Thursday, March 16, 1967

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: Was the New Brunswick Minister there?

Walter R. Shaw: Their members of their Parliament were there, yes. That’s right.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: We have members of Parliament up there too haven't we?

Walter R. Shaw: I am not referring to Provincial Ministers, I am referring to the people who are closer to the provincial problems, the men who are in the pro- vincial government. These are the men that should be there, and if we can get those potatoes moved into starch it is going to lift the pressure on our potatoes and we can maintain a good solid price for them. That’s what we should be doing.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald:. . . .forty cents a bushel. . .

Walter R. Shaw: I know it has been negotiated, I have all that information but as was asked me this morning I wonder if we can do anything to send people, and I would be glad to go along with the Honourable Mr. MacDonald. . . .

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: We will both go next week.

Walter R. Shaw: Well all right we will leave these fellows at home, but I don’t think they can get along very well. But I feel very seriously that we should have someone up there encouraging a subsidy on that starch because I think it is going to be the means of maintaining a good price for our potatoes, and we have a lot of potatoes in this province.

Now egg prices are down, they are lower; hog prices are down six to ten cents over a year ago: lower production in dairy products. We have five thousand less dairy cattle in this province than we had last spring. We have increased taxes at the federal level. Discouragement on the badly bungled pension imposition, and an increase in the cost of living. There is no evidence of decreased taxes at the federal level, nothing was taken off — that 11% -— on farm materials. Are these the en- couraging features may I ask that the Premier is talking about and prophesying in 1967? On the other hand this Government is going on remarkable squandering spree. Take the vast increase in employees, the excessive increase in road crews, and sanders. What about the salaries? New salaries extending from $9,000.00, to $28,000.00, for those who are employed by this Government. What do our farmers and fishermen out of employment facing difficult times think of that form of squandering? Take the man who is paid $22,000.00 and his travelling expenses, and his office staff would amount to over $30,000.00. How many bushels of potatoes do you think it would take to keep that fellow going?

Some Member: Where is be from? Walter R. Shaw: I can tell you he is not from this province, they are imports.

“The establishment of a fish and processing plant encouraged by Islanders." Where are they? What are they doing to hel ? Did they put a cold storage down at North Lake? I would ask you fellows from irst Kings, is they any evidence of it?

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: Yes. Walter R. Shaw: There is?

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: (Remark inaudible).

Walter R. Shaw: Yes, that is coming sometimes in the future. Hope springs triumphant in the minds of some people.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: (Remark inaudible). Walter R. Shaw: I didn't see that it was in this marvellous Draft Address.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: We don’t do any bragging, Sir, we just give action.

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