Legislative Assembly

Keith S. Harrington (Third Prince)

Mr. Speaker, I would like first of all to congratulate you on your elevation to this position as Speaker. Others have done so, but I want to tell you this, Mr. Speaker, that I sincerely believe that of all the thirty-two members that are elected to this Assembly there is none other that is any more desirious, any more willing, and any more able to be impartial and at all times to make a fair and good decision. However, your past, Mr. Speaker, has been that of a man of honour, dignity, and a man well respected in your community. (Applause) We are all proud to have you a Speaker of this House, but at the same time I do recognize the difficulties that you are confronted with, and I would say this in all sincerity, too, that privately I would put it half and half that a lot of the trouble that is caused here comes from the government side of the House. (Applause)

I would like to congratulate the Mover of the Speech from the Throne who is at present not in his seat, but coming to this Assembly for the first time as an elected representative I think that he has performed his job nobly and well. He is recognized as a smart man and an able man, and we hope that he will make a worthwhile contribution to this Assembly and to this province as well. To the Seconder, I offer my congratulations too. I have known him for some time and he has always worked in the interests of the people Of the province. especially the people who are engaged in the agricultural pursuits in his area and throughout the province, at one time serving as President of the Federation of Agriculture. I know that he is just as well concerned today as he was in those days that he served as President. However, I was surprisedy that he had nothing more to offer to this Assembly than praise to the men of the Government.

Since the last Session, Mr. Speaker. there has been a new portfolio created, and another member added to the Executive Council. When I prepared this speech the other week I believe that this was and had been a good move. This man across here, who is now the Minister without Portfolio, has demonstrated in the past his independence of mind, his contentions to do good, and I believe as Minister of Portfolio, in a very impartial way, could have given excellent advice to the members of the Government. But I am sorry to say I feel different now. (Hear, hear).

Before going on to speak on the Speech from the Throne, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I am very sorry when I moved a motion here some three weeks ago asking the federal government to consider the possibility of providing a subsidy for our surplus potatoes, that I annoyed the Honourable Minister of Agriculture over here and I am sure that I did not do so intentionally. When he got up to speak in the House two weeks ago on the Draft Address, he pointed across this way and he mentioned two members of the Opposition who sat on the Opposition, and I will quote his words. “We agreed in the Committee, which included two Opposition mem- bers. that we would leave the Resolution until after the recess.” I would like to say to this Assembly rig ht now, Mr Speaker. that if we had left it to the Committee on Agriculture it would have still been left to this day. The first notice I got ofa meeting of the Agriculture] Committee was today and it is to be held tomorrow.

Harold P. Smith: (Remarks inaudible.)

Keith S. Harrington: That’s my affair. I well believe that your intentions were good, but the House had recessed for a whole week at that time and it was an urgent matter, and I had no political intentions. I did not intend to make political hay out of potatoes, as the Honourable Minister of Agriculture stated that was my intention. I had no intentions of doing that. My sole intentions were to help the people of this province. (Hear, hear) (Applause) yAnd it had become the unanimous consent of this Legislature, fortunately, and action has already been taken on it, and I would suggest to the members opposite in the Government that if they want some results after this, we will help them out.

Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: Mr. Speaker, would the Honourable gentle- men permit me to make a few remarks?

Keith S. Harrington: I am willing to let you make any remarks. Honourable Daniel J. MacDonald: I still, Sir, repeat that this was agreed in —229—