Legislative Assembly

should be much more stern than you have been so far. I would suggest to you to start off that I think things are getting a little out of hand, that you should throw a rascal a day out, taken from either side; alternate back and forth, put your foot

down. Walter R. Shaw: We would all be out then.

Robert E. Campbell: There would be no opposition.

J. David Stewart: Well, that might be a good thing. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the Mover and the Seconder of the Draft Address who took care of this particular task in usual admirable fashion. I would like to extend a welcome to the member of the Stewart clan that has joined this Legislative body; very glad to see another one in the House. (Applause) I am hoping that now that the two of us are here on opposite sides that this might be a bit of leveling inflnusee.

It is going to take some leveling. (Laughter)

The usual form speaking on the Draft Address is to speak about the Draft Ad- dress, and I, like Dr. Dewar, can’t find anything in it at all to speak about. He said he had found thirteen sections and I cannot find any; I cannot figure out in my own mind just why it is so lengthy,but I decided that as much as the Premier has three executive assistants kicking around the office and they had so much free time on their hands during the last three or four months that they tried to excel each other in producing sections for the Draft Address. This is what they came up with.

I was amazed at the two points not mentioned in the Draft Address. The two items that actually, I think, are responsible for the election of this Government and that is the promise of higher wages for everybody, and secondly, the abolition in time of the school taxes in the country. I see no indication of higher wages any- where. I do know that our very affable and new Minister of labor has settled down in very fine offices with a very large staff, but so far the results are just about nil. However. this Government has only been in power seven or eight months, so I am not looking for too much too soon. My attitude is that you should have a chance and opportunity, a little time to prove yourselves, and as far as I am concerned, and I emphasize this, as far as I am concerned, you have that opportunity.

Now getting back to the authors of the Draft Address. I don’t think there is any other Premier or Prime Minister of any Provincial Government in Canada that is so well assisted with three executive assistants. This is an outstanding staff. I think it is unfair in one regard. I don’t think that this Government, this Province, the taxpayers of this Province should have to keep a former defeated Federal Mem- ber in groceries while he is waiting in the wings to oppose Angus MacLean in the next election in the Cardigan District. I think this is most unfair. I don’t think there is another Premier in Canada. . . .

Honourable Alexander B. Campbell: That’s for the headlines tomorrow.

J. David Stewart: ...that has the luxury of a $7,000.00 a year executive assis- tant as an errand boy in the Legislative Assembly. I don’t even think Prime Minis- ter Pearson has such a luxury. I have not seen one there.

Now, I am going to have very very few words on Georgetown, and I have to say something because the Premier has already told the House that 90% of the time of the Government so far has been spent on the problems of Georgetown. 1‘ can only assume from what I have seen that the other 10% has been spent in travelling. It is my opinion that the problems of Georgetown could have been solved when this Government took office; had they sat down at the bargaining table, stayed with the problem, and with the assistance of some wise council and business experience would have achieved a degree of success. In this particular instance you are dealing with hard-headed business men, and very capable business men; you are dealing in very large chips, a lot of money, and it does take a great deal of bargaining and a great deal of time. I am certain that if this approach had been made to Georgetown, we wouldn’t be talking about the subject in the House as we have been to date.

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