Wednesday, March 15, 1967

l Confederation Centre. This follows other successes which have seen the playwright participate with great distinction and honour in the Dominion Drama Festival.

In the field of sport our district is equally proud of our Regional High School football squad, under the direction of Mr. Brock Bradford, which won the Island Championship, while Ross Young with his Red Point Farmers tug-of-war not only won the Island Championship, but took top honours in the Maritime Division for two years in a row. David Townshend’s team ably represented our curling club in winning the Island Trophy in the Massey-Harris Bonspiel.

During the election campaign somebody placed a sign at the entrance of the First District of Kings which read: “You are entering the Promised Land.” (Applause). I am happy to relate to this House that this has now been paraphrased to, “A Land of Great Promise.” (Hear, Hear). (Applause). Yes, gentlemen, with the expansion of the present fishing industry, with the proposed introduction of something entirely new in the catching and processing of the “Queen Crab", which on experimental basis last fall was found to exist in quantity within reasonable distance from our shores. This industry has great promise and we are most encouraged through study and

development to date that our area, indeed our province will profit considerably by this phase of the fisheries operation.

The Irish Moss industry is on the verge of great expansion for Islanders, as the new firm “Abegweit Maritime Industries Limited" erects a 1.5 million dollar plant for processing this sea product in Parkdale. It can be anticipated that moss received from dryers will extend the season by at least ten weeks. Moss that normally goes to waste in the wet seasons of spring and fall can be utilized through the dryer plants and shipped for processing either locally or abroad.

The Honourable Cecil Miller, Minister of Fisheries, as well as of Industry is to be complimented in his promotion of these new prases of Industry, involving both land and sea. His portfolios are demanding and although he has been in these de-

partments for only a short time, he has shown great command, great initiative in the promotion of new industries.

Fisheries in our province received a great boost with the appointment of Mr. Eugene Gorman as full-time Deputy Minister of Fisheries. This is not only a re-

cognition of Mr. Gorman’s high status in the field of science, but an important up- grading of this department of government.

Usen Fisheries Limited, Souris, continue to play an important role in our Island fisheries. Not only in employment and in rocessing ,but in the marketing of fillets as well. This firm, as well as Eastern sheries Limited, have complemented the Souris Dragger Fleet by the addition of steel boats in the ninety-three foot class. These large r boats can go farther afield and return with larger catches. It is of

interest to note, gentlemen, that the value of groundfish landed last year was over one million dollars, at our Island ports.

Several courses for fishermen were made available during this present winter and the upgrading of navigation, in particular, was popular with many.

The Fishermens Loan Board, operating under the authority of the Re-estab-

lishment Assistance Act, continues to play an impotrant role in the development of the fisheries.

The lobster industry showed a decrease in 1966, but is still a four million dollar industry in this province.

I am happy to note that the Campbell Government has been quick to recognise the backbone of our society -- the labouring man. The rtfolio of Labour was made a separate department of government under the Hnoura is J. Elmer Blanchard. This Minister describes his department as one to promote a climate and environment in which labour and management can develop their relations with one another and main- tain industrial peace without government interference.

While dealing on this subject allow me, Mr. Speaker, to just touch upon the Manpower Program, which is now in operation within the province with centres at

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