourable member on this side of the Ho·use to express his opin­ ion on any matter which affects the welfare of the community. Is it be­ cause the Government f.or political expediency has postponed the open­ ing of the Legislature to· this season of the year which is most inco ·nvenient to the members an. d to the country that the rights and privileges of the members of the Opposition are to be curtailed.

We know that the Govern­ ment under the Monroe regime is far­ cical and is becoming a byword a.nd a reproach, and as time advances the damaging effects of its policy is be­ coming daily more appa .rent, which are causing people to say, "We are not fit to govern ourselves," an. d are talking of Royal Commissions. What a terrible and appalling position we are in; under a three­ year administratio · n of a Monroe Gov­ ernment. A country that was de­ scribed by the Honourable Leader of the Governm .ent in a Manifesto signed by him in May, 1924, as a fisherman ·s Paradise.

Thousands of fishermen are saying 'if it was a fishermen's Paradise three years ago, it is now a fishermen's Purgatory, and are not only leaving the country themselves but are taking their families with them, and then we are not to make lengthy remarks, and two or three men on this side of the House should be selected to speak on the "Address in Reply" for the "Whole of the Op­ position. I don't want any man to speak for me either on this side of the Ho.use or the other side of the House.

My constituents expect me to speak my opinion of the Govern­ ment, and the country demands me to speak, a.nd that applies to every member of the Oppostiion, and I would not insult a member of the Opposition by suggesting that some­ one else sp·eak for him. Furth~r, wny if any Administration that ever existed in the history of this country deserved criticism surely it is the Administration on the other side of the House, and the trouble is that in the past it has paid no 11eed to advice or criticism.

If they · had listened to criticism fro · m th'is side of the House they wo·uld not be in the hole they a.re to-day. Did not this side of the House tell the Prime Minister in the session of 1925 that the policy of expenditure outlined by him, which means the spending of millions of dollars on visionary pro­ jects and pl1blic works, would lead you to financial ruin and chaos. What you were told from this side of the House you know, by sad experitnce, was only too true.

You were told less than twelve months after you took charge that your policy was a made one; some of us knew what we were talking about, that your policy would bring disaster, debt and diffi­ culty to the country. You did not heed the warning which was given, as far as I was concerned, with sin­ cerity; you were told that the country was disa .ppointed and alarmed.

They expected that you would make an attempt to put into effect some of your election promises, and reduce taxation and expenditure; you were elected for this purpose and you fell down on your job; you were told that you were condemned by the country, and you, Mr. Prime Minister, said at the time, "The country would not judge you by nine short months of power." You were told that if you ' were to bring about the necessary re- forms for which you were elected that you should begin at the very begin­ ning of your Administration, and yo. u would have four years to live down the unpopularity that possibly may arise.

But for lack of experience you listened to some of your partners in the Executive Government who told you that was part of the game of the Opposition to oppose any policy of the Government. You thought you were

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS 35 sincere yourself, but you gave the Opposition no credit for sincerity and their experience, and scornfully ig­ nored their warnings. What is the result, as I have already said we are now faced with debt, difficulty and disaster. You are a discredited Gov­ ernment, and if the result of the bye­ election in St. John's East is any criterion of the feeling of the people of this country, and it is, it is ques­ tionable if you were to. appeal to the country at the present time whether your candidates would gain a seat in the whole country. The Government must certainly realize this.

But you are there and you must carry on e>r drag along for a few months longer. I presume you intend to vote Supply although you have not told us how you propose to get ways and means to pay your bills after making your commit­ ments, I suppose you intend to ask the House to give you authority to borrow a few million more to pay our account. A private business concern in a similar deplorable financial con­ dition would be put in liquidation overnight.

Scores of fi.shermen planters with 50 per cent. better col­ lateral security than the Government cannot borrow a hundred dollars or get credit to prosecute the fisheries and have to leave the country. I would like to refer now to a ques­ tion asked the Leader of the Govern­ ment by the Leader . of the Oppositio11 on opening day, namely, as to what the intention of the Government was with regard to the holding of a Gen­ eral Election next Autumn.

I would like to point out to the House that . ' according to constitutio .nal law, re- specting the length of life of a Ho·use of Assembly, "The House of Assembly shall continue, notwithstanding the demise of His Majesty, for four years from the da. y o. n which it shall by Proclamation be appointed to· meet, unless sooner dissolved, and no longer." The House