1941 Q

“NODYEMBER

PROGRESSIVE‘

L-AGRIGIILTIIRE -

We will immediately proceed to bring about ii complete reorganization of the Department of Agri- culture, so this institution of government may be transformed into a province-wide Instrument of Agri- cultural Leadership, embracing within its scope of

service, for particular attention, those 'more remote ,

and hitherto neglected areas of the Province. ELABORATION or AGRICULTURE-

(a) In as_ much as the present system of soil analy- sis has proved impractical, ineffective and of no material value to Island farmers in genera we will inaugllffl" ‘l Pfoctical system whereby the soil of every producing farm in the Province, and where deemed advisable, farms now aband- oned, may be tested to determine chemical- de- ficiency.

I) We will provide a "Field Service" that will be adequately competent to recommend and co- operate with producers in having corrections and recommendations applied in line with discover- ies made through such soil analysis.

(c) We will encourage greater production of home grown grain from land thus newly enriched and stimulated, but on an intensive rather than ex- pansive scale, to the end that labor, and other incidental outlay involved, and constituting cost of production, be held to a_ minimum.

(d) We will encourage a gradual, but sane, increase in livestock production for commercial consump- tion purposes, and as consistently and rapidly as changing circumstances and approaching pros- pect of markets may warrant. By encouraging specialized breeding of high grade animals rep- resenting cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry,‘ and foxes first for foundation breeding stock on our Island farms, and then for Isalo and export to other areas wherever there may originate a demand.

(e) We will procure and make available to such formers as may require it, the necessary mach- inery for the drainage and ditching of low-lying land. We will assist the farmer by means of a subsidy on grain, pasture andIhay fertilizers. The digging and distribution of muscle mud will be given the some careful consideration as was given when the Mathieson Government inaugur- ated it

2.—FlSNERlES —

The fishing Industry is of tremendous value to our provincial economy and holds forth an oppor- tunity for decent livelihood for a large number of our people, when maintained in,- and enjoying a healthy state of efficiency. Prices for the past year or more haye been deplorably low, while cost of equipment and supplies has soared to illogical levels. The industry must, and will, receive real assistance from the Progressive Conservative party-upon com- ing to power-not just opportune lip service and promises that vanish over night. There will be a’ bold and vigorous policy adopted, that will lead to and include orderly marketing, adequate cold storage facilitiesfand the local processing of the product into a variety of forms that will appeal to and find an outlet in the discriminating markets of the world.

3.—ROAOS -.'

Being fully appraised of the important contri- bution Good Roads can make to the economic pros- perity of our Province, and equally conscious of the utter inadequacy of the service provided for the-past ten years in this respect by the Depart- ment of Public Works, the Progressive Conservative Party will, when elected, completely revolutionize the load Policy of the present administration.

We will introduce and put lnto effect a new Road Act that will provide for proper construction of our main highways and bridges throughout the Province,-—including Brighton and the West River Bridges, as promised by the Honourable John Bracken; the resumption of hard surfacing, as condition of labor and available supplies permit, and we will give immediate priority attention toward the improve- ment of our secondary roads, retrieving them from their present deplorable condition and restoring them to a state of proper usage for public transportation and travel. i

, .

We will introduce a system of permanent Road Patrol tlrat will provide efficient road supervision throughout the year, and with sufficient authority to authorize emergency repairs wherever needed, and until such timeras permanent construction can be

effected. \

I _ .

__We will incorporate In tlrs duties 'of such Road Patrol tlio supervision of all Railroad Level Crossings and similar paints of hazard. onjtravelled roads and highways re the effect that’ all obstructions to vision shall be rsmaved for a sufficient distance as to ren- dogsuclr points Ifroe of avoidable danger.

' .

4.—EOIIOATION -

(a) We recognize the value to the State of a sound- Iy educated people, and the right of every child to acquire an Education adequate to meet its adult-age needs.

\ .-. The Progressive Conservative Party pledges

that, upon assuming the responsibilities of gov- -

ernment again in this Province, we will make such adjustments in our Educational system and practices that our convictions concerning our Educational problems will be satisfied, and every obligation to our children complied with, to the fullest possible extent.

(c) To the end that this may be accomplished, we will work in closest harmony and cooperation \ th the Prince Edward Island Teachers‘ Fed- eration. _

(d) We will olfer generous scholarships to students‘ entering the teaching profession, with a view to continuing therein as a vocation.

(e) We will adjust recent incveases in Teachers‘ salaries, so that urban and rural teachers will benefit on an equitable basis. Discrepancies that have already occurred will be corrected, and further salary increases made,-as rapidly as opportunity occurs.

(t) We will make provision for special remunera- tion increases, to married Teachers under obli- gation to maintain a home and the suppot of a family, and who liave embraced the Teach- ing Profession as a vocation.

(g) We will reintroduce payments to the Teachersf Superannuation Fund,

(h) We will make an exhaustive study of the merit of introducing "Composite High Schools" rnta the Province, with special consideration ol the purposes to be served, the original cost, the problem of securing properly qualified teachers and providing the salaries that would be in- volved. l '

SCHOOL BOOKS

(i) We will maintain our present Provincial School Supply Depot, with instructions to provide all school pupils with supplies at minimum rates.

5.—WOMEN’S INSTITUTES —

The Women's Institutes have done a tremendous job in the rural parts of the Province during many years of devoted activity, yet no other subsidiary org- anization has received less tangible assistance from the Province than have these Institutes.

Recognizing this inexcusable inequality of De- partmental consideration, the Progressive Conserva- tive Party, upon accession. to office, pledges itself to make adequate correction in this respect.

Furthermore,—Il the membershlplof the Institutes throughout the Province desire to become an Autonom- ous Body, with complete control over their own af- fairs, the Progressive Conservative Party is prepared to grant that Corporate Status and will make a gen- erous financial contribution annually ta subsidize re- ceipts arising from their own initiative and resource- fulness.

6.—PIIBLlO IIEALTN -

We will continue to give our Public Health and Welfare problems sincerest attention, to the end that homes now afflicted, shall be relieved to the greatest possible extent, and the individual affected, a better opportunity for repovery. We will build a convales- cont ward, or home, for Sanitarium patients, pre- vlde an adequate extra mural treatment for pats- ents obliged to return to their homes. Falconwood Hospital will be supplied with additional medical ser- vices as requested by the Medical Superintendent.

' We approve of and will give financial support to a

cancer clinic.

1.-rr::i\r. ciscrnirrciirioir -

The Progressive Conservative Party is pledged ta make provision for Province-wide extension of Rural Electrification, so that electric energy for power and

lighting purposes be mods available to.every farm home. -

s-oirr so: rsirsiorrs-

The Progressive Conservative Party introduced Old Ago Pensions in Prince Edward Island and are prepared to pioneer still further in the interest of our aged people. When elected to office, we will urge that Old Age Pensions be granted and paid with- out property lien, and become effective at the age of sixty-five years.

“THE GUARDIAN. CHARLQTf-ETOWN . n” ___ u T

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

CONSERVATIVE PARTY PLATFORM

v

Qr-PROIIIBITION —

The sole prerogative of purchasing liquor for the Province, shall be withdrawn from the Attorney General, and the administration of the Prohibition Act will be placed in the hands of an independent commission A referendum on the question of liquor administration under its present Prohibition Act will begranted on the demand of a representative num- bepof the electors. '

lOw-FREIGNT RATES -

We will continue to insist upon the application at special Railway freight ratcs consistent with our economy, and the disadvantages of our geographic location.

iL-VIAR VETERANS and LABOR —

The Progressive Conservative Pdrty has always been sympathetic towards the cause of labor, and will continue so, following our election to office. At the first session of the Legislature, we will immedi- ately create a Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Labor that will devote its attention exclusively to the problems of our returned veterans and labourers.

We will institute a properly constituted Court of» Adjustment with authority to enquire into all labor disputes arising within the Province, without cost ta the participants, and judge thereof according to disclosed facts, and the decision of such a Court shall be final and binding upon all parties concerned. We will not, under any circumstances, align ourselves with powerful Corporations for thesuppression of the rights of labor, whether on the street, in the factory, or on the farm. ‘

lZ-INOIISTRIES —

(o) We believe it is possible to develop many small and Secondary manufacturing industries within the Province to a greater extent than has been heretofore attempted. Such development will create considerable and expanding opportunity for profitable employment as well as additional source of revenue to the primary producer by the local processing of such products of the farm and the sea, including small fruits, vege- tables, and Irish Moss, which are now placed on an aver loaded market in the raw state, or for which no market is presently available. We will investigate all such possibilities thoroughly and extensively and will take such action as' may be round practicable.

(b) The Progressive Conservative Party when elect- ed ‘o power, will promote and give financial as- sistance to the construction and installation of cold storage facilities in local cheese factories, creameries and dairies. ‘

13.—Itlll0ME TAX-

The Progressive Conservative Party will advocati the substantial reduction of Income Tax Assessment against the earnings of bona fide farmers, fisher-

_men, small traders orni employees in low wage and

salary categories.

We will insist upon the immediate termination of all arbitrary and absolute powers now exercised by the Regional Income Tax Office Administrators, and that competent Adjustment Courts shall be es- tablished in lieu thereof to which Income Tax dis- putes can be referred for unbiased decision, and that such Courts shall be located so as to be accessible to the taxpayer without undue inconvenience and ex-

' pense. We will furthermore demand this service be

made reasonably retroactive, in order that injustices already imposed, and ostensibly finalized, may be made subject to review and fairer settlement.

l4.—OlVlL SERVIOE APPOINTMENTS -

Civil Service appointments that may arise or become necessary through occurring vacancies shall be advertised in the public press, and preference shall be given to applications of qualified War Vet- erans.

ISr-PROVINOIAL TAXATION —

(a) Taxation for budgetary pihposes will not be in- creased, but revenues required for improved pub- lic services will be secured through sane ex- penditure of public funds.

fir) The Health Tax on liquor and tobacco now er- roneously categoried as ordinary revenue will re- _vort to, and be expended for, the purposes for which it is levied. _

(c) Complete refund of gasoline tax to farmers and fishermen on gas used for productive purposes will replace the partial tax allowance under the present Liberal Government.

(d) We promise that a proper annual accounting

, of all receipts and expenditures for the current year will be intelligently made and submitted at the next following session of the Legislature so that representatives of the various electoral districts may be kept adequately informed as to the conduct of public affairs during the year under review.

(e) Abolition of Land and Road Taxes in keeping with the Conservative policy inaugurated in I927 when Land Taxes were reduced 209.}.

IO.—REOONSTRIIOTION INVESTMENT" —

Immediately upon being elected the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Progressive Conserva- tive Party will invoke the cooperation of the Gov- ernments of New Brunswick hnd Nova Scotia in mak- ing joint application to the Dominion Government for an extra-ordinary Financial grant, spread over a period of years, and to be expended as Capital ln- vestment for the rehabilitation of Prince Edward Island, and other Maritime Provinces, and to pro- mote to accomplishment our Fiscal Recovery.

-ELABORATION—-

Iy making provision for,

(a) The elimination of bottlenecks in our inter- provincial transportation systems, as§uring easy and speedy access to and exit from our Prov- ince, covering Iight and heavy traffic, both rail- way and automotive, and making such ap- proaches reasonably attractive, as befitting their purpose and location, with particular reference to the immediate necessity of an efficient Ferry operating between the western extremity of Prince Edward Island and the New Brunswick mainland.

(b) Providing in whole or in part as per negotiation

- the cost of making direct connection between certain areas of the Province, now separated by water, by the erection of necessary‘ bridging, so that the present excess inland transportation siileage may be reduced to a reasonable mini- mum, and usage of our main arteries of traffic made conveniently available to all sections of the Province.

(c; Aiding in the development and expansion of our Tourist Industry through providing of suitable Hotel and other accommodation for Tourist’ at- traction, and the building of proper highways to and from our National Park, and other loca- tions, constituting our main Tourist centres.

(d). The erection of a one million bushel grain ele- vator with facilities‘ for unloading from ships into storage, railway cars and motor trucks, so that farmers will be assured of a constant and cheaper supply of coarse grains being regularly -available, to the end that our hog and other livestock production may be vastly increased and our potential possibilities become a reality.

{iL-IIOMINIUN-PROVINGIAL

RELATIONSHIP -.

(a) The Progressive Conservative Party efiPrlnci

i Edward Island deplores the unwise and unjusti- fiable surrender of Provincial Autonomy by our Provincial Government, as exemplified in the ac- ceptance of the Ottawa dictated Dominion-Pro- vincial Tax Agreement by vote of a Liberal majority in the Provincial Legislature.

Q) Following accession to power of a Progressive Conservative Administration at Ottawa, it shall become a prime duty and foremost responsibil- ity of the Provincial Progressive Conservative Party to successfully urge for a prompt re-con- vening of the Dominion-Provincial Conference- a reconsideration of relationship as now exist- ing between the Dominion and Provinces, and a restoration of that measure of Provincial Auton- omy so wantonly sacrificed by the Prorincid Government now in ‘power in Prince Edward Island.

(c) We will insist that the Dominion Government render an accounting in full of the Statutory Subsidies unalterably due to the Province, and erroneously submerged in the postwar Domin- ion-Provincial Tax Agreement of I947. Should irregularities be found in relation to such sub- sidies, we will demand reimbursement in full.

(d) Furthermore, we will press for more adequate settlement of the claims of the Maritime Prov- inces against the Dominion, for failure to im- plement the terms of Confederation, as recom- mended in the minority report of the late Chief Justice John A. Mathieson, and appended to rh- findings of the Duncan and ,White Commis- sions.

IB.—-OONSTITIONAL . GOVERNMENT -

The Progressive Conservative Party will offer a return to government by constitutional means and pledges itself that whsii elected, the practice of gov- ernment by Order in Council shall forthwith cease.

Inserted by the Pronenive Conservative Party-