Legislative Assembly

Honourable Robert E. Campbell: Pretty hard to do.

Walter R. Shaw: Now how are the payments coming in on these free loans? Why, Mr. Minister, was Allison Profitt dismissed from a job down in that Farm loan job? You answer that when you get up on the floor of this House. Allison Profitt was possibly the best man we had in public service in this province, and the men had confidence in him, and he wasn’t promising anything, either, and there was no interference in his work.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: His wife appreciates it very much having him home.

Walter R. Shaw:

You know I am amazed at some of those things that they are talking about in agriculture, the great prosperous times we are having in agriculture. Where is the prosperity this government was going to bring? Where is it? During the past few years the Premier in an address not long ago —— that is during our years —- indicated a 9% improvement in dollar values. He was fair enough to do that. The special issue of the Guardian gave more generous publicity than that on improvements that came in under the six or seven years that we were in power. The Leader prophesies great things for 1967. Present indications are very discouraging. What are the conditions of labour employment? What are the prospects of a stable continuing labour demand? They are talking about the Causeway what it is going to do for us. I wonder how many jobs are going to be open? I read in the paper yesterday that New Brunswick is getting sixteen millions for work over on that side of the Strait, and this province is getting one million. But that is only temporary, that labour at Borden is only temporary on the Causeway. If it is completed as they say in 1970 or 1971 what then? What is Borden going to do? My honourable friend here mentioned that. What are they going to do there? A good many of those people are out of employment and the only place that you can put them is in the industrial enterprises in this prov- ince, and that is not being done.

What do we find at the present time with regard to potatoes? I called up a man this morning and he said, “We can scarcely sell potatoes at a cent a pound.”

Honourable Robert E. Campbell: I have seen them less than that before.

Walter R. Shaw: And you can’t get your prices for potatoes down in Kings County or up in Western Prince either. You can’t sell them and I say this and I have the chance to say a word on this right now, that the people in New Brunswick, the producers in New Brunswick are loaded up with a lot of low-grade potatoes and if those low-grade potatoes are allowed to go on the market without taking them off some other way it is going to mean a terrible price for Prince Edward Island potatoes.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: Maybe you know, Sir, they are going to starch them.

Walter R. Shaw: What? Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: They plan now to starch them.

Walter R. Shaw: Yes, and I am glad you mentioned that. And this province, Mr. Minister, should be behind the New Brunswick people for a subsidy on starch.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: We are, Sir.

Walter R. Shaw: Well, why don’t you go up with them? They are up there fighting that thing alone and you aren’t there and no Minister of this Government

was there. Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: Was their Minister there, Sir? Walter R. Shaw: What?