Monday, April 24. 1967

I have a few more things to say here but I don’t think I will go any further and I will close my remarks with reference to the final paragraph in the Draft Address. It has to do with our Centennial Year. The year 1967, our Centennial Year, should be a very important milestone in our history, and it behoves us at this time to turn our thoughts backwards to the years 1864 and 1867, and think of some of the sacrifices that those men who occupied the positions that we now hold. I mean the Fathers of Confederation, those noble men who worked under tremendous difficulties with one object in mind: to make this little place a better place in which to live. We are now on the threshold of our second centennial and we, like our predecessors, have a challenge to face. I suggested we face this challenge sin- cerely and honestly and don’t let it be said about any one of us that we were tried in the balance of public opinion and found wanting.

Thank you. (Applause) J. Sinclair Cutcliffe (Second Queens)

Mr. Speaker, I think possibly my first remarks from the Maiden Speech in this Historical Chamber should be a few words to you in your position of Speaker of this House in the usual congratulatory remarks that have been passed by other Members of the Legislature. I know your task is not an easy one at times, and we all sympathize, to a point, with you and hope, Sir, that everything will go well in your position. When I thought over what I should say in a maiden talk in a His- torical Chamber such as this, and after listening to many of the Speakers previously, and reading over several of the Journals in the past, and as an observer for the past number of years from up in the gallery and down behind the rail here, I came to one conclusion that I felt I should speak on something that I feel I know what I am talking about, at least I hope I do, but before getting into that topic, I would like to pass a few remarks on the District of which I represent.

Second Queens, Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt in my mind, is the best district in Prince Edward Island. It is quite prosperious. We have good farmers, good fishermen, an ideal tourist location, part of our National Park is within our boundaries. Second Queens has had several distinctions placed on several in- dividuals and communities during the past year or since my election last May. A couple of these that I would like to bring to the attention of the House, to all Members. I believe that we are honoured as having, as a resident in Second Queens, Mrs. Moreside, who resides at Milton, the oldest person in the Province. I was very happy, last winter, to go out and talk with her; I spent about an hour or an hour and a half that day actually before the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition and man other honoured guests were there for her to receive. But it was her 108th birthdhy and I believe that the press at that time stated that she had rendered a song for the Premier and others that were present. Unfortunately, that afternoon I was unable to be there at the time they were and had to go out early. Fortunately I had more time to spend with her as we were alone with her son and his wife. Just the four of us were there, and we had a conversation with her and talked over different things and so on, and it certainly was a delight. I hope she will be around to enjoy many more of them.

We had a distinction placed on a lady in our community, as well as two other Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Kingston Branch. All three were presented with Life Membership; this lady of whom I speak, has given many years of her life to the Nursing Service. During World War I, she was a Nursing Sister, and for her efforts and so on during the war years, and for the many, many incidents that she had attended to in her own community. I know her personally as running a First Aid Post in her area for Red Cross; she has attended many of the needs of her community and surrounding area. I refer to Mrs. Allison MacMillan. Uln- fortunately she is a bit confined now as to her activites, but she does get around and so on, probably not as actively as in the years gone by, but has rendered a great service to her country and to her community and the rest of the Province in general.

Threre is a young chap in Milton, Stratford Rodd, and I would like to commend him for his achievement in 4-H work in the past year.

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