Legislative Assembly

guarantee," this is the second reiteration, “that under my leadership the Georgetown Industries will ‘be supported and continued in every possible way.”

“We will also take steps to raise the minimum wage so that all workers will be able to make a decent living."

“George Ferguson and Arthur MacDonald are two of our most able candidates and have always worked extremely hard for Georgetown and the entire Fifth District, I ask you to support them on Monday.” 8'

18"“:

Alex B. Campbell.”

Now I should like to deal in some detail with the methods used by the Govern- ment to shut down one plant and to take over the other. The first move was a foolish, petty, childish attempt at olitical patronage in August by the Liberal members in Georgetown. Apparently t e Liberal ministry of patronage could not wait for the necessary litigation, etc., to remove Mr. Moe, so Messrs. Miller, Ferguson, and Mac- Donald arrived at Gulf Garden Foods to try to force the crews of the trawlers to stop buying their supplies at MacConnell’s Shopping Centre. Apparently some merchants in Georgetown wanted to force the crew members to buy food in their stores. This at- tempt at political pressure was foolish enough, ‘but the excuse issued by the Minister of Highways was even more idiotic and I would like to read it. The Minister said in part as an excuse for what he had done in Georgetown, what he and Mr. Miller and Mr. MacDonald had done in Georgetown. He said, “We called on the manager of the plant, Mr. Cyril Davis, for the purpose of removing any restrictions and allowing the Captains to make purchases where they please.”

Honourable George J. Ferguson: Mr. Speaker. might I ask the member from Fifth Kings what he is quoting from ‘.'

J. Cyril Sinnott: I am quoting from the Guardian of August 10th, 1966.

Honourable George J. Ferguson: Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform you that I never discussed this matter with the Guardian or with any other paper or any re- porter of any paper at any time.

J. Cyril Sinnott: What are you calling the press liars or what? Some Member: You may call them what you wish.

J. Cyril Sinnott: I am not callin them anything, I am reading the whole article. I am reading from extracts from the uardian and I will read the whole thing. It is headlines, “Minister Denies Interference.”

Honourable George J. Ferguson: Thoroughly disgusted.

J. Cyril Slnnott: “In reply to an article of August 9th in an edition of an Island newspaper the Honourable George J. Ferguson, Minister of Highways and Cecil Mil- ler, Minister of Fisheries, Industry and Natural Resources had the following com- ment. “Now somebody made the comment, otherwise . . . . .

Honourable George J. Ferguson: I don’t know who it was, it wasn’t me. I want this House to be aware of that.

J. Cyril Sinnott: You are not responsible for this statement then? Honourable George J. Ferguson: I certainly am not!

J. Cyril Sinnott: Well then what is your excuse for interfering with the crew members in Georgetown?

Honourable George J. Ferguson: I’ll attend to that, Sir, when I speak on the Budget, you make your speech now and I will sit back here and be quiet and don’t you say that I said something that I didn’t say.

t' 7 J. Cyril Sinnott: I am just quoting the paper. Why didn’t you deny it at the me .

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