MAY 3. 1947

i Scores J onesfiéovernment For Ignoring Interests

Of Farmer

gopithet the West River Bridge would be undertaken shortly. and that the Brighton Bridge would follow as unemployment projects huhheed with the assistarce of the Dominion Government. was expressed in the Legislature last acek by Mr. Reginald It. Bell. K. 9., (Conservative), Second Dis- um of Queen's, who touched on this point after roundly scoring the Jones Government for ignor- hu; farmers’ resolutions end oth- pr matters brought before the House.

The surplus budgeted for an ordinary account. Mr. Bell said. pQilllS very strongly towards an election, It was not surprising that there will be a real deficit of ,.-,-er a million dollars. in view of thr- Government's past record in deficits, which total 835175.900 ill four years. These huge liabilities were incurred in the "lush years" oi war and post-war activity. when there were no greet expend- itures on roads or other services, rnzl when there should have bee: .\'ll.“i.. .iai surpluses.

No Cause For Joy

"The leader of the Government crnnot understand why there.is not a great joy over this tax azrcenlcnt being completed." Mr. Prll said. "When he first spoke at it in this House he told us that he had planned for a minimum payment of over three million ioilars. He tolls us now that this 5lll'\‘f‘y made by Mr. Massey was regarded at Ottawa as a master- piece, and we find in that survey that we are entitled to get $1,060,- tixl more than we received. He says the Massey survey is a fair and reasonable one. but we have fallen short by over a million dol- lars in getting what it recom- mended, Why should there be any for? We don't think it enough. We hope to be running the Gov- ernment of this Province in the next few months and we are nat- urally disappointed at the settle- ment. which this administration

' ‘has made.

1

"in the Speech from the Throne Wherr- was no joy in referring (in paragraph 8) to the Dominion- Provincinl Conference. It states simply that this Government par- ticipated in a series of confer- ences on questions of finance. social security and public invest- ments; that in view of the term- ination of the wartime tax agree- ment and in order to avoid the prospect of a return to the pre- war dual system of direct taxation. a Dominion-Provincial arrange- ment had been reached whereby certain provinces agreed to sus- pend the levying of certain taxes for the next. five years; that in return for this concession thr- _1_Jominlon Government is to make -'certain agreed upon compensat- ory payments; and that a. Bill in- tended to implement the provis- ions of this arrangement would be introduced.

Workmen'| Compensation

"l think every member should

forget about party politics and admit that we have not got enough. For instance. why

haven't we got workmen‘s com- pensation in this Province? Why haven't we got widows‘ allow- ances. All the other Provinces that have entered into this agree- mcnt enjoy these benefactions. Ii we got the terms from Ottawa that we should have got. we could tell our widows and labor- ing men that now they will get those allowances.

"it may be said the reason for the lack of a workmen! Compen- sation Act is that industry cannot Day the bill. But we should set enough from Ottawa, so that the Provincial Government could aug- ment the fund. Our farmers Roms to work in the woods oi New Brunswick may be injured and have to come home. They cannot draw any compensation in this Province because we have not i101 a Compensation Act."

M1‘. Dougald MacKinnon: "Isn't the Government better off with regard to revenue now than it was before the war?"

Mr. Bell: "You may be getting more revenue than you were. but the revenue is not sufficient. That is plainly shown by your budget."

Mr. Meoliinnoni "By whet Ulical reason can you argue that we should be better off after a war?"

Mr. Bell: "Some years ago the income tax from this Province amounted to something over $100.- 1100. Last year we paid ln income tax almost three million dollars."

Mr. MacKlnnon: "But we have

' seventeen billion dollars of a wer ' debt."

Premier Jones: "What do you think would be, the income tax llmlied here if we did not enter into the agreement. What tax

l would the Province have to put "'1 1° Bet as much as this agree- ment? You would have two in-

_=0me taxes. wouldn't you."

Mr. Bell: "we have two corp-

ifiraiion taxes new."

Ieloonwood Coetb

Resuminl the debate on ‘inure- 111- Anni a4. w. Bell noted that ihe estimated costs at Palecnwood are 8217.000. He recalled a speech ""1119 by the present Minister of futile Works in 1030. complem- 118 0i the expenditure of $110,000 ""1 11-min; that a saving of 170-000 could be made there; also '1 ‘P1101 by the present ieader of 11' t that

l so. a. a sun rm: would

Constituents

Mr. R. R. Bell

‘$71? last report we Ed

stclns. eight mares and gcldings. 9 purebred Yorkshire sows and boars. and with farm equipment. The account; show that for that ycar the farm

operated with a deficit of $3.744, despite the fat-t. that they had 4500 days of free labor. That

would be the labor of fifteen men 11111111118 51X 1101b a week, free. If 1.110 11118111055 Wag properly run at; Falconwood farm, I can't imagine how any farmer orb the Island is able to make ends meet. It is a shame to think that the insti- tution there, with all this farm property and equipment. have had to buy its own sup- plies."

Eggs and Potatoes

‘Nfr. Bell went on to show that $1.555 of potatoes had been pur- chased from one man alone. He

strawberries. turnips. three different persons totalling about $1.600. etc. In the year shown by the last Public Ac- counts they had lfi acres of potatoes with an estimated crop of 2.000 bushels; yet they had to. buy more. \Vas there any reason‘ why someone could not be put in charge of a flock of hens to sup-f ply the institution with all its‘ eggs? I

“A year ago the Premier told' us he was going to make a change; They had a new man appointed as manager. a Mr. Roper, But. things have gone from bad worse, I understand there is a move on now to make a new ap-. pointment. The man. I believed is Mr. Gurney. I think he would. make a splendid official. If you put him there, or a man of his calibre, and pay him a good sa1-1 ary he can save you thousands of, dollars.

Premier Juries: "I may tell my| hon. friend that Mr. Gurney isl there. and we have the chickens

eggs from

there." Mr. :Bell: “How long ago was‘ Mr, Gurney appointed?"

Premier Jones: "He has bcen1 thvrc for the la=l three years."

Mr. Bell: "As herdsman, but: not as manager." i

Premier Jones: "He has been. manager since first of thef year." g

Mr. Bell: "I hope you pay him good money. so that he can make] a success there."

the

said he‘

Continuing. Mr. Bell understood that 1.000 chickensl have been purchased for- thei

farm. He hoped they would have| more success with this flock than with the last, which turned out to be an expense rather Qian a1 profit.

Bread Weight Changed

Hc noted from tlic Accounts that $7,677 was spent for bread‘ at Palconwood. The Government.’ this year has sccn fit to change the weight of the loaf from 24 ounces to 20 ounces, with no pro-I vision for a corresponding price, reduction; so that its bread bill at Falconwood will be higher from now on. 1

Hon. Ml'. Stewart: "'I‘hat will not come into effect except by

order-in-council." Mr. Bell: "You have already given Charlottetown power to

legislate the size of the loaf, and Oharottetown has already legis- iated." ‘

Mr. Stewart: "We don't dictate theprlce to them." Mr. Bell: “The price remains

Hthe same. and that will put the cost of bread at Falccnwood up over $1300."

Mr. Stewart: “That is only your interpretation of the Act."

Mr. Bell: "Why put an Act through the House if it was not intended to be enforced?"

Premier Jones: "We were told that the bread that was brought in here from the mainland was 20 ounces."

enumerated other items, such as M

Ti a serious offence." He went m to warn that if the Government ‘ exercised its power and made com- pulsory the reduction in leaf from '24 to 10 ounces, it would mean lthat the poorer citizens would be the sufferers,

Hon, Mr. Stewart: "We have not done so."

Mr. Bell: "I am glad to hear that." -

load Maintenance

Dealing with public works, Mr. Bell urged that men be appoint- ed permanently to patrol each QO-mile stretch of hard-surfaced road, under a superintendent- and florcmen, and with proper equip- meat-to keep the roads in condi- tion all the year around, It is not in midsummer that the roads suffer. but in the winter, spring and fall, he pointed out. Thous- lands of dollars‘ damage can be done in a single day. flue to lack of attention.

The people demand that the pavements be plowed in winter. but if ‘not properly drained the snow piled on the sides makes |gutters between the pavement and shoulder of the rgud_ These drains must be kept open,

Hon. Mr. Barbour: “It sounds easy as the membe has stated it. but when the snow has been Dlowed over a stretch of road and

there isla farm at Faiconwocd ofgutters ‘are filled up with snow, that the Gov -7.) nclc... with n herd of 42 Hoi- you might divert it to the side of aged this

"the road but the whole would have to be shovelled

ditch out

all necessary, before the water would run down, business.

and that would be a pretty cost- ‘ly business."

i Mr. MaoKenzle: "As long as ‘they plow the roads in the win- ,ter time it will be pretty hard to ’1<0€D the roads up in the spring" i Mr. Bell: “If we, are going into .11115_ eXi-‘ienditure I feel that the ;Minlster should prepare to hove ithe patrol working every day, ‘Perhaps another type of plow ;should be used to put the snow back further. There will be no'

should fault found with the Minister if out of business?" '

.119 W111 501 11D B. Permanent road: patrol." .

_Mr. Barbour agreed that this1. 11118111: be practicable, especially in the hilly sections. '

N0 Deputy

Discussing upkeep cf clay roads, r. Bell said the Cavendish-May- field road had not been ditched since 1934, and urged that it be given attention this year. He quoted an item from The Guard-' fan complaining of the condition of this road.

Hon. Mr. Barbour: "I had couple of ladies in the other day. about it." 1 i Mr. Bell: "You will likely have

more if it is not fixed. I note that t

my hon. friend the Minister is still without a Deputy. He should have one right away. True, there are no byeiections this year, but if there is a. general election we won't be able to see the Minister at all. Therefore the Deputy should be on the job."

Noting that the Minister had been “taken to task" for moving a building during the by-election campaign in Second Prince, Mr. Bell said it always happened, by a strange coincidence. that the persons to benefit from such tran- sactions were strong partisans of the government in power.

Mr. Barbour: "That didn't hep- pen at Cornwall, did it?" I

Mr. Bell: "The Minister has ex- piained an isolated case, where he caught a foreman using govern- mcnt machinery to_ haul a bulld-' lng. and he put a stop to that; but since that time several other incidents have taken place. I am not blaming the Minister. because I believe he didn't know. But. buildings are being moved."

Hon, Mr. Campbell: "Do you believe in that kind of thing?" |

Mr. Bell: "No." I

Mr. Campbell: "Do you believe in machinery being used for clearing land?" .

Mr. Bell: "Not es a general policy. There is too much work for the machines to do. ‘There arc many people in the district: requiring the use of these trac- tors, and I have heard the Min- ister complain about the short- age of machines. Why certain persons should get the privilege of using them to haul houses or other buildings several miles over the road I don't know; but know it happened on several oc-l caslons last fall. I think it should be stopped: and the Minister should know. if he does not know. what is going on."

Minister's Order

—, Mr. Barbour: "The i- ing condition has been very bad. Returned men have been asking for houses to be moved. I have‘ never given anyone permission to‘ move a building, but I haven't interfered as much as I should, perhaps. with the members who wanted e building moved in their districts. Now I would like to in- form all members that I am go- ing to notify all men in charge of plows. tractors or graders that they are not to do any lanes for anybody. We have more con-' tractors now with machines, and I am going to give a written order." t

Dr. MaoMillan: "You did the

Mr, Strong: “That is not so."

Premier Jones: "My hon. friend ‘is correct. I have two labels here. and they are marked 24 ounces."

Mr. Strong: "I have another one here."

Mr. Strong: "And I have an- other one. 50 you needn't worry about it being brought in.

Mr. Bell: "You should have made that explanation before. be- cause many of our citizens are complaining. Charlottetown el- resdy has a bylaw allowing only 24 ounces to be sold here."

Mr. Morley Bell: "I understand there is no loaf that is being sold at 24 ounces. The I4 ounce loaf sold in Bummeralde only averages about n ounces." h

lanes in the Second District of Prince." ' M1‘. Bell: "If we have a gen- eral election this summer there will be e great demand on the ,Minister's road machinery. to do ‘these lanes or haul buildings. am glad he has sent this intima- ti n out for the future." ! 1 e commended the in aee in deachers‘ salaries. If composite’ high schools are established. still higher salaries will have to paid. he pointed out. 1 The estimate of liquor profits

last year. Mk. Bell noted, was for 0205.000. while the actual profits were between five pod six hundred thousand dollars, The Treasurer. .wes away out in his calculations. Premier Jones: "Home people

be to build an elevator, would they?"

THE CHARLUYFETOWN GU ARDIAIY

drink more than they should."

Mir. Bell: “He should have watched that. and I was some- what surprised to hear so little mention made of this from Gov- ernment benches, because it has not been so many years since the conservative Party was castigat- ied for having 814.000 oi.’ liquor profits. This year helf a million and not a word said! Even the hon. member from Fourth Prince is silent."

Hon. Mr. Wright: "My hon. ‘friend is not blaming me for the increase in liquor consumpti-n?"

1W1". Bell: No, but I would ex- pect that you would condemn this huge sale of liquor."

i, M13 W118i“: “I think I stated before in this House that owing to the fact that a lot of the mem- bers on both sides voted for this amendment. it was their responsi- bllity."

Dr. MacMilian: "None of them resigned."

1 Mr. Bell: "Therefore you are perfectly satisfied?"

i M11 Wright: "I didn't say so."

Mr- B011: “Well, you are not

rflsins any Objection." Hon. Mr. Campbell: “This was a mild winter. There was a lot

of sickness." rLaughter).

Huge Profits Mr. Bell: “There is no doubt ernrnent has encour- saie. The Provincial T193511?" Bot twice as much last year as he budgeted for in m]; This year he is bud- geting for $500,000 profits and 1'

suppose with the ide f ttt ' a o 5e “g1 Hon. Mr. Campbell said he was he is hitched he will try some-

a million or more. ‘Phat money helps him out with his deficit, But I don't think that it should be Dressed. We voted with the idea that that amendment would make the Act more workable. Has it done so?"

' of money given out in the next few years, and some of it might be diverted to that purpose. Any- way there was a resolution brought in here the other day. There is] 1) no one can say it was not well —1————— ——- —— drhwn up; 1e urged the retool-b 2.14/1, that had five winning tlon of the freight subvention and 1111111119“ 111 5"" 5111115 11151 5°11‘ said if that was taken off we‘5°"- t. ‘ ‘I . should have an eievat r i Ch -. loteemwhg- o n M. For years Dr. H. M. Parshali

Premier- Jones; “I u-ah; my hon‘ g1 Urbaina, $10!. was ‘tlhe ‘leading friend to understand th t V" 11 91' c" ‘n P" 1°‘

iwork with the Federauzn 51111511 l! P=11111P= 111* “'51 1111111-

lAgriculture, and when they bring ‘>111? ‘m 1131111113 and 511°°111K- H‘? l thi iti . gave Peter Astra his record f ,§',em_..°' "m" 1"“ we h°°d.2.011/. and Jane awn her 1.5911,-

Mr, pelt; "who ehe resohmon tab. These are Just two specim- yesterday on potato prices from the Farmers’ Federation?"

Premier Jones: ii: was."

M; Ben; “yet you showed It to out no one can say. but they do go through," think for themselves and have

Premier Jones: "It didn't tk 5°“ memmles: “I have 5°14 much “men on that resolution‘: e|horses." said the Doctor, "and

Mr_ Bel]; “Ne; but a similar years later have them recognize, :r:"‘"::":. "t": ‘or, one.;:::..;°‘2:..:"“.;:.":::: i:...:::‘:.:'

e0 e ouse.an w. bdi ' down, 1 note that, the M13513. Zryears. They adopt different atti-

[Agrloulture didn't; put in l plewtudes towards different handlers,

ifor that rggglutl-L" -'I‘hey know whether a handler

1 Hem M,‘ Stewart. “Because uillkes or fears them and they viviii

was gumed down u; the F-ederbltry to take advantage of one with‘

tlon of Agriculture meeting, fonmck‘. they WW1‘! "W" "Y 1111

s. very good reueohy- " another. I'm certain some of

of

The Back Stretcli

(Continued from Page a

.He believes that standard bred

m, Bel]; 111315 the pedenmonthem. at least, have a sense of Agriculture suggest to you 1111mm’- 1 + 1- 4- + I

that it should not come before the House, and ask you to vote against it?" Mr. Stewart negative.

“After a horse has been scolded ,or punished, or made to trot fast- the er than he wanted to go, I have, seen him watching me with a‘ cunning look, as if thinking: ‘How can I get even with that fellow?'1 .I know then that the‘ next time‘

replied in

"Too Much Time"

not opposed to the Conservative thing. They know the difference resolution. but he had no author-between training brushes and 111’ to discuss it, "They thought real races, and, like people, they ii; would take up too much time,";hate the drudgery of training as he added. much as they like racing. The

Mr. Bell: "Too much time? A real champions know days ahead

Mr. Linkletter: "'I‘hey ten new men to put the 511111918 0111'» Q! business."

Mr. Bell: "Did they put them

ire moon-

I Mr, Linkletter: “I think so.’ i

M1‘. Bell: "In Summerside?" ' Mr. Linkletter: "None there1 now."

Mr. Bell: "It used to be pretty' chronic in Summerside." Mr. Morley Bell: "'I‘here are no‘

moonshiners in Summerside to- day]. I Mr. Linkletter: “They cart 1

moonshine there from Charlotte-l town." ,

Mr. R. R. Bell: "That is why, I spoke about it. We alwaysi have moonshiners in Charlotte-i town. but for some reason or other] Summerslde is dried up."

l-lon. Mr. Campbell: "They changed the name over and they call it ‘daylight’ now." trough-l er).

Mr. Bell: "It is still called] ‘Slireech’. lthink, down here." went on to express the hope that1 liquor sales had reached the saturation point. When the Act was changed it was only natural that there should be an increase m liquor consumption. That con- dition should be watched carefully and not allowed to develop furth- er, and thus made a "tool" for revenue purposes by the Govern. ment. He noted that new ven- dors’ shops were being opened, and others enlarged.

Hon. Mr. Prowse: “Do you want the thing 'put into the hands of the moonshiners again?"

Mr. Leslie Hunter: "The moon- shiners will be back when the molasses becomes available."

Mr. Bell went on to comment 0n the fact that the Department of Justice was no longer in the Provincial Building, where it was supposed to be. With this de- partment selling two million dol- iare worth of liquor each year, its duties must be greatly in- creased. It has become the big- best revenue department of gov- ernment, and should have a great deal of supervision.